Hello, I'm Kathy and I run The Cambridge Tutor Service.

I earned a BA, an MA and a PGCE from the University of Cambridge and went on to enjoy a successful career as a classroom teacher before setting up as a private tutor in 2014. That classroom experience still shapes how I teach today: it gave me strong organisational skills, a solid grasp of what examiners are looking for and, along with experience of marking for an exam board, real insight into how the best grades can be achieved.

I tutor students working towards their English GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and International Baccalaureate qualifications and am familiar with the content, formats and expectations of all the major exam boards. My students are based all over the world - currently I work with families in the UK, China, Dubai and Spain - so I'm used to adapting my teaching to different curricula, time zones and starting points.

No two pupils are the same, and no two lesson plans are either. Some students I work with are aiming to exceed the targets set by their school; others have lost confidence in English completely and need to rebuild it from the ground up. I've supported students managing exam anxiety; students with dyslexia and visual stress; and students who simply needed someone patient enough to explain a tricky concept a different way. Whatever the starting point, my approach is the same: understand how a student learns best, meet them there, and give them the tools - and the confidence - to keep improving.

Lessons are delivered online, mostly over Zoom, using interactive tools that allow students to annotate texts, highlight key details and take notes in real time. Every session is saved and shared as a PDF, and I follow up afterwards with notes and tailored practice tasks, so learning continues after the lesson ends.

I'm proud of the progress my students go on to make. It's common for pupils I work with to move up more than one grade boundary beyond school predictions: some have progressed from higher-than-average predictions to the very top bands; others from middle grades to the top bands; and many who have been told they are unlikely to pass manage to achieve much more than the basic grade. This holds true even for students who declare English to be their worst subject, many of whom have gone on to achieve their strongest grades in this subject.

The majority of students I work with see significant improvements and growth in confidence within just a few weeks. Check out the testimonials and see what parents (and some of my former students) say about working with me.

One-to-One Tutoring

Each one-hour lesson is designed to help your child grow in confidence, strengthen their reading and writing skills, and reach their full potential in English. (see testimonials).

You’re not just paying for an hour of tutoring: I also provide your child with the time, care, and expert support they need to truly succeed. For every session, I spend on average three hours of dedicated time, carefully planning and tailoring the lesson to your child’s specific goals.

For £60 per lesson, your child will receive:

• A one-to-one, hour-long lesson fully tailored to their individual needs, with engaging and interactive activities to keep them motivated and focused.
• Dedicated, personalised lesson preparation – I spend around an hour carefully planning each session so it is exactly right for your child. Every lesson is built around their current level, exam board, target grade, and any work they’ve shared with me. This ensures they always receive the right support at the right time, whether they are building confidence or striving for top grades.
  
  My aim is for every student to leave each lesson feeling more confident, more capable, and ready to succeed. The time and care I invest in each pupil means their progress is consistent, clear, and meaningful.
• A targeted practice task after every lesson – I spend additional time preparing a focused piece of work based on what your child has learned, so they can continue improving between sessions and strengthen their skills and exam technique.
• Careful marking and detailed feedback – I dedicate around 30 minutes to assessing each piece of work using official examination board mark schemes, providing clear guidance on what your child is doing well and exactly how they can improve to gain more marks.
• Ongoing support and regular updates – you’ll always be kept informed about your child’s progress and any concerns, with support and guidance available outside the lesson time.

This structured approach, combined with the time and attention I give to each individual pupil, ensures your child is consistently supported and making clear, measurable progress, building their confidence, strengthening their skills, and ultimately achieving higher grades in their English exams.

Spaces are limited to ensure every student receives dedicated attention. Enquire now to secure yours.