Abbie W.

I’m a fully qualified English teacher with classroom experience in secondary schools. I hold a BA in English Language and Literature from Loughborough University and completed my Secondary English PGCE at the University of Nottingham.

I specialise in GCSE English Language and Literature and have strong knowledge of the AQA specification, supported by my experience as an AQA English Language examiner. I have taught a range of GCSE texts including A Christmas Carol, An Inspector Calls, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and anthology poetry. This means I’m very familiar with the areas students often find challenging and how to guide them towards more developed, thoughtful analysis.

Throughout my teaching career, I have worked with students across a broad range of abilities, including those with special educational needs and students experiencing anxiety or low confidence. This experience means I am used to adapting explanations, breaking down complex ideas into manageable steps, and creating a structured and supportive learning environment where students feel secure and capable. 

I take time to get to know my students, listening carefully to their goals, concerns, and interests, and adapt my approach as our sessions progress. My lessons are well-structured and aligned with exam board criteria, but always tailored to the individual, ensuring students feel both supported and appropriately challenged. Sessions are carefully paced so students feel clear about what they are working on and can see steady progress over time.

I draw on both my classroom experience and my work as an AQA examiner to break down the assessment criteria into manageable, student-friendly steps and provide practical guidance on how to succeed in exams. I understand what examiners are looking for and help students shape their ideas into thoughtful, well-structured responses that reflect their true ability.

For GCSE English Language and Literature, sessions are carefully planned around the student’s specific needs. This might include building confidence with unseen texts, strengthening analytical writing, revising key themes and quotations from set texts, improving essay structure, or working through past papers with clear feedback on how to move up a grade. Each lesson has a clear focus so students (and parents/carers) can see exactly what is being developed and why.

Above all, I aim to create a calm and encouraging space where students feel comfortable asking questions, exploring ideas and gradually building confidence in their thinking and writing. By developing strong, supportive relationships and setting clear, achievable goals, I help students grow not only in their exam skills, but in their ability to express themselves clearly and confidently beyond the classroom.