English Literature tutor & more · Barcombe
Rob
English, Drama & Art History Tutor. 20 years experience.
English Literature tutor & more · Barcombe
English, Drama & Art History Tutor. 20 years experience.
About
I started teaching at school. Through a fascination with finding ways to make difficult subjects more accessible to the many differing needs of learners I often helped lower year groups whilst studying for my own exams. My parents, grandparents and brother all teach, so I guess it's in the blood!
Now, whether working in mainstream, pupil referral units, learning difficulty schools or with home educated pupils, I work hard to tailor my lessons to the individual needs of each student. After all, this is usually why one to one tuition is required.
As a tutor, I see building relationships of trust and camaraderie as essential to the work we do and a sense of humour is rarely far away from our sessions. That said, I ensure we maintain a focus on identifiable progress; keeping an ongoing discussion with pupils and parents about where we are headed and how we are getting on.
Away from tutoring, I am also a stage and screen actor, father of a four year old (Pippin), dog lover, veg grower and keen outdoorsy type. I grew up in Argentina and Cumbria via stints in Hong Kong, Derbyshire and London, finally settling here in East Sussex.
Were you to work with me, you would be hiring a tutor who will ensure lessons are bespoke, enjoyable and someone who can help students achieve grades beyond their expectations.
On the website there is a profile section I have deliberately left blank under 'teaching style', because I don’t believe one style fits all. For me, finding a style and approach that suits my students meet their needs is the job we do together and that’s what brings the best results. Flexibility is everything.
Perhaps I'm proudest to be a tutor who students look back on after their results and say, yes they got the result, but they also grew in confidence and enjoyed the lessons. Many of my former parents and pupils I now count as good friends. It is a source of immense pride to hear of their future endeavours and be a small part of their further successes.
I hope you can see from the reviews provided and the time parents have taken to write them, that I put everything into doing my best for all my pupils. I look forward to working with you should you wish to get in touch.
Warm Regards. Rob
PS: Lastly, I should say: for a time First Tutors (the tutoring website my reviews came from) would only use my first name (I’m a John Robert known as Rob). So any ignore any confusion in the reviews as to whether it’s John or Rob. It’s all me and I’m known as Rob! :-)
£65–£70/hr · 5 subjects · 68 levels
Subjects & pricing
Group £80/hr ·from £65/hr
- KS1, KS2, KS3, 13+, 16+, IB, Pre-U, National 3, National 4, National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher, University, Postgraduate, Adult, ESOL, BTEC Level 1, BTEC Level 2, BTEC, Scottish NationalsGroup £80/hr ·£65/hr
- GCSE — AQA · CCEA · Edexcel · Eduqas · OCR · WJECGroup £80/hr ·£65/hr
- IGCSE — Cambridge · Edexcel · OxfordAQAGroup £80/hr ·£65/hr
- AS-level, A-level — AQA · CCEA · Edexcel · Eduqas · OCR · OxfordAQA · WJECGroup £80/hr ·£70/hr
- EPQ — AQA · Edexcel · Eduqas · OCR · WJECGroup £80/hr ·£70/hr
- T-level — C&G · Edexcel · NCFEGroup £80/hr ·£70/hr
- BTEC Level 3 — EdexcelGroup £80/hr ·£65/hr
Group £80/hr ·£65/hr
- 11+, 13+
- GCSE — AQA · CCEA · Edexcel · Eduqas · OCR · WJEC
- IGCSE — Cambridge · Edexcel · OxfordAQA
Languages
- English Native
- Spanish Fluent
Qualifications
Higher education
- MA (Hons) Art History - English (Combined) Certificate checked · St Andrews University · 2:1 (Upper second) · 2004 St Andrews University · 2:1 (Upper second) · 2004 Certificate checked
Other
- Acting Diploma Certificate checked · GSA Conservatoire · 2005 GSA Conservatoire · 2005 Certificate checked
Reviews from Tutorperch
No Tutorperch reviews yet. Students can leave a verified review here after a lesson.
