Emma

After completing a PGCE at Oxford, I started teaching in a girls' grammar school in Buckinghamshire before moving on to Latymer Upper School, which was then a single sex boys' school. I spent several happy years there before going to James Allen's Girls' School in Dulwich where I taught English and History and was involved in the 11+ selection process. My husband's job took us to Hong Kong for four years where I had a brief spell as a supply teacher at South Island School. On our return to the UK, I took up a post at Queen's College in Harley Street, becoming Head of the English Department in 2004. This involved a considerable amount of work with the North London Girls' School Consortium. I was also extensively involved in Ucas applications, helping to structure personal statements. I retired at the end of the 2015 academic year and intend to devote time to tutoring and to developing my work as an A Level examiner for Cambridge International Examinations.

Over 30 years experience as an English teacher to girls and boys aged 11-18 is obviously useful. However, in many ways, I consider my life as a parent equally helpful. My four children have negotiated their way through 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry to quite a variety of schools: single sex/co-educational; London day/country boarding/international. We have struggled with dyslexia, anxiously awaited Common Entrance, GCSE and A Level results, dealt with UCAS (including Oxbridge), employed tutors. I am fully aware of the stresses this complicated educational process can put on family - particularly sibling - relationships. As far as possible, tutoring needs to be a positive, cheerful business for all concerned.

Apart from some gentle outdoor pursuits, my principal interest is the study of literature, ancient and modern.