Nicky

I am a professional, full-time private tutor with over a decade of experience helping students succeed in Entrance Exams, GCSEs, A Levels, and university admissions. I have a proven track record of consistently enabling my students to gain places at highly selective schools and universities, and to exceed their predicted grades.

I hold six A-Levels — in English Literature, History, Classical Civilisation, Philosophy, Government and Politics, and Sociology — and went on to complete an MA in Ancient History at the University of St Andrews. This broad and academically rigorous foundation informs my approach to tutoring, particularly in the humanities and entrance exam preparation.

I have worked with students both one-to-one and in groups, including online tuition via Skype, WhatsApp and Zoom, alongside more traditional face-to-face sessions.

I work extensively with students aged 6–13 on all aspects of 7+, 11+, 13+, and Common Entrance exams, covering English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. In keeping with the classical generalist tradition, I also support scholarship papers, interview preparation, and academic enrichment — offering a comprehensive, cohesive service that often removes the need for families to engage multiple tutors.

With secondary school students, I primarily assist in English Literature, History, Government and Politics, and Classical Studies, as well as History of Art and Ancient History at both GCSE and A Level.

I have worked with university students on essays, dissertations and academic writing, principally within History and English Literature.

I also prepare students of all ages for interviews — from school-level assessments to university entrance, including Oxbridge — as well as helping with UCAS applications.

My academic journey has been shaped by a lifelong engagement with literature, the arts, and classical culture — interests nurtured from an early age and deepened through regular travel to Italy and Greece, time spent in galleries and museums, and frequent attendance at the ballet and opera. This cultural grounding adds depth and perspective to my sessions, particularly with older students preparing for competitive entry or academic interviews.

I am based in Hampstead Garden Suburb/Golders Green and primarily work with students in North and Central London.

I believe my strong communication skills and cultivated academic background make me an effective tutor across my subject areas. I work with students from leading independent schools, as well as from grammar and non-selective state schools.

I am often praised for my knowledge beyond exam specifications, which gives students valuable context not typically covered in school — especially at GCSE and A Level.

My hourly fee reflects not only my extensive experience and outcomes but also the distinctive perspective I bring — shaped by a rigorous education, a classical grounding, and an empathetic, reflective approach to learning.

I am focused and passionate about tutoring, and the strong rapport I build with students is consistently reflected in feedback.

I firmly believe in seeing things from the student’s perspective, and my personalised approach has led to students achieving significantly higher results than they were initially predicted — in many cases by two or more grades.

Educated in a classically academic environment, I aim to make learning both enriching and effective — drawing from a wide cultural and intellectual base to foster both curiosity and achievement.

Having grown up in a household immersed in the arts, literature and travel, I continue to draw on these influences in my work. I have spent considerable time exploring classical and Renaissance landmarks in Italy and Greece, attending international events such as the Verdi Festival in Parma, and visiting galleries and museums across Europe. This cultivated background not only enriches my subject expertise but helps create an atmosphere of depth, inspiration and perspective in every session.

Tutoring Experience

General Tutoring Experience:

Before university, I worked for a popular Mathematics programme, helping students practice and perfect their maths skills. During one summer at university, I worked at a School of English. In my final year while studying for my MA, I tutored under the IRIS Project, coordinated by the University of Oxford, where I visited primary schools and helped students improve their literacy through learning basic Latin.
Since graduating in 2013, I have accumulated thousands of hours of tutoring experience through both face-to-face and online tuition.

7+, 11+, 13+ and Common Entrance Exams:

I have experience assisting students with all aspects of these admissions tests, including English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, and Non-Verbal Reasoning, as well as humanities subjects for scholarships. I have successfully supported students gaining places at the following schools (as of 2025):
Westminster, City of London, UCS, Highgate, Latymer, Haberdasher Aske’s, Merchant Taylor’s, Mill Hill, Aldenham, Harrow, Winchester, Haileybury, St Benedict’s, Godolphin and Latimer, Bancroft, Forest, Chigwell, Brentwood, JAGS, Streatham and Clapham, Alleyn’s, Emanuel, Wimbledon College, Magdalen College School, Uppingham, Oakham, King Edward’s.

GCSE and A Level:

I have worked with students from a broad range of schools, including leading independent schools and both selective and non-selective state schools. My students consistently achieve top grades, with none earning lower than a B at A Level and many exceeding their predicted grades by two or more levels. I am highly experienced with all major exam boards, including OCR, AQA, Edexcel, WJEC, CIE, and the IB. This includes successfully raising students’ predicted D and E grades to A* and A grades. My students have also consistently achieved very high marks in coursework components.
I have tutored my subjects across all main exam boards, including WJEC and CIE at GCSE, and OCR, AQA, and Edexcel at A Level, as well as the International Baccalaureate.

UCAS, Interview Preparation, and Oxbridge Entry:

I assist students with their personal statements as part of the UCAS application process and prepare them for university interviews and Oxbridge entrance tests.
As of 2025, my students have gained admission to the following universities:
Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews, Durham, Bristol, UCL, King’s College London, Edinburgh, Loughborough, Manchester, Southampton, Birmingham, Exeter, Warwick, and Reading.

University Students and Adult Learners:

I have supported university students with essay refinement and dissertation preparation across a variety of fields. Recent topics include the historiography of Victorian criminality and the legacy of the atomic bomb, particularly its impact on military science and women’s work rights during the Cold War period.
I also work with adult learners, tailoring tuition to meet their academic interests and the required level of rigour.

Additionally, I have experience working with students on the autism spectrum, as well as those with dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Tutoring Approach

My approach to tutoring is tailored to the individual needs and requirements of each student. Many of the older students I work with are adept at retaining knowledge but benefit from support with exam technique, essay writing skills, and revision strategies. I typically set homework between sessions to reinforce learning. With younger students, I often focus on areas of the entrance exams where they are weaker, as many score inconsistently across the four disciplines.
I believe tutoring should complement a well-rounded curriculum that includes sports or recreational activities, museum visits, and reading around the subject.
Sessions are varied and can include learning new material, note-taking, revision, discussion, exam technique, and practice questions — all carefully tailored to the individual student’s needs.
For older students, I encourage written responses and then demonstrate alternative ways to interpret and answer questions. This helps develop flexibility and confidence for both classwork and examinations.
With younger students, practice tests and mock questions form the core of improving their performance.
I consistently encourage my students to reach their full potential, and this ongoing focus on progress is what enables them to outperform expectations and achieve consistently high results.

Cancellation Policy:

I operate a clear cancellation policy to protect my teaching schedule. Any cancellation with less than 48 hours’ notice is charged at the full session rate, reflecting the limited opportunity to reallocate the time.