STEP 1 :Diagnostic assessment to find gaps

Every student starts with a diagnostic assessment, where I work through a mix of topics and question types to identify exactly where their knowledge gaps lie. This isn’t just about finding out what a student doesn’t know, but understanding why they’re getting things wrong, whether that’s a misunderstanding of a core concept, a gap from an earlier year that was never fully addressed, or a pattern of careless mistakes under time pressure. This gives me a clear, accurate picture of the student’s starting point, rather than relying on guesswork or school grades alone.

STEP 2 :Past-paper and mark-scheme-focused teaching

From early on, lessons are built around real GCSE past papers rather than generic textbook questions. This means students get used to the actual style, wording and difficulty of questions they’ll face in the exam, rather than being surprised by them on the day. I also teach directly from official mark schemes, showing students exactly how marks are awarded and what examiners are looking for in a full-mark answer. This helps students stop losing easy marks on things like missing units, incomplete working, or answers that don’t fully address the question.

STEP 3 : Step-by-step explanations of tricky topics

Where a student is struggling with a specific topic, I break it down into small, manageable steps rather than moving through it quickly. I focus on building understanding from the ground up, using clear explanations, worked examples and analogies where helpful, so the student genuinely understands the concept rather than just memorizing a method. Once the basics are solid, we build up to harder exam-style questions on the same topic, so the student can see how the foundational understanding connects to what they’ll actually be asked in the exam.

STEP 4: Weekly structured plan tied to target grade

Rather than lessons being reactive or unstructured, each student follows a clear weekly plan built around their specific target grade and exam timeline. This plan is based on the gaps identified in the diagnostic assessment and is adjusted as the student progresses, prioritizing the topics and skills that will have the biggest impact on their final grade. This ensures that lessons stay focused and purposeful, with a clear sense of progress toward a specific, agreed goal, rather than covering topics randomly.

STEP 5: Regular feedback to parents

I keep parents updated on their child’s progress on a regular basis, including areas of improvement, ongoing challenges and how the student is engaging with homework and independent practice. This means parents aren’t left wondering how lessons are going or whether their child is putting in the necessary effort, and can stay informed and involved without needing to chase for updates. Where a student isn’t doing enough independent work outside of lessons, I’ll also flag this honestly, since consistent progress depends on effort both in and outside of sessions.