Simon

Simon is a qualified teacher, education leader, and aspiring writer with over 15 years of experience helping learners of all ages succeed. He holds a BA in Contemporary History (2:1) from the University of Sussex and a CELTA qualification, which led to five years of teaching English to children, teenagers, and adults across Asia. This international experience gave him a deep appreciation for language diversity and a flexible, student-centred approach to teaching. Since returning to the UK, Simon has taught across Key Stages 1 and 2, including in leadership roles such as Assistant Headteacher and Teaching & Learning Lead. He has mentored middle leaders, supported curriculum development, and helped raise standards through a focus on oracy, literacy, and inclusive classroom practice.

Simon holds a Master’s in Education (Distinction), with a dissertation exploring the word gap and the impact of language ideologies and neoliberal pressures on pupils’ identity and classroom voice. His academic work directly informs his teaching: he combines creativity, critical pedagogy, and a belief in pupil voice to build lessons that are engaging, empowering, and tailored to individual needs.

He specialises in English, creative writing, vocabulary development, oracy, and exam preparation (SATs, 7+, 11+, CAT4), and he is particularly skilled at helping anxious or underconfident learners find their voice. Simon’s sessions are warm, structured, and full of encouragement — balancing high expectations with humour and patience.

Simon has extensive experience preparing children for end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 SATs, which has given him a deep understanding of how to develop the skills, confidence, and exam technique needed for success under timed conditions. He has a track record of helping schools to exceed targets, but also of helping children on an individual basis to exceed in these papers. This expertise has transferred naturally to supporting pupils with 7+ and 11+ entrance exams, and he is familiar with the content and format of both, having tutored children in preparation for these assessments. In addition, Simon has experience preparing Year 6 pupils for, and administering, CAT4 verbal and non-verbal reasoning tests, equipping him with a strong understanding of these components too.

In his freetime, Simon enjoys keeping fit, drawing and playing with his cat Tinkerbell.

Simon believes in helping every learner grow in confidence and curiosity, with the skills they need to thrive not only in tests, but in life.