Ailsa Critten

My lessons are tailored to each student’s specific goals, whether that’s exam preparation, coursework support, personal statement writing, or interview practice. I work at your pace, start from where you are, and adapt my approach to suit how you learn best. I’m patient, encouraging, and direct — I’ll tell you what’s working and what needs to change, and I’ll give you the tools to improve independently as well as with me.

I offer online sessions via video call, using shared documents and screen sharing to make lessons interactive and focused. I’m flexible on timing and happy to work around school and exam schedules.

I’m a qualified secondary school teacher (QTS) with a BA and MA in Music from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in Creative Health from UCL (Distinction). I’m currently completing a PhD at Northumbria University, funded by a competitive UKRI research studentship. I have over 1,000 hours of classroom teaching experience from two years at a secondary school in the North East of England via the Teach First programme, and I’ve mentored students through successful Oxbridge applications.