Making learning English fun and engaging

"It is clear that Martin loves to teach. His passion for English is utterly infectious and he is one of those educators that children remember long after their school days have ended."

A bit about myself

A passion for literature

A passion for literature

I was very fortunate, when at school myself, to have the pleasure of being taught by a man who opened my eyes to literature and who made the process of learning a pleasure. I was then doubly blessed to have the process repeated at university in both English and Ancient History.

Enjoy the work

Enjoy the work

As thousands of my students will attest, my passion is, and has always been, education in its broadest sense. I enjoy the face-to-face exchange of ideas as I too learn every day from these encounters. It never ceases to amaze me how much information can be passed from one human being to another via teaching, no matter what the age. It has always been my aim for students in my care to enjoy the work that we do together and, if they are following an examination course, to make the process as approachable and as fair as possible. When setting and marking papers at 11+, 13+, AS and A level, I was often reminded that English Literature papers needed to be accessible to candidates at all levels of attainment.

Not a job, but a hobby

Not a job, but a hobby

One of the authors of my testimonials (for which thanks to all who have sent them over the years) points out that I enjoy teaching those candidates who for whatever reason “don’t get it” at first but move on to great things with encouragement. Perhaps my most pleasing achievement (and there have been a few) was seeing some of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds shine at the Rothermere course in Oxford for which I ran ‘outreach’, all of whom went on to study at Russell Group or Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Perhaps the best testimonial I have ever received came from my wife. When asked by a friend, whom she had not seen since university, what I did for a living she replied, “Oh Martin teaches, but it’s not so much a job, more his hobby”. I think she got it exactly, I love what I do and I love to see young people flourish in my areas of expertise.

Embracing online learning

Embracing online learning

I had feared, with my limited experience of online teaching, that I might be hamstrung by the advent of COVID-19 and the requirement to “go online”. However, my fears have been allayed. Despite the occasional mockery of my technologically-minded children, I have embraced Skype and Zoom and am enjoying the new experience; if it enables me to continue my passion (hobby!), then it works for me.

Curriculum Vitae
University of Lancaster Degree in English and Ancient History (Double Honours) Taught Numismatics, and Latin to US students on the Rhodes Scholarship Programme
The Leys School, Cambridge 1986 - 1988 Teacher of English and Ancient History
University College School (Senior), Frognal, Hampstead 1988 - 2016 Teacher of English Language and Literature, years 7-13
OCR Examinations Board, Cambridge 1985 to 2011 Senior Examiner and Reviser for English Literature, AS and A2 (and examiner for GCSE)
University of Oxford (Rothermere American Institute) 2014 - 2016 Teaching and Research Fellow
Beyond Words - Arts, Science and Literature Festival 2000 - 2009 Founder and Festival Director

Private Tuition

I have taught students form year 4 to third-year university. My students have made successful applications at 11, 13 and 16+ to University College School (both Junior and Senior); The King’s School, Canterbury; The King’s School Wimbledon; Charterhouse; St Paul’s Girls School; St Paul’s Boys School; South Hampstead High School; North London Collegiate Girls School; Westminster; Wetherby School (both Junior and Senior); Eton College; Harrow; Highgate; Radley College; Winchester College; Sevenoaks; Tonbridge; and Dulwich College.

My tutees have also made successful applications to universities in the UK (including Oxford and Cambridge), and the USA (Stanford, Duke, Georgetown, NYU, Yale, Harvard).

Exam level School Year Age of pupil Preparation from (age) Subjects
7 plus 3 7-8 6 English, Maths
11 plus 7 11-12 8 English, Maths, History, Latin, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
13 plus 9 13-14 10 English, Maths, History, Latin, Verbal reasoning, Non-verbal reasoning
16 plus 12 16 15 English literature, English language, History
GCSE / IGSE 11 15-16 13 English literature, English language, History, Media studies
A' Level 13 17-18 16 English literature, History, Ancient history, Classical civilisation, Media studies
University entrance (Oxbridge) 13 17-18 17 English literature
Successful applications
Charterhouse School Eton College Harrow School Highgate School Dulwich College (including one scholarship)
Latymer Upper School North London Collegiate Girls’ School Radley College Sevenoaks School South Hampstead High School for Girls
St Paul’s Boys School St Paul’s Girls School The King’s School Wimbledon The King’s School, Canterbury Tonbridge School
University College School Junior & Senior Schools Westminster School Wetherby Junior & Senior Schools Winchester College

Testimonials

"I will always be hugely grateful for his unwavering support and guidance through the stressful exam process and for his exceptional approach to teaching. He is a fantastic role model and an extremely lovely person."

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