Tutor profile - Kathryn

An experienced subject specialist with over ten years of classroom experience, Kathryn has taught in high-achieving schools in the UK and China, challenging and supporting students to the highest grades at GCSE, IGCSE and A Level and seeing them into prestigious Russell Group universities. She has extensive experience in working with English Language Learners, both in the UK and abroad, unlocking their fascination with language, and hence their ability at the highest levels. As a Head of Department, she has led an English teaching team in making this the core of their curriculum.

With a First Class degree in English Literature, Kathryn is a graduate of the prestigious Teach First programme. She has worked with a very wide variety of different students in both selective and non-selective schools, helping high proportions of her students to secure top grades in both. With all learners, she champions student-centred and student-led learning, meeting students where they are and planning learning that encourages students to take ownership of their progress. She develops students’ confidence and curiosity with language, and consequently their desire to explore it. She works with students and parents or carers to establish learning goals, and designs the learning journey in a responsive way, with regular review and reflection.

Kathryn sees fascination with exploring the author’s craft as central to student engagement. She develops students’ understanding of literary texts as testimony of human experience, encouraging empathy with author and speaker through a profound understanding of context, expression, canon and intertextual connections. With an extensive theatre background prior to teaching, including work at Shakespeare’s Globe, Kathryn has also been a Drama subject lead, and brings Drama exercises, as well as watching performance, into her English teaching to expand understanding and engagement. Her years of experience in the classroom have convinced her that students who can enjoy language the most deeply attain the highest grades, hence joyful learning, in both language and literature, is the route to success she promotes.

Kathryn has previously worked on learning resources, CPD delivery and publications for the British Library, British Film Institute, English and Media Centre in London and the National Association for the Teaching of English (UK).