About

Targeted GCSE support, tailored to your child's needs ...


Many students struggle with Latin, especially the GCSE. At times, the subject can seem simply overwhelming. I offer a supportive and friendly working relationship that will provide just what your child needs to improve. Whether they need help and strategies to improve their learning of set texts, are struggling with some of the trickiest grammar concepts or simply demotivated and disillusioned with it all, I can help.
In the first session I will assess the situation and explore the best ways to provide support and challenge. If appropriate, I will also share resources and make further suggestions for study at home.


I specialise in the GCSE qualification (both OCR and WJEC/Eduqas), where I have the most experience, and now pass all enquiries for Common Entrance/Scholarship to those with experience in the prep-school setting such as Bob Bass or Ed Clarke. Likewise all A-level and degree-level enquiries I refer to Sarah Tonner, who is perfect for older learners; she is also an expert in Medieval Latin if you're someone who needs help with that.

More about me ...

 

I was all set to become an academic, before coming to the rather inconvenient realisation that I didn't actually enjoy the process of research. By this stage I was already half way through a PhD, which I completed, and had also agreed to publish two academic volumes, which I finished during my first year of teaching. These are published under my maiden name of Emma C Clarke and are highly recommended if you suffer from insomnia! One of the few things that I did enjoy during my research was the time I spent teaching Latin to Undergraduates. I therefore signed up for teacher training and have never regretted my change of career.

I devoted my chalkface career to increasing the numbers of students studying Latin in the state sector.  I spent 9 years working at The Latymer School, a state grammar school in North London, and in 2008 I moved to Horsell in Surrey with my husband and took over sole responsibility for the teaching of Latin at Woking High School, an 11-16 comprehensive school. There I increased numbers dramatically from a tiny handful of students to what is now a thriving and viable department. I worked there for 13 years before deciding to focus on my career in the tuition sector.

Summary of Relevant Qualifications & Experience:

 

As a private tutor I have helped hundreds of students to succeed at GCSE, Common Entrance and Scholarship level. I have tutored students currently in or headed for schools such as Charterhouse, Eton, Halliford, Oundle, RGS and Roedean. In addition to this, the following key areas of experience are most relevant:


  • Fully qualified teacher (PGCE Classics, St. John's College, Cambridge).
  • Certified by Qualified Tutor Ltd at Mastery level.
  • 21 years' teaching experience in the state sector: The Latymer School in North London and then Woking High School in Surrey.
  • 20 years' experience as an independent tutor, which became my full-time focus from July 2022.
  • Enhanced DBS (formerly CRB); I am signed up to the DBS update service, so my check is automatically reviewed every year.
  • Elected to the Board of Directors of The Tutors' Association, the professional body for the tutoring sector, for two years. I am an ongoing member of The Tutors Association.
  • Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Fellowship is open only to teachers who have served a minimum of 10 years in the profession. To attain Fellowship a teacher must be nominated by colleagues and then go through a formal vetting process.
  • 1st class Honours degree, MA Distinction and PhD in Classics from Royal Holloway, University of London.
  • Professional marker for A level Latin (OCR) for several years.