Stephen

I am a happily married, proud father of two children. I have a PGCE, Masters and a Bachelor`s Degree in English and have taught English and Film in sixth forms since 1999. I have experience of teaching English from basic skills to A Level and happily support undergraduates and help with post-graduate research. Indeed, I have taught pupils as young as seven to those in their seventies. I specialise in GCSE and A Level English Language & Literature teaching and have examined for AQA and EDUQAS boards since 2001, including seven years of leading exam teams and teaching them how to examine. It is, therefore, fair to say that I have an excellent grasp of what examiners are looking for and can ensure exam success. I also have management experience (since 2003) and have led A Level teachers/courses in English Language, English Literature and English Language & Literature. As well as teaching, I have managed several A Level and BTEC departments of a local college where I was also a senior leader. Finally, my coaching experience, helping other teachers to improve their practice, started when I qualified as a mentor at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2015.

I love my job so whatever level I teach, I always get a buzz from seeing a student progress, be it with their spelling, grammar or Shakespeare. I am patient, enthusiastic, passionate and very knowledgeable about my subjects and I feel I excel at one to one tuition. I believe in a student led approach as every student is different and I build sessions around what you require in a collaborative fashion. I am happy to help with coursework, dissertations or deliver more exam focused sessions. No matter what your aspirations are in English, I will give you the confidence to achieve them at your own pace.

Availability: Evenings (from 5pm) and weekends (from 9am). I can also tutor in the mornings before school (7am-8am)

Willing to travel: 5 miles

Experience: 2015-Present - Private Tutor. Taught a range of English & Film subjects to a variety of private learners: primary to GCSE, A Level and adult learners; domestic and international.

Macclesfield College 2024-present. Teacher of AQA English Language GCSE & Functional Skills.

Aquinas College – Head of A Level English Literature 2022-2023.
Managing a team of English Literature teachers. The teaching timetable comprised A Level English Literature, EPQ, RE & Personal Tutor duties.

The Trafford College - Head of the Faculty of Science, Society & Technology/House Monitor Manager.
2021-2022. Managing the curriculum for approximately half The Cheadle Campus, comprising thirty members of staff. Subjects included: A Levels/Applied: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Sociology, Criminology, Human Biology. Level 3 Vocational: Health & Social Care, Uniformed Protective Services, IT, Applied Science. Level 2 Vocational: Health & Social Care, Uniformed Protective Services, IT.
GCSE Maths. Taught English Literature A Level.

The Cheadle & Marple Sixth Form College - English/Film Teacher, Manager, Senior Leader, Coach.
2000-2022 - Teacher of English Language, Literature & Film, Level 1-3 at both campuses, 21 years (including 16 years as a Personal Tutor). Taught A Level, International Baccalaureate, Functional Skills, GCSE, Access.
Throughout my 21 years of teaching at the college I had many additional roles:

2020-2021 Senior Leader of Marketing Recruitment & High School Liaison. Head of the Faculty of Science, Society & Technology & Head of Access to Higher Education.
Managed 40 staff that consisted of teachers, middle leaders, co-ordinators, pastoral workers, marketers, school liaison specialists and lab technicians. Presented reports to governors and senior leadership. With a significantly lower budget (-£40000), the marketing team managed to increase accepted places by through taking marketing online.

2018-2020 - Head of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Health Studies/Assistant to the Director of Teaching Learning & Assessment (2018-2019). The faculty comprised the following subjects: A Levels:
PHOTOGRAPHY, SOCIOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY, DRAMA, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, ART. BTEC: Art
Extended Diploma, HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/Extended Diploma, PUBLIC
SERVICES BTEC 90 Credit Diploma/Extended Diploma. In my first year of this job, the Faculty also included Level 2 Health & Social Care & Public Services but they were removed from the faculty due to a re-structure. We increased the performance of the faculty to take the area from requires improvement to good. I managed 15 teachers and an art technician. I performed a range of other managerial duties including: chairing meetings, annual appraisals, learning walks, focus groups, writing self-assessment reports and handling pastoral support. I also adopted a temporary senior leadership role and directed the college’s teaching, learning & assessment, successfully embedding reflective and independent learning approaches. My primary objective was to deliver change and improve performance levels so I ran INSETs on metacognition, google classroom and performed a vast number of lesson observations, learning walks and focus groups so I could ensure and improve the quality of the college’s teaching, learning and assessment. Moreover, I had to maintain cutting edge knowledge of pedagogical methodology which underpins quality teaching and learning in order to provide the staff with the best CPD. As well as training staff personally, I also arranged for one of my favourite educational writers, Leah Kirkman; author of Talk-less Teaching to run a very well-received INSET.

2017-2018 - Head of Ridge House. Managed the pastoral support for the entire house (including all Maths & Science A Levels/BTECs) and the following A Levels: Business Studies, Economics, Geography, Government & Politics, History, Law, Psychology & Sociology. We raised achievement by a total of 15 ALPS grades, taking the House from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’. The team won the House cup for having the best attendance in the college.

2016-2017 - Teaching Learning & Assessment Lead Coach. Coached teachers and performed quality procedures: lesson observations, learning walks & focus groups. Delivered CPD on INSETS & ran teaching & learning pods.

2015-2017 - Manor House Subject Co-ordinator.
Co-ordinated a range of A Level/BTEC subjects. IT, Film, Media, Photography, Business Studies, Economics, Law, Geography, History, Sociology & Psychology.

2004-2012 - English Language Co-ordinator.
Managing English Language A Level at both campuses. Took ALPS to outstanding levels.

2004-2005 - English Language & Literature Coordinator. Managing English Language & Literature A Level at both campuses.

Keighley College – English Teacher (Part Time)
1999-2000 - English Literature A Level, GCSE English Language, Basic Skills & Key Skills Teacher.

Exam Board Assessment Experience (Part Time)
2024-Present AQA English Language GCSE Paper Examiner
2013–2024 EDUQAS Film Coursework Moderator.
2001-2009 AQA Examiner/Team Leader/Moderator. A Level English Language moderator/examiner. A Level English Language and Literature Team Leader & Examiner.

Part Time Work Experience
2016-2019 - ATL & NEU un ion Representative. Attended the Joint Council and represented members’ views.

2012-Present Tribute Band Manager, Digital Marketer & Drummer. Drumming/managing/digital marketing.

DBS Check: Yes