Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from English With Leonie, Education, Astley.
10/06/2026
I've been working with an amazing student this year as she has prepared to sit her functional skills in English. Today we had our last session. I'm always a little sad when I know it is our last session but I know this student will go on to do amazing things.
We hear so much about GCSEs but functional skills offers another route to learn the skills you need.
I never expect gifts but it is always nice to get a card or thank-you message.
09/06/2026
If you have a child who may need access arrangements or reasonable adjustments during exams, it is important to ensure these are arranged and put in place as soon as possible.
And even more important is that the access arrangement applied actually helps your child. I see many students for example given extra time when this may not always help - often rest breaks are more helpful. It all depends on the individual child.
In my previous role with an exam board, I applied various access arrangements and reasonable adjustments (from scribes through to students having access to a trampoline to bounce during a rest break). The right arrangement can make the biggest difference.
But...any arrangements must be put in place as as soon as possible. Don't be surprised if you ask the school a week before exams and they are reluctant to apply an arrangement. Schools have to tell exam boards that this is the student's usual way of working.
So if your child is in year 10 and don't have the arrangements in place, speak to your school now! Students often need to get used to the arrangements too.
JQC guidance on access arrangements and reasonable adjustments is attached.
https://www.jcq.org.uk/knowledge-hub/adjustments-for-candidates-with-disabilities-and-learning-difficulties/
Image created by AI
I hope the final English exam went really well for everyone today. Can't wait to hear about everyone's results in August.
31/05/2026
Well, I have just taught the last of tuition sessions for this year's GCSE students. Every student I have taught this year has worked incredibly hard and I know that they are going to get a fantastic set of results in August. For now, I am examining and then will likely have a break with my own children over the summer.
Details of new one-to-one and group slots will be released soon. In the meantime, if you would like to be added to the wait list, please pop me a message.
Wondering whether you should focus your efforts on revising all of the poems for GCSE English literature?
In my opinion, you need a good working knowledge of all of the poems that your study in your poetry element. This is not because I think you should know EVERY poem inside out but understanding the issues and ideas around the key theme (whether it be power & conflict, love & relationships or worlds & lives) becomes clearer when you have more knowledge to draw on.
It also gives students confidence.
Being able to compare is key and there is often not enough time in the curriculum to cover this skill in depth.
If you want to see some comparative essays, let me know in the comments and I will get back to you.
Are you worried about structuring your creative writing piece in your GCSE English language exam?
Examiners don't want to read pages and pages of poor quality writing. What they actually want is a well written story that has a clear structure. That's why my ECHO planning framework will help. It gives your narrative structure without hindering your creativity. It also encourages you to craft your writing - you HAVE to show you can craft to get top marks and ultimately the top grades.
This structure will help those aiming for a grade 4 as well as those aiming for Grades 7, 8 and 9.
Try using this structure to improve your creative writing.
If you want more indepth explanation, I cover this (and my POSSIBLE plan for transactional writing) in my masterclasses. But you can also get access to these by joining out community.
Just wondering how confident you feel walking into that GCSE English literature exam knowing you have only prepared for 5 of the 15 poems? How have you practiced comparison if yiu have chosen 5 quite different poems to focus your revision on?
Honestly, with GCSE exams almost upon us, I would be revising the poetry section by comparing. Yes, you may be skilled in analysing poetry but it's unlikely you have practiced comparison enough.
Revising poetry in pairs and comparing doesn't have to take any more time than revising 5 individual poems.
If you want advice on how to revise ALL of the poems whilst learning how to compare, follow my page.
BTW, I have written comparative essays on all of the AQA Power and Conflict poems.
Comment if you would like an example.
02/04/2026
If you are studying Macbeth for GCSE English literature, KINGSHIP and LOYALTY are key themes that could come up.
Shakespeare explored key messages through his play. If you can write about the well, you will cover the context of Macbeth too without writing a history essay.
Use this essay plan to practice writing about these themes.
Follow for more Mabeth GCSE content - I'll be talking about the a key motif and explaining how to use motifs to get you top grades.
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It is totally normal for your child to feel overwhelmed and need a break when they get home from school. They have spent ALL day with 30+ other students.
Most teens will need some space to be able to decompress and only THEN will they be able to take in more learning.
We all want our children to reach their potential but extra revision with a class of 30 and an exhausted teacher isn't always the best way.
My GCSE English community allows students to learn at their own pace and in their own style. They can even watch the exam-focused recordings laying in bed. And they can choose whether they feel able to have a go at the tasks posted.
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