Nicola

Nicola is a qualified and experienced practising English teacher, with extensive experience teaching English at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 in leading independent and grammar schools. She has a strong academic background in English, with a First Class Degree (awarded the School of English best final year performance) and a Masters with Distinction, which was obtained through the prestigious AHRC research funding. Nicola has an excellent proven record of success at both GCSE and A Level, with a vast number of her students having progressed to Oxbridge and Russell Group universities. Nicola is passionate about her subject and this is key in how she promotes student engagement and academic success. Indeed, common feedback from students is that her enthusiasm for her subject is infectious!

Nicola is currently a Senior Leader for English GCSE marking, where she manages team leaders from across the country. Nicola’s assessment skills and current awareness of exam specifications, enhance and inform her teaching practice.

As a tutor, Nicola plans and creates bespoke lessons which engage and she ensures her students are comfortable and at ease in order that they can produce work to the best of their ability. Nicola quickly and efficiently identifies students’ target areas and creates learning plans that reflect a highly personalised approach. Nicola's teaching methods are informed by her understanding of pedagogy and her lessons are focused on active learning and student centred activities. Nicola draws on traditional educational theory including the works of Maslow, Bloom and Piaget, whilst also being aware that educational practice is constantly evolving - particularly in relation to the re-evaluation of pedagogy in light of remote and blended learning.

Nicola also has vast experience in successfully preparing students for the 11+ and entrance exams and is able to evidence her students’ accomplishments in the various aspects of the exam. Nicola is particularly able to support with the English components of the examinations and one of her students passed both the 11 plus and Sevenoaks entrance exams, despite only entering into the English education system in September 2024 (he had previously followed the Japanese curriculum in Japan). Therefore, she is aware of not only the difficulties bilingual students experience preparing for entrance exams but also how to teach to the specific expectations of the British school system, in order that her students can make rapid and efficient progress. She has also worked with students applying to a number of other prestigious schools and is currently working with students targeting Eton, St Paul's and King's College Wimbledon for Owl tutors.

Additionally, Nicola has had much success in preparing students in English for the 13+ examinations. Whilst working for Owl tutors, Nicola has tutored a student this year who had previously been unable to pass the eleven plus with another tutoring company, and, with highly tailored sessions from her, has gone on to gain a place at Sevenoaks. Indeed, this student scored so highly that he has been selected to take part in the Academic scholarship examinations, designed for those students who 'perform exceptionally well in the Year 9 entrance tests'. Nicola focused on the student's English as this was his weaker area and also prepared him for the group discussion element of the assessment.

Nicola has also recently focused on the English 13 plus assessment for The Perse School and she was able to prepare her student for the new format of the 2024 assessments (notably the use of an image to generate creative writing). This student gained both her place here and another school (January 2025). Feedback from the parents stated her help was “instrumental” and that she motivated their daughter “to give her best self.” The tuition has been so successful and the progress so remarkable, that she has been asked to continue working with their child after the assessments were complete.

Nicola has also provided excellent English tuition at GCSE whilst working for Owl Tutors. In summer 2025, Nicola’s students at Owl Tutors achieved outstanding results, with grade 9s in both English Language and Literature across Edexcel IGCSE, AQA and OCR. Every client reached out personally to share their success. Highlights include an AQA English Literature student who achieved full marks in Paper 1 (64/64 – Shakespeare and Jekyll and Hyde) and 92/96 in Paper 2 (An Inspector Calls and Poetry), with parents crediting Nicola’s teaching as the decisive factor. In Edexcel IGCSE, one student scored an extraordinary 148/150 in Literature and 147/150 in Language, with their family praising Nicola’s guidance and teaching. Another, originally predicted a grade 5, exceeded expectations with a grade 8 in Literature. Student and parent feedback consistently highlighted Nicola’s subject expertise, exam-focused preparation and tailored support as key factors in securing such exceptional outcomes. Nicola was able to ensure this progress through a measured and highly targeted approach where she assessed all elements of the exam; consulted exam data from the school; and worked on targeting specific areas in order to ensure that marks where maximised by focusing on the subtle differences between the grades at the higher end of the mark scheme.

Nicola’s in-depth knowledge of English at IGCSE level makes her exceptionally well-placed to support students preparing for 16+ entry. She has successfully tutored candidates applying to top-tier schools including King’s College Wimbledon, Wellington College, St Paul’s and Charterhouse.
Her combined experience as both a GCSE teacher and examiner means she brings not only a deep understanding of the curriculum but also a strategic awareness of what leading independent schools are looking for at this highly competitive stage. At 16+, success depends on more than just strong subject knowledge: students benefit from the guidance of someone who understands how to develop sophisticated written responses, refine analytical thinking and prepare effectively for the specific demands of entrance assessments. Nicola is expertly positioned to provide exactly that level of targeted, high-level support.

Nicola currently works with a small number of students for Owl tutors. She is an excellent English subject specialist and therefore a highly valuable asset for those students seeking a particular English focus for entrance exams or for grade enhancement at GCSE.