Eight years teaching at an Ofsted Outstanding London primary school, where I led Reading, Phonics and Writing.
I now work full-time as a private governor, bringing my expertise to families seeking the best-possible education for their child.
Reading & Phonics Lead, trained in Sounds-Write, delivering daily, quality-first phonics teaching since 2018. I rebuilt one cohort's phonics from scratch after lockdown — 90% passed their delayed Phonics Screening Check. Most recently, I taught a dyslexic boy to love reading. His parents' words: "Every child has that one teacher they remember; we think you will be that teacher for our son."
Trained in Singapore Maths and mastery-based teaching with the NCETM. I have a track record of taking pupils working below age-related expectations to greater depth. My last cohort scored 24.1/25 in the UK's statutory Multiplication Tables Check, nearly 3 points above the national average of 21.0. 66% achieved full marks, against a national 37%, including pupils with complex learning needs — supported by Sum: Ninja!, a practice app I coded myself.
Teaching writing is my passion. I use Talk4Writing and Rainbow Grammar to help children develop a deep understanding of sentence structure. As Writing Lead at my school, these approaches underpinned the curriculum I designed — grammar, handwriting, and writing itself. Under my teaching, a Year 6 cohort with pupils facing disadvantage, language barriers and additional needs saw writing at the required level rise from 51% to 76%.
My longest-standing engagement was four years with one family, preparing two sisters with entirely different needs under the same roof. The elder was aiming for Guildford High School via the 11+: four years of weekly preparation built her from foundational skills to real exam technique under pressure. Her younger sister had disengaged from learning altogether — I started with a puppet and game-based activities long before any formal academic work began, and she went on to secure a place at Tormead School via its inclusion programme. The family retained me across both journeys.
That same individual attention is what I now offer full-time, as a private governor to one family at a time.
References and further detail shared on request.
"Your grit, grip and dedication to being better every day is very visible, even tangible... She is taking away a lot, mainly her love for reading and creative writing, which was recognised during her successful application to Ibstock Place School."
Parent"He's brilliant both at stretching the highest achieving kids and helping those who need a little extra assistance."
Parent"My daughter has not only improved her reading and maths skills significantly but also developed a genuine love for learning."
Parent"Thank you for being such an amazing teacher. Thank you for pushing her to try harder, encouraging her to do her best, for supporting her when she was struggling... thanks to all your hard work she will be just fine."
ParentI have spent my entire career at one school — an Ofsted Outstanding primary in London — teaching every year group from Year 1 to Year 6, and leading curriculum development at whole-school level. That breadth gives me a complete understanding of a child's primary development: how a curriculum should build year on year, how early decisions shape outcomes down the line, and how to adapt teaching for complex needs — including cohorts disrupted by lockdown, children at risk of exclusion, and neurodivergent pupils needing specialist support.
I hold a First Class degree in English from the University of Sussex and a Masters-level teaching qualification from the University of East Anglia, specialising in children aged 7 to 11. I've also completed a national qualification in leading teacher development (NPQ), having been trusted by my school to train other teachers from the ground up: guiding a trainee through to full qualification, then mentoring newly qualified teachers through their first years in the classroom.
Combining my years of classroom teaching with my experience supporting pupils through entrance examinations, I now bring one family the same rigour that has already placed pupils at some of the country's most selective schools.
If this is the standard you wish for your child, I'd be glad to talk it through.
I work exclusively with one family at a time as a private governor. Please get in touch to discuss your child's needs and arrange an initial consultation.