Reviews from First Tutors
Imported from Rob's First Tutors profile before the site went dark. Shown separately from Tutorperch reviews — today they don't feed this tutor's Tutorperch rating or ranking.
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The review text is the original reviewer's own words, quoted as-is. We verified the tutor's ownership of the profile, not the truth of what each individual reviewer wrote.
- Mar 2026 ·imported from First Tutors
Megan
Really helpful and engaging - not so familiar with my daughter’s course but that!’s not a criticism, knows the subject and has really helpful practical knowledge - would definitely recommend.
- Dec 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Rosalind
Rob started teaching my (home learner) son English Lit a few months ago and I highly recommend. His lessons are engaging, and my son - having spent 18 months out of the school system due to MH - really enjoys his sessions.
- Jun 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Claudia
I can’t recommend Rob enough, he has been such a positive influence on my sons learning and understanding of what is expected. For someone who lost track a little in English he is now feeling more in control as knows where he stands and what needs to be done. We can build on that. Thank you Rob :)
- Jun 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Kelly
John has been really great with my son. He has brought his confidence in all areas of English massively. My son has completed his GCSE with confidence. John was always patient, informative and very approachable. Great teacher. Thanks you
Rob replied
Thanks Kelly! Really looking forward to hearing how Jack’s got on in August. For anyone reading and wondering if it’s John or Rob, I’m a John Robert known as Rob but the website likes to use first names on passports just in case of any confusion :-)
- Jun 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Ruth
I can highly recommend John (Rob) for preparing for English GCSE, both literature and language. He really helped my son build confidence with both these subjects at a pace that was right for him. He was both engaging and fun and my son found it enjoyable as well as impactful. Big thank you!
- Sept 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Rash
We have nothing but great things to say about Rob. He is an outstanding tutor and helped our son achieve excellent grades in both English Language and English Literature GCSEs. Rob is a very down to earth guy and his approachable style really helped my son gain confidence in subjects he found quite challenging. It was very evident after just a few lessons that he and my son clicked and as the sessions continued we could see his confidence grow and the results improve week by week. We feel very fortunate to have found him and would have no hesitation in recommending his services.
- Aug 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Ishrath
Rob is a fantastic Tutor , he started tutoring my son just 3 months before his GCSE exams. My son was able to move from grade 5 to achieving grade 7 in Eng literature for GCSE 2024 exams.Not many tutors are able to do this in a short period. Rob was very structured and methodical in his teaching and gave my son the confidence to perform well. I have no hesitation in recommending Rob to anyone who is looking for an English Tutor. Thank You Rob for all your support & help
- Jun 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Joanna
Our son was an able English student but really struggling with technique in English exams so his results were not reflecting what he was capable of. With Rob's help, he has gained a great deal of confidence (and enjoyment) in exam essay writing, so much so that he is changing to English for one of his A level choices having previously decided he wasn't good enough at it to continue to a higher level. Our son really enjoyed and got a lot out of his sessions with Rob, who makes studying English entertaining and enjoyable as well as educational. Rob's method of combining exam practice and deepening understanding of the texts definitely worked for our son.
- Jun 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Admira
We approached Rob over a year ago when my son Gregor was Y10 and in the bottom set in English in a very competitive private school in Dubai. From the start Rob was amazing with him. He started with building his confidence first, and by finding things Gregor was good , not just focusing on how much he didn't know. Great motivator! He knows GCSE syllabus inside out. My son enjoyed the lessons very much and alwsys looked forward to his next lesson. His English grade at school improved significantly, his use of language in genersl improved, he didn't think literature was boring anymore. It was a hard work sometimes but we were lucky that we found Rob as early as we did and that two of them got on really well. We can't wait to see some fantastic results in August. Thank you Rob, Gregor couldn't have done it without you. We will miss your lessons!
- Jun 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Ellie
Rob is a fantastic tutor and really delighted with how he has worked with our Son. He has turned a 16 yr boy who was disengaged and far from passionate about English to a boy who enjoys writing, discovering new vocabulary and is now working hard for his English Lit & Lang GCSES. At the start of year 11 he was predicted 5/6 and is now achieving 8/9! We think anyone will be hard pressed to find a better English tutor! Thank you Rob for all your encouragement and guidance.
