Giving AQA GCSE English Students a Forensic Understanding of the Course

A recent message from a happy parent: ‘Hi Claire, I just wanted to let you know that J got a grade 9 in her mock! She is over-the-moon. Thank you so much for all your support so far.’

“I cannot recommend Claire (Mrs Davidson/Ms Smith) highly enough. I was fortunate enough to be taught by Claire for my GCSE English (years 10 & 11). I really struggled at school, English in particular (later diagnosed with Dyslexia) and struggled even more with authority. Far from the perfect student. Claire completely transformed my English learning experience. I enjoyed the books we read and even enjoyed writing about them afterwards. I was given an understanding of that which had previously alluded me. Claire’s passion, patience and strong personality make for an exceptional teacher. I am extremely grateful for her influence in my schooling as I was able to attain a Grade C in GCSE’s – which I appreciate isn’t the pinnacle of educational accolades, but for someone who was previously predicted E/F this was a great achievement and meant I was able to enter into my chosen career as an Aircraft Engineer in the RAF. Again, for this I am extremely grateful and would not hesitate to recommend her as a tutor”

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.

“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 is a welcoming, fantastic and engaging tutor who makes lessons fun and encouraging. Her content and revision resources are wonderful and really help Z after the lesson has finished. My son has vastly improved his confidence and approach to both English Language and Literature exams. I would highly recommend Claire. Thank you so much from the whole family!

“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!”

“Claire was an amazing teacher and is an inspiration to this day. The passion she has for teaching and learning is evident by the awe that children and young people have for her and the lessons she teaches. I will always value the time she gave me, the listening ear and the friendly smile. She believed in me, she saw abilities and strengths I hadn’t even identified or found in myself yet. Not only this she inspired me to take challenges and succeed at things I probably wouldn’t have done without her guidance and support. I will always recommend Claire to anyone looking for that person to guide, support, inspire and encourage someone to be a better person and along the way she will also help you to understand English! What more could you want?”

“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 couldn’t recommend Claire Davidson enough. Claire taught me for my GCSEs back in 2000 & 2001. With Claire’s enthusiasm and great teaching style, I went from getting Cs & Bs at the beginning to finally ending up with an A/A* for English language & English literature. Claire made English lessons become interesting, rather than a boring compulsory subject that I thought of it as before entering her class. Claire taught me so many skills for essay writing and analysis that prepared me for not just the rest of my education up to post-graduate Masters level, but life in general. With the company “World Challenge”, Claire took my brother in a team of students to Morocco for a week and a few years later, Claire & I went to Malawi & Zambia for a month with another team. She encouraged and helped motivate us into such life skills and experiences that we would never have achieved through school alone. These skills helped with university and job applications and life in general. I will never forget the time and effort Claire put into us as children and the opportunities she gave us. Claire is the perfect candidate, if you are considering her tutoring services of your child.”

Highly recommend Claire! She helped my son break down the AQA GCSE English Language into something logical that he could navigate. Claire has a calm and clear approach to her sessions, which helped George cut through all the noise and notes from school! He achieved a grade 8, which says it all!