Jason

I am a fully qualified English teacher and full-time private tutor, specialising in GCSE English Language, GCSE English Literature, A-level English Literature and A-level English Language. I also teach KS2 and 3 and the 11/13+ entrance examinations.

I have also worked as an examiner for AQA for ten years, which gives me a very clear understanding of how exam responses are assessed and what students need to do to move securely through the mark bands.

Following the sudden closure of First Tutors, where I had built up a long-standing profile over many years, I am now having to re-establish my online presence from scratch. Unfortunately, this means that my previous review history is no longer publicly visible. All of my First Tutors feedback was glowing with no unpublished negative reviews, and I am very happy to provide reviews on request. I have also contacted former students and parents, many of whom are kindly providing fresh testimonials.

Before teaching, I spent fifteen years working as a criminal defence Barrister. That background has shaped the way I teach: I am very used to close reading, precise argument, careful use of evidence and explaining complex ideas clearly. These are exactly the skills students need when they are trying to move from vague or general responses into sharper, higher-mark analysis.

Having decided to leave my legal career of 15 years, I re-qualified and began teaching English in 2014, first in a state school in West London and later at an independent girls’ school in Buckinghamshire, where I spent the final six years of my classroom teaching career. I now dedicate all of my time to private tutoring, working closely with students who need clear, focused and highly personalised support.

My tutoring is always tailored to the individual student. Some pupils need help building confidence; others need a stronger grasp of essay structure, quotation analysis, exam timing, unseen texts, or how to move from a mid-level answer into the top bands. I adapt lessons carefully so that each student understands not only what to write, but why it works.

I teach most major exam boards, including AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. While each board has its own style and wording, the core principles remain very similar: students must respond clearly to the question, use evidence precisely, analyse writers’ methods, understand context where relevant, and shape their answers according to the mark scheme. My aim is to make those expectations feel manageable rather than mysterious.

I also have extensive experience supporting students with learning differences and processing difficulties. I work patiently and practically, breaking tasks down into clear stages without lowering expectations. Many students who struggle with English do not lack ability; they simply need the exam process made more explicit, structured and repeatable.

My lessons are focused, supportive and honest. I do not believe in vague encouragement or generic feedback. My encouragement is genuine and my feedback is specific. Students are shown exactly what they are doing well, exactly where marks are being lost, and exactly how to improve their written responses. Whether a student is aiming to secure a pass, build confidence, or push towards the highest grades, the teaching is built around their needs, their course and their exam board.