Dr Natalie

PGCE-qualified English Language, Literature and Creative Writing teacher, examiner, published poet and PhD holder, with over 20 years’ experience in education. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with a motivational and empathetic approach. SEN trained, Enhanced DBS checked, and a qualified Mental Health First Aider.

Session rate: £50 for 50-minutes of contact time.

Free 15-minute consultation for students considering long-term tuition.

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."

- Chinese Proverb

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More about me...

I hold an undergraduate degree in English, a PGCE specialising in the post-16 sector, and have seven years of experience working as an A level and GCSE English Language and Literature teacher in a high performing sixth form college. I was Lead Examiner for the A Level in Creative Writing (AQA), examiner for English Language AS Level (AQA) and am on the register of Cambridge International GCSE examiners, so have a rich perspective to offer my students as they progress through their studies.

My additional specialism is Creative Writing: I hold both a Masters and Doctorate in this subject and am Lecturer in Creative Writing at a reputable university. I am a published poet with my own collections and many appearances in anthologies and journals.

Experience

Since 2014, I have tutored hundreds of students in English Language and Literature. In this role I am most proud of the work I have achieved with one of my long-term students who has ASD. From day one, I adapted sessions to meet his needs and gain his interest. I spent time getting to know him and found out that he liked Minecraft, so created a reading comprehension resource themed on the game. He loved it and said that he really enjoyed our first session together as a result. I am still tutoring him weekly after nearly four years and have built a great rapport with him and his mum. This is the feedback I received from her: “Natalie is helping our autistic son with his English. She is very kind, patient, helpful and professional. Our son enjoys Natalie’s lessons and is excited to see her every week. He feels much more confident and happier. Natalie is a wonderful tutor and I would highly recommend her.”

I have experience of teaching and tutoring English Language, Literature and Combined English from Key Stage 3 up to Further Education level. I have taught the AQA Certificate in English Language (iGCSE), AS/A2 English Language (Spec B), AS/A2 English Literature (Spec B) and AS/A2 English Combined (Spec A). Having tutored students of the AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas and Cambridge International boards, I am very familiar with a range of specifications. I have a keen eye for detail when appraising essays and have received excellent feedback for my critiques of student work.

I also have experience of adult, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the fields of Creative Writing (specialising in poetry) and Communication/Functional Skills. I am currently Unit Leader and Educational Content Creator for the Masters in Creative Writing at Arts University Bournemouth.

Approach

My approach is person-centred, kind, calm, motivational and empathetic, with an aim to boost confidence, which I believe is vital to academic achievement.

I spend time getting to know my students and encourage the practice of English skills within topic areas of personal interest to them. Being mental health and neurodivergence aware, I promote safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment as I build a rapport with my students to better support their individual needs. Sessions are therefore bespoke and flexible, learner-focused rather than teacher-led.

I am a good listener and can empathise with my students, helping them to see areas for improvement in their work and offering practical advice and tips on how to develop it further. From students who require regular face-to-face online sessions, to those who require a single essay critique by email correspondence, I am able to meet the needs of a wide range of learners.

I encourage students to be proactive and resourceful in their approach to English, guiding them through the processes of learning and problem-solving. I invite students to discuss what they would like to work on each session and establish the ways in which I can best support them. Any materials to be looked at during the session time can be emailed to me or shared via an online platform. I also offer guidance on setting targets over a course of sessions so that students can meet their aims and manage their study time effectively.

Ultimately, I aim to help my students fulfil their academic potential whilst also developing the range of skills needed to achieve their aspirations in life.