Bookings open again! AQA English Literature and Language GCSE tutoring from an English (First) university student who achieved seven Grade 9s in GCSE. SEND and SEMH experienced.

Find out more about Hannah

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I always enjoyed creating stories, whether it was playing pretend as a child or telling bedtime stories to my little sister growing up. As someone who has anxiety, it was a way to modify the world around me to feel more comfortable. English has always been my favourite subject, something that comes easily to me. However, I recognise how challenging it can be for some students, especially with how English is taught in schools and how exam questions are worded. Through one-to-one tutoring, I’ve learned so much about different students and the unique ways they think. I see so much potential in young people who often feel limited by exams. That’s what sparked and continues to grow my passion for helping students build confidence through English.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  What many students don't realise, and what I didn't until I began teaching English, is that the language papers seem tricky because you can't answer the question directly like you would in a geography or history essay. The questions are part of the test. Examiners want students to infer what is important and what they want you to focus on, which can be particularly challenging for SEN students. This is something I feel strongly about highlighting and supporting.
  
  I also love teaching English Literature. My favourite set text to teach is An Inspector Calls. I enjoy the themes, the social commentary, and the discussions it sparks with students. On the other hand, A Christmas Carol isn’t a personal favourite, though I do understand why it’s taught and the value it has in helping students explore ideas of responsibility, alongside the historical context.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  In my first school, I often felt limited. I was placed in the lower-ability class, on the lower-ability table, and it became a pattern that was hard to break out of. When I moved schools in Year 4, everything changed. My new teacher placed me on the with the highest-graded students, not because she assumed I already knew everything, but because she wanted to challenge me. Looking back, I don’t think it was ability alone that made the difference; it was the confidence she gave me. She believed in me, and that belief reshaped how I saw myself.
  Another teacher who inspired me was my Year 6 teacher. She always told me I’d be a writer one day. She consistently praised my creative work and encouraged me to explore writing beyond the curriculum. Now that I’m studying Creative Writing at university, with some published work, I can see how deeply her encouragement shaped me. But rather than being a writer, she mostly inspired me to become a teacher myself. I want to do for other children what she did for me. Build confidence, challenge, and help them see the potential that they're struggling to see in themselves.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I believe a good tutor needs patience, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to understanding each student as an individual. Every learner comes with different strengths, challenges, and ways of processing information, so it’s important to move at the student’s pace.
  Awareness of SEN needs is also essential. Many students, especially those with additional learning needs, require a different style of explanation, more time to process ideas, or a more supportive environment to build confidence. I also believe that support shouldn’t stop at the end of the lesson. I make sure I’m consistently available to guide students, reassure them, and help them feel confident in the work they’re doing. Being a good tutor isn’t just about teaching content; it’s about being someone who listens, encourages, and creates space for students to succeed in their own way.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  In sixth form, during the height of COVID, my anxiety was the worst it had ever been. I stopped attending classes and struggled to revise on my own, and for the first time my usually perfect grades began to slip. Looking back, I wish someone had noticed how much I was struggling or that my family had been able to access a tutor.
  Now, when I see students finding a school setting difficult, I see a bit of my younger self in them. It’s one of the reasons I’m committed to supporting students in a way I never had at that time. This is why private tutoring is so important.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  One of my biggest challenges in English has always been perfectionism. I pushed myself to get everything exactly right, which is difficult in a subject where answers aren’t always clear-cut or straightforward. English requires interpretation, not perfection, and learning to let go of that pressure took time.
  Because of that, I understand how overwhelming the subject can feel for students who want to “get it right” but aren’t sure what the examiner is looking for. If you trust yourself, the answer is there. You just need to know how to use your evidence to support it.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  Alongside my passion for teaching, I’m also deeply committed to supporting children with SEN and mental health needs. I’m the secondary carer for my teenage sister, who has Kabuki Syndrome, and my younger brother, who is on the autism pathway and has severe anxiety. Outside of tutoring, I help support them both and take part in events focused on helping children with SEN access opportunities that build their confidence and childhood experiences.
  Seeing the discrimination they’ve faced - especially within the education system - has made me even more determined to contribute to a more understanding, inclusive environment. That passion carries directly into my tutoring and the way I support every student.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  Everything I’ve experienced as a student and as a tutor shapes the way I teach. I’m patient, flexible, aware of SEN needs, and I always work at each student’s pace. I use my own challenges with confidence, anxiety and perfectionism to support students emotionally as well as academically. I help them trust their ideas, build the skills they need, and achieve the grades they’re aiming for. I care deeply - and I hope that shows in every lesson.