Oxford Graduate | Expert in 11+ & 13+ Entrance Exams | Proven Success with Top UK Schools

Find out more about Noelle

• 1) When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  I've always loved stories-reading them, telling them, and, eventually, teaching others how to shape them. English was the natural choice for me, though I've always had a foot in the arts too. I started tutoring part-time during university and discovered I really enjoyed the intimacy of one-to-one teaching-getting to meet students where they are, not where a scheme of work says they should be. It's very meaningful and addictive, in the best way.

• 2) Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  I mainly teach English and entrance exam preparation (especially 11+), so we cover everything from comprehension and composition to those delightfully cryptic reasoning puzzle!. I love teaching creative writing-watching a student's confidence grow as they realise they do have ideas worth writing about is always a highlight. Close reading is another favourite; it's a bit like detective work. Topics I enjoy slightly less? Probably those comprehension questions that ask you to pick "the most appropriate word" from a list of four equally awkward options.

• 3) Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  Definitely. My English teacher at school made the classroom feel like a place where ideas could breathe. During my A-Level revision period I was so stressed, as I had received an offer from Oxford University but it was conditional that I got two A* A* A. She kindly marked any practice exam papers I had written. And trust me, I wrote a lot! She wasn't required to mark them, but she could see how much I cared and wanted to relax me. I got 100% in my A-Level English. In hindsight, I was perhaps a little too prepared! But her kindness and support had been everything to me.

• 4) What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  Adaptability, warmth, and a genuine interest in the student as a whole person-not just as a brain to be filled with facts. It helps to know your subject well, of course, but more than that, I think students respond to sincerity. If you're excited about what you're teaching, they'll feel it. And if you're calm and patient when things get tricky, they'll trust you enough to keep going. And a good sense of humour can go a long way.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  I once had a student who hated writing. Absolutely dreaded it. So we started with nonsense stories-talking animals, exploding marshmallows, the lot. Gradually, she started to find her rhythm, and by the end of the year, she was crafting really elegant descriptive passages. She even got her piece read out in class, which I think surprised her more than anyone else. It was a good reminder that progress isn't always linear.

• 6) What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still face in your subject?

  I think one of the ongoing challenges in English is how subjective it can be. Students often want neat answers, and literature rarely gives them that. Helping them get comfortable with ambiguity-while still giving them the structure they need to write a solid response-can be a delicate balance. But once they get it, it's like watching a light switch on.

• 7) Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  Outside of teaching, I'm an artist. That practice feeds into my teaching more than you'd think. Both involve slowing down, paying attention, and being open to unexpected connections. I think that's part of why I love creative writing: it's where language meets intuition.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P)?

  I try to make each session feel like it's worth showing up for-not just because we're covering useful material, but because there's real thought and care in the way we do it. I come prepared, I pay attention, and I genuinely want my students to do well-not just on paper, but in the bigger picture. I like to think that, years from now, they might remember a metaphor we puzzled over or a story we built together. That's the kind of success I'm interested in.