At The English Lab, I specialise in giving AQA students absolute confidence in how to target the AQA GCSE English (and English Literature) exam papers. Led by a highly experienced tutor and UK award-winning teacher, Claire Davidson, the programmes blend proven teaching strategies, expert resources, and a student-first approach to make progress inevitable.
We believe great GCSE English tuition starts with clarity. That’s why our approach combines:
I am a UK Teaching Award winner and National Judge with thirty years experience teaching students aged 11-18. I am also an experienced examiner, having worked for many years as a Team Leader for a variety of exam boards. Whilst I have taught all abilities, my most recent position in a boys grammar school has given me a particular insight into the need for high end intensive intervention to raise exam performance in the run up to the GCSE English examinations.
I am considered an approachable and friendly tutor who creates an excellent working environment where all students feel confident to participate freely and share their ideas. I work hard to engender an atmosphere of mutual respect and support, where everyone contributes and feels safe and comfortable to do so.
“Claire tutored both my children through Years 10 and 11, resulting in them achieving decent English GCSEs. As a parent I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Claire – not only as a tutor but as a person who actually takes an invested interest in her students. My children are adults now and still to this day are grateful and have fond memories of ‘Mrs Davidson’.”
“Claire was without a doubt the best teacher I had throughout my secondary schooling. Her lessons were creative, engaging and thought provoking, instilling in me a passion for literature and creative writing which remains to this day. Claire also mentored me throughout the university application process, going above and beyond to help me write a personal statement which captured my personality as well as my academic profile. It was through this guidance that I was accepted into my first choice university, for which I will be forever grateful. We all have that one teacher at school that we remember for broadening our horizons and supporting us to be the best we can be. For me, Claire was that teacher. She’s nothing short of a total rock star!”
‘My daughter did the masterclass programme with Claire as a home ed student. To be honest, it was the length and breadth of her preparation for this exam. We’re absolutely delighted as it was so thorough. My daughter got a Grade 7. I’d HIGHLY recommend Claire’s programmes.’
Thank you so much Claire. E found your sessions enjoyable and was able to put it all into practice and get the grades he was hoping for. I highly recommend Claire for both English Language and Literature!
“Having had the honour of being taught by Claire and to have then later known her as a colleague I can absolutely vouch for her dedication to excellence and passion for the success of students in her care.”
I already knew of Claire professionally and was aware of her outstanding teaching and commitment to students. After a disastrous mock result and losing all confidence, we signed up our son to the programme on the understanding he would be committed, (I had no doubt the programme would be tailored and meet the needs of the GCSE.) It has been brilliant. He has been engaged of his own accord, the resources are downloadable for further revision and recap, and he has received beneficial feedback. I was a bit worried he would struggle with his sporting commitments, work and homework, but he has been able to attend sessions, work through the programme, and this has been vital to his GCSE preparations. Thoroughly recommend.
“I could not recommend Claire enough for anyone looking for English tutoring. She tutored me through A-Level English Literature and Creative Writing. Each session Claire tailors it to what you want or need to work on. From learning Othello quotes to comparing novels Claire was able to help my writing and understanding develop. Her enthusiasm and motivation enabled me to continue my passion for English and achieve the grades that I needed for university. She always believed in me, saw the strengths I had and motivated me. If you are looking for a tutor to help with your English, Claire 100% is the person you need.”
“Claire was my A Level English Teacher after I relocated to Plymouth from Liverpool with family. English and reading in general had always been a huge passion of mine, but the move and leaving best friends behind had been somewhat of a distraction and my heart was no longer in it. Claire not only reignited my passion for English which got me the A needed for Birmingham University, but also the highest exam mark that year in our local district. Her love for the subject is contagious. The way she presented each module was dynamic and thought provoking. Othello is still my favourite Shakesperean Play solely down to Claire’s presentation of it. In fact, it inspired me to write an essay on the play whilst at University for which I received a “First” class mark from a tutor notorious for never giving out “Firsts”. I couldn’t recommend Claire as a personal tutor more. My husband (who was also taught by Claire) and I still refer to her as “Superwoman” due to her outstanding level of talent, patience and professionalism. If you need assistance, inspiration or help getting back on track with English, Claire is 100% your lady!”
“I would thoroughly recommend Claire as a tutor. My daughter had Claire tutor her for her GCSE English after she had had to change schools in year 10. At the time she was really struggling with her English but Claire enthused, encouraged, supported and gave her confidence. My daughter went from a grade 1 in English lit and a grade 2 in English lang, in her mock exams in March, to passing both exams, of which the results came out yesterday. My daughter would come home after the exams and tell me how she had applied the strategies Claire had taught her. I am getting emotional thinking about it. This passionate teacher has enabled my daughter to achieve the results needed in her English to start as an engineering apprentice in Sept and I am completely certain she would not have achieved these marks without Claire’s terrific tutoring. Thank you Claire. You are a wonderful human being and have given her the confidence with her English that will help so much with her future career and helped her achieve far more than just the exam results xx”
Thank you, Claire for all the resources and tips you’ve given so far. All very much appreciated. J & A are loving the sessions. No easy task keeping two 16 year olds engaged for an hour, but you do it well. Huge thanks, Claire!
‘Happy to report M got Grade 7s. And to be honest, the only study she did was with your group… So, thank you!!! I shall be recommending your services!’ KW ‘I’m very happy…Without the extra support it’s very unlikely he would have passed his English!’ EG ‘I just wanted to let you know that I PASSED!!!!! I got an amazing and very unexpected Grade 5. Thank youuuuuuu!’ MR ‘F got a 9 in English Lang & an 8 in English Lit. Amazing. Can’t thank you enough! Lots of thanks.’ SB ‘I got two Grade 8s in Language and Literature. One mark off a Grade 9 in Literature’ TR ‘E has attained the grades he needs to proceed with an apprenticeship in Engineering. We are delighted. The tutor sessions were fab.’ KQ ‘A double Grade 5 in Lang & Lit and only 2 marks off a 6 in Lang and one off a 6 in Lit. I cannot thank you enough. I’m in tears here. We didn’t think he was going to pass at all. I am over the moon.’ SG ‘O got 7s in both Lit & Lang!!! Absolutely delighted. Thank you so much for the support. He did so much better than we thought.’ CC ‘He gained a 7 in English Language & a 6 in Literature. We are delighted…’ SB ‘She got a double Grade 7 in Lang & Lit, which we are all delighted with. Thanks for your expert tutoring and encouragement all the way.’ CM
My son really struggled with his English; 2 years ago it looked like he was not going to pass his GCSE at all and we were really worried. This is when Claire kindly agreed to support him. The one to one tutoring Claire gave him was online. I loved listening to her lessons. Claire is so enthusiastic, encouraging, kind and supportive. She also has a huge amount of knowledge and understanding around her subject. Over the next two years my son’s confidence grew. He started to enjoy English and believe in himself. I know this is because of how Claire made him feel; it was wonderful to watch. This summer our son passed his English GCSE. This was such an achievement and I believe it was only possible because of Claire’s patient and continued support. I cannot recommend her more highly. She has enabled our son to believe he can do it. He is now going to continue with his education and start his A-levels. I couldn’t ask for anymore.
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