Alessandra

I have been a private tutor and education advisor for fifteen years, specialising in 11+, 13+ and independent-school entrance preparation alongside primary and GCSE tuition. I hold a PhD in English Literature, and English — especially reading and writing — is where my heart truly lies. My lessons are structured but warm: I believe children learn best when they feel secure, so I build calm routines and clear expectations while keeping the work engaging and, wherever possible, fun. I place real emphasis on genuine understanding rather than simply teaching to the test, helping each child grasp not just what they are learning but why. I often model tasks alongside my pupils and ask them to teach ideas back to me to consolidate their learning. I work regularly with international and bilingual families, and I am endlessly happy to recommend books — I have been known to turn even the most reluctant reader into one who asks for the next chapter.

Subjects

English Mathematics Verbal Reasoning Non-Verbal Reasoning

Education

University of Buckingham – BA (Hons) English Literature University of Buckingham – MA English Literature (by Research) University of Buckingham – PhD English Literature

Experience

Alessandra is a professional tutor and education advisor with fifteen years' experience preparing pupils for the most competitive schools in the country. She holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Buckingham, where her doctoral research focused on Shakespeare, and she brings the same academic rigour and love of language to her tuition. She specialises in 7+, 11+ and 13+ entrance preparation, working with children from international and high-net-worth families across the full admissions cycle. She prides herself on preparing pupils comprehensively — building genuine understanding, confidence and independence rather than teaching to the test. Fluent in English and Italian, Alessandra is especially experienced in supporting bilingual and international-school children with the English-language demands of the entrance exams alongside the reasoning and written papers. The overwhelming majority of her pupils receive offers from their target schools. Her success schools include: Eton College, Haberdashers' Boys' School, Harrow School, Latymer Upper School and University College School. Exam boards: ISEB (Common Pre-Test and Common Entrance) and GL Assessment.