Deliberate, Dependable and Deeply Committed
High standards, genuine scholarship and the kind of patient, methodical support that helps every pupil reach their potential
Meet Julian
Over nearly four decades in independent education, I have taught English from Key Stage 3 through to A Level and the IB Diploma. Former pupils have earned GCSE Board Prizes and enjoyed Oxbridge success. I have held senior positions in schools, including the roles of Senior Teacher, Housemaster and Deputy Head. My longest tenure of 28 years encompassed not only classroom teaching but academic librarianship, IGCSE examining for Cambridge International, and the founding of a print and online publication, Portsmouth Point, for the promotion of ideas and thinking across all disciplines. This breadth of experience informs all the lessons I give.
As a TEDx speaker, I have had the privilege of taking ideas about culture, reading, education and the power of stories in a technological age to an international audience. I hope that my tuition and encouragement will enable students to write their own stories ever more confidently on paper and in life.
My lessons are delivered online, making expert tuition accessible to families wherever they may be.
TEDx Talk
The present eclipses the past in so much of our modern world and we are the lesser for it. Our stories and those handed down to us have the power to transcend the prevailing NOW. We communicate our legacy in our stories which confirm our humanity. Such secure roots are doubly important in a technological age of hyper immediacy, self-absorption and shortening attention spans. We should champion the long view and ask ourselves: what has the past shared with me? What story will I embody for the future?
Qualifications & Experience
Academic
- MA Mediaeval Studies - University of York (1988)
- BA (Hons) English - University of York (1986)
Professional
- Qualified Teacher Status - University of Portsmouth (2001)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) - University of York / Dyslexia Action (2008)
Further
- TEDx Gosport Speaker 2026
- Extensive experience teaching and tutoring KS3 through to A Level and the IB Diploma
- Proven track record of success at the highest level in examinations
- Specialist knowledge of GCSE, A Level and IB English specifications
- Enhanced DBS
The present eclipses the past in so much of our modern world and we are the lesser for it. Our stories and those handed down to us have the power to transcend the prevailing NOW. We communicate our legacy in our stories which confirm our humanity. Such secure roots are doubly important in a technological age of hyper immediacy, self-absorption and shortening attention spans. We should champion the long view and ask ourselves: what has the past shared with me? What story will I embody for the future?
Teaching Philosophy
Studying English is first and foremost about the book, the page and the pupil. I encourage pupils to value themselves and thereby the insights they bring to the subject. Each has a unique contribution to make to the creation and understanding of meaning. Success in English is an active pursuit with the book at its the heart. Good English teaching is all about helping young people to value their judgements, think and write clearly, express themselves with confidence, and engage meaningfully and creatively with language, forms and ideas. When pupils are engaged with the page, exam performance follows. Good teaching and progress are not about drilling exam technique in isolation.
Encouragement First
Real progress grows from a warm, good humoured and supportive environment where the pupil is known and valued and their ideas are respected.
Careful Modelling
I demonstrate what good work looks like and guide pupils, step-by-step, towards producing it themselves, building understanding rather than simply correcting errors.
Finely Tailored Support
Every lesson is built around the individual pupil: their current level, their goals and the ways in which they learn best.
High Standards, Genuine Scholarship
High expectations beget higher standards. I believe in pupils and their capabilities. The aim is always genuine understanding and a real engagement with language and literature, duly infused with the benefits of a career in academic teaching.
Would You Like To Find Out More?
Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your child's needs and how I can help.
Or reach Julian directly: jje_s@me.com ·