Parental Review August 2025
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!
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Small Group Tuition – Learn with Friends
Study doesn’t have to be solitary. Small group tuition offers the perfect balance of expert teaching and peer support. Students learn from each other’s questions while receiving structured guidance tailored to their exam board and texts.
What's included?
- A live 60 minute Zoom lesson with 1-5 other students, often classmates/friends
- Revision materials each lesson
- A strong focus on exam approaches to AQA Language and Literature papers
- No marking included, though this can be negotiated at an extra cost
Cost:
- Small groups of up to 6: £33 per student per hour. (Please note, most groups are 3-4 students.)
- Group of 2: £50 per student (per hour)
Enquire to book your place...
Problem: The traditional 1:1 model works extremely well for confident students who are prepared to speak readily in a live lesson, ask questions and get the most out of their tutor. However, in some 1:1 sessions the tutor can sometimes end up doing most of the talking and modelling, whilst the student is passive. Very little learning takes place in this scenario.
Answer: A small supportive group-learning scenario where students are studying the same Literature texts and feel confident in each other’s company. The Education Endowment Foundation asserts that ‘the best collaborative learning approaches take place in groups of no more than 5 students where there is a shared outcome or goal.’ Their research also reveals that ‘the impact of collaborative approaches on learning is consistently positive with students making an additional 5 months’ progress on average over the course of an academic year.’ Finally they assert that ‘most of the positive approaches include the promotion of talk and interaction between learners.’
I invite students to ‘learn with a friend or friends from the same school’ so that they are immediately comfortable with the people in the group. However, students can also apply to join a group where similar Literature texts are being covered. The groups range from 2-6 students and no more. Students are given a highly structured framework, targeting the key descriptors in the mark schemes, and they are regularly invited to ask questions, talk to each other and share ideas. It has been hugely successful with 100% of parents giving positive feedback.
Problem: 1:1 is generally offered at a premium by the tutor because it is an ‘expensive’ use of their time, and may be outside the budget of some families.
Answer: Group sessions are more affordable for many families and they are extremely effective. In fact my best result came from a small-group student who went from a Grade 3 in English at Christmas to a Grade 8 in the actual summer GCSE. She worked in a group of four, and they thrived. My 2024-25 groups all loved the sessions, as did their parents.
What people say...
P.C.
You’re a superstar teacher! S got a Year 10 mock paper back today. He was really pleased. Just shy of a grade 7!
Success for Home Educated Daughter (ET)
‘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.’
Amazing School Report – P.C.
Hi Claire, Sam got his interim school report this week and achieved an ‘outstanding’ in English right across the board for all areas of his work. You are an amazing teacher, Claire. This is an absolute first for Sam in English. He’s improved and more motivated with you involved!
Parental Review – L.L.
I would thoroughly recommend Claire as a tutor. Claire was a conscientious and thoughtful tutor who went the extra mile to make sure that my son was prepared for his English GCSE’s. He wouldn’t have achieved the grade he did without her support and knowledge.
C.H.
“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.”
NS
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!
Parental Review Sept 2025 (AR)
Claire is absolute gold dust. She has helped and encouraged two of my children through English GCSE exams. She is inspirational, energetic and absolutely on the money when it comes to the syllabus. I owe her so much. My kids have confidence in their ability now and both did really well in their GCSEs. I cannot recommend Claire more highly!
O.R.
“I really can’t recommend Claire enough! She taught me through KS4 and inspired me to continue with English Literature and take it at A-Level. She is so strikingly kind and cares deeply for all of her students, and that has stuck with me all these years later! If you are looking for a passionate and experienced tutor that will motivate, engage and inspire, I can’t think of anyone better than Claire for the job. 5 stars does this service an injustice!”
T.W.
“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”
H.W.
“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!”
Absolutely Incredible Tutor! (N.B.)
“Claire has been absolutely incredible and I can’t recommend The English Lab strongly enough. She tutored my daughter for her GCSE English this year as she was struggling and she has just received 7s in both her English language and literature results. This would not have been possible without Claire’s help. She not only has an incredible knowledge for her subject but makes it enjoyable, so much so that my daughter actually looked forward to her lessons every week. Thank you Claire- you’ve been amazing.”