- May 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Justine
I cannot get praise Rob enough, my son was reluctant and disheartened going into the exam with a not great portfolio coursework score -and no real idea on how to approach the written exam…. I contacted Rob just before Easter with what felt like an impossible task! Rob is just so personable and my son instantly clicked with him. He gets teenagers, and they want to do well for him. This was a new play and rob just got straight into it with my son. Within a few weeks my son was prioritizing doing robs assignments over anything else. He’s just come out of the exam and rob had prepared him perfectly - regardless of what grade he gets, rob made him feel good and competent in drama and for that we are very very grateful I just wish I’d found him earlier!
- Sept 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Gemma
Rob helped my daughter with her English and Drama GCSE. She started with Rob in February and the help and confidence that he gave her enabled her to pass her English and Drama with a higher grade than expected. I highly recommend Rob.
- Jul 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Michael
Cannot praise Rob enough. Over the past seven months or so, he has really helped our son make huge progress. Rob is a fantastic tutor who comes highly recommended.
- Feb 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Jane
My son is receiving online lessons for over a month with Rob. Rob is already helping him with his understanding of English Language and hopefully be able to gain a higher grade than his predictive grade. My son really enjoys his lessons and says Rob is a great and likeable tutor. Rob has even managed to persuade my son to purchase a reading book to help with his studies. Thank you Rob.
- Jun 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Salaam
Rob is a marvellous teacher. He helps you to feel at ease in your ability in acting. Thanks to him this year I realised how to be a character, what I mean by that is building the life of a character, his environment, his background and reaching to emotions. And even realising on my own that for being a character you need to understand them, to understand their souls. I am still learning and I cannot wait to work with him again. And I am so happy that this year, I've discovered this passion for acting and that I want to be an actress.
- Jun 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Zoe
For the last year, Rob has tutored my son in English GCSE. I really cannot recommend Rob enough. He has a magical way of engaging and teaching a typical laid back teenager and getting him to look forward to each lesson. He styles his tutoring way to each individual student. I also recommended Rob to a couple of other friends teenagers who could not believe the difference he made to them, one was similar to my son, the other is very academic and just needed Rob to bring him up to speed which he did quite quickly. The majority of tutoring was online but Rob also kindly went out of his way to come and see my son face to face just before the exams started. If anyone is looking for an English tutor then I would [contact details hidden — unlock to view] Rob up quickly as he really is fab. Thank you so much Rob, you have made an amazing difference!
- Jun 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
sara
He made sessions fun, and interesting and my son really improved.
- Jun 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Mary
Rob initially supported my Year 11 daughter with her Drama GCSE when she needed help preparing for the Devising element of the exam. He very quickly restored her confidence and, with his help, moved from predicted level 7 to 9 in all areas. Following this, Rob has also supported her with both elements of GCSE English, with similar improvement in her confidence and approach. Not only has it been an absolute pleasure to see how Rob's tutorials have benefited my daughter but she has really enjoyed her lessons too! I am so pleased I clicked on his profile!
- May 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
filippo
John is a dedicated, knowledgeable, passionate tutor, he successfully supported my daughter preparation work for her drama A Level exams, at the same time working to help for her audition to Drama school. He enhanced her curiosity, understanding and curricula knowledge and supported her in the performances' practice, strengthening her confidence, giving always the right advice and guidelines. John has really helped my daughter in this difficult and at times traumatic lockdown period, managing to add confidence to her morale. Highly recommended.
- May 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Anca
Rob is an excellent tutor. He has been tutoring both of my children (age 10 and 12) and I can see a real difference in their progress. He is great at engaging the kids and motivating them to write where previously they were reluctant. I would definitely recommend him strongly and we continue to work with him.
Hourly rates
£65–£70/hr
Group from £80/hr
Varies by subject. See breakdown above.
- 20% off first lesson
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