FAQ
What levels do you tutor?
Sarah offers 1-1 tuition for:
- Key Stage 3 students looking to hone their skills and knowledge.
- GCSE English Language & Literature.
- A-Level English Literature.
Do you offer online lessons?
Yes, Sarah offers both online and in-person tuition. Online lessons are conducted via Teams and include all necessary materials shared digitally via Google Docs. They are just as rigorous and engaging as in-person sessions.
Where are you based for in-person sessions?
Sarah is based near Cirencester in the South West of England. In-person sessions are available depending on your location and her availability: please get in touch to discuss logistics.
What are your qualifications?
Sarah holds a BA (Hons) in English, a PGCE, and an MSc in Education. She’s also anchoring Chartered Teacher of English status with the English Association. Sarah has over 20 years’ experience teaching, including 12 years as Head of English at a top independent school.
How much do you charge?
- Key Stage 3: £45/hr
- GCSE: £50/hr
- A-Level & University Prep: £60/hr
All sessions are 1-1 and can be delivered online UK wide and internationally, or in-person in the Cirencester area.
Do you provide homework or resources?
Yes. Sarah offers tailored homework and study resources to reinforce what tutees cover in lessons, including model answers, reading lists, and exam-style questions.
Can you help with personal statements or interview prep?
Absolutely. Sarah can deliver sessions for Oxbridge preparation and interview coaching to help students present their best selves. These sessions will incur additional costs.
Do you work with students with SEND or learning difficulties?
Yes. Sarah has experience supporting students with a range of learning needs including dyslexia, ADHD, aspergers, and processing difficulties. Lessons are adapted to the learner’s pace and preferred style.
How do I book a session?
Please contact Sarah via sarah.jones@focus-tutoring.co.uk. She will then offer a free 15-minute initial consultation via Zoom to discuss your needs and requirements, and to see if the sessions will work for your child.
What is your cancellation policy?
Sarah asks for at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Sessions cancelled with less notice will be charged at the full rate. Sessions cancelled in time will be ported over to the next month.
home education
Do you support students who are home educated?
Yes, Focus Tutoring UK welcomes and supports home-educated students. Our tutoring can help with subject knowledge, exam preparation, and building confidence.
Can home-educated students sit their exams through you?
Focus Tutoring UK does not provide exam centre services directly. Home-educated students will need to register with an approved exam centre of their choice to sit formal assessments.
What about coursework or NEA (Non-Examined Assessment)?
For subjects that include NEA (such as English, Science practical endorsements, or certain humanities), tutees must have a registered exam centre that accepts private candidates and is able to oversee the NEA component. Focus Tutoring UK can provide support and guidance with content, but the official NEA supervision and submission must be managed through your chosen centre.
Can you recommend an exam centre?
While Focus Tutoring UK doesn’t act as an exam centre, we can advise on how to find one. Many exam boards list centres that accept private candidates, and it’s best to confirm availability and deadlines directly with them as these can vary.
What role do you play in the exam process?
Focus Tutoring UK’s role is to provide high-quality tutoring and guidance to prepare students for their exams. The exam entry, fees, and NEA arrangements are the responsibility of the student and their chosen exam centre
Hear From Sarah's Tutees
"Sarah's online English tutoring has been excellent. Makes the lessons engaging and we've seen an improvement in just a few months in quality of written work and ability to engage with set texts. Highly recommend Sarah."
"My daughter has attended a few of Sarah's Creative Writing sessions during school holidays this year. She really looks forward to the challenge of investigating ideas and writing her own pieces which Sarah helps her to construct. Each session has its own focus, this time it was building tension in a story and I was really impressed with the piece of writing she brought home. Sarah guides them constructively and always gives them great feedback. Millie can't wait to see what the next session has in store!"
"Thank you Sarah for your wonderful tutoring in English. My daughter has always found English her most challenging GCSE. You were kind, supportive and cheerful and it really helped increase her confidence. She jumped 3 grades from her mocks to her actual GCSE’s, to get 7 & 8 (1 Mark off a 9!) exceeding her expectations. No doubt your tutoring helped! Thank you. X"
"I have always struggled with English. Sarah is the best tutor I have had and helped me get grade 5 in both literature and language. I am really pleased as I didn’t think I was going to get above grade 4. Thank you!"
"After a low mark on a GCSE English moc we signed up to Focus Tutoring UK. Sarah very quickly identified my son's areas of concern and weaknesses and through live tutoring sessions she developed his English skills and more importantly his confidence. Her guidance was specific and to the point during live sessions and she was able to get my teenage son to engage with the subject matter, particularly with the nuances of correct punctuation, Shakespeare analysis, poetry anthology and writing confidently and knowledgeably about the above. Sarah also taught him to write correctly and not just to pass his exams. He was able to apply this to other academic subjects. My son did state that she blew his mind and made him think about English in a different way and he found he was able to apply her strategies and techniques directly to the exam. Thanks so much Sarah, two good GCSE English exams achieved."
"Sarah and Focus Tutoring have been a great help in working with my Year 10 teenage daughter. My daughter is engaged in her learning and as a tutor, Sarah is focused and engaging. We can see a real improvement in our child's learning. Thank you 😊 🙏."
"I cannot praise Sarah highly enough for giving my daughter the confidence she was lacking to pass her GCSE English Language exams. She was kind, patient and caring. I cannot underestimate the impact she had in helping my daughter pass. Would recommend to anyone!"
"Sarah's online English tutoring has been excellent. Makes the lessons engaging and we've seen an improvement in just a few months in quality of written work and ability to engage with set texts. Highly recommend Sarah."
"My daughter has attended a few of Sarah's Creative Writing sessions during school holidays this year. She really looks forward to the challenge of investigating ideas and writing her own pieces which Sarah helps her to construct. Each session has its own focus, this time it was building tension in a story and I was really impressed with the piece of writing she brought home. Sarah guides them constructively and always gives them great feedback. Millie can't wait to see what the next session has in store!"
"Thank you Sarah for your wonderful tutoring in English. My daughter has always found English her most challenging GCSE. You were kind, supportive and cheerful and it really helped increase her confidence. She jumped 3 grades from her mocks to her actual GCSE’s, to get 7 & 8 (1 Mark off a 9!) exceeding her expectations. No doubt your tutoring helped! Thank you. X"
"I have always struggled with English. Sarah is the best tutor I have had and helped me get grade 5 in both literature and language. I am really pleased as I didn’t think I was going to get above grade 4. Thank you!"
"After a low mark on a GCSE English moc we signed up to Focus Tutoring UK. Sarah very quickly identified my son's areas of concern and weaknesses and through live tutoring sessions she developed his English skills and more importantly his confidence. Her guidance was specific and to the point during live sessions and she was able to get my teenage son to engage with the subject matter, particularly with the nuances of correct punctuation, Shakespeare analysis, poetry anthology and writing confidently and knowledgeably about the above. Sarah also taught him to write correctly and not just to pass his exams. He was able to apply this to other academic subjects. My son did state that she blew his mind and made him think about English in a different way and he found he was able to apply her strategies and techniques directly to the exam. Thanks so much Sarah, two good GCSE English exams achieved."
"Sarah and Focus Tutoring have been a great help in working with my Year 10 teenage daughter. My daughter is engaged in her learning and as a tutor, Sarah is focused and engaging. We can see a real improvement in our child's learning. Thank you 😊 🙏."
"I cannot praise Sarah highly enough for giving my daughter the confidence she was lacking to pass her GCSE English Language exams. She was kind, patient and caring. I cannot underestimate the impact she had in helping my daughter pass. Would recommend to anyone!"
"Sarah's online English tutoring has been excellent. Makes the lessons engaging and we've seen an improvement in just a few months in quality of written work and ability to engage with set texts. Highly recommend Sarah."
"My daughter has attended a few of Sarah's Creative Writing sessions during school holidays this year. She really looks forward to the challenge of investigating ideas and writing her own pieces which Sarah helps her to construct. Each session has its own focus, this time it was building tension in a story and I was really impressed with the piece of writing she brought home. Sarah guides them constructively and always gives them great feedback. Millie can't wait to see what the next session has in store!"
"Thank you Sarah for your wonderful tutoring in English. My daughter has always found English her most challenging GCSE. You were kind, supportive and cheerful and it really helped increase her confidence. She jumped 3 grades from her mocks to her actual GCSE’s, to get 7 & 8 (1 Mark off a 9!) exceeding her expectations. No doubt your tutoring helped! Thank you. X"
"I have always struggled with English. Sarah is the best tutor I have had and helped me get grade 5 in both literature and language. I am really pleased as I didn’t think I was going to get above grade 4. Thank you!"
"After a low mark on a GCSE English moc we signed up to Focus Tutoring UK. Sarah very quickly identified my son's areas of concern and weaknesses and through live tutoring sessions she developed his English skills and more importantly his confidence. Her guidance was specific and to the point during live sessions and she was able to get my teenage son to engage with the subject matter, particularly with the nuances of correct punctuation, Shakespeare analysis, poetry anthology and writing confidently and knowledgeably about the above. Sarah also taught him to write correctly and not just to pass his exams. He was able to apply this to other academic subjects. My son did state that she blew his mind and made him think about English in a different way and he found he was able to apply her strategies and techniques directly to the exam. Thanks so much Sarah, two good GCSE English exams achieved."
"Sarah and Focus Tutoring have been a great help in working with my Year 10 teenage daughter. My daughter is engaged in her learning and as a tutor, Sarah is focused and engaging. We can see a real improvement in our child's learning. Thank you 😊 🙏."
"I cannot praise Sarah highly enough for giving my daughter the confidence she was lacking to pass her GCSE English Language exams. She was kind, patient and caring. I cannot underestimate the impact she had in helping my daughter pass. Would recommend to anyone!"
