Ms Heron - English Tutoring

Hi, I've had a few new followers so I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm Sam, although students so still call me Ms Heron! I taught English in schools in Wiltshire since 2007 (yikes!) and officially left the school setting in 2023. I taught Key stage 3, 4 and 5 and was a GCSE examiner for English Literature. Since leaving school, I tutor solely KS4, preparing students for both Literature and Language GCSEs.

Tutoring provides me with the best balance of teaching amazing students who provide wonderful insights into texts along with continuing to teach the books that I love. Having said that, roll on some reform in Education - I'm looking forward to a shake up of the English curriculum (and hopefully some undoing of the 2015 reforms!).

In September, I'm looking forward to welcoming back my Year 11s and saying 'hello' to my new Year 10 group.

My Year 10 group is full for 2026-28 but do get in touch if you'd like to go on the waiting list. I do have space in my Year 11 group but anticipate that changing by Christmas, so if you are thinking about getting some help for your Year 11 child, don't leave it too late!

And that's a wrap on academic year 2025-26!

We ended with my Year 10s (soon to be 11s!) creating their own An Inspector Calls revision board game. We were a couple of members down so I've saved their game to revisit when we have the full group (and can test how much they can recall!).

Well done Parker.

We love being part of your mission to spread the joy of reading!

Thank you! 📚📖📕📘📗📙📒

⭐⭐🎉 EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT 🎉⭐⭐

Some of you may remember two years ago (thanks to the generosity of local businesses) myself and Parker hid over 250 free books on the streets and in the parks around Swindon!

It was a huge success! Parker made it into the local paper and into the top 4 of the BBC Wiltshire Young Hero awards!! It was an incredible summer and most importantly 250 free books made it into the hands of children ❤️

Encouraging reading and making books as accessible as possible to the entire community is our ultimate aim so I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that we are re-launching our campaign again this summer!!

We have been blown away by the response of some incredible local businesses and enterprises in our community who have chosen to support us again!

Massive thanks need to go to them for being local super heroes!! They already provide fantastic services in our community, but are keen to spread the joy of reading and make a positive difference even further to our children this summer.

Those wonderful businesses are.......

Let's Create Art Club
Swindon Story Shed
Huntly World
Sunflowers Childminding
Ninety six
BeAdvised Mortgage Solutions
Ms Heron - English Tutoring

Big thanks to Judee Tree Art also who has contributed to the cost of ink, paper and bags! It all adds up to rather a lot so this was really appreciated!

Also thanks to Rachel at Sew Hanson who has donated some kindness hearts to be included in some of the packages which is such a lovely way to kick off the campaign ❤️

So....... incredibly, thanks to our amazing sponsors we have raised £320 so we will be hiding atleast 320 books this summer 🎉 320 books!!! Wow!!

If any local families would like to get involved and hide some books please reach out! It's good fun, especially when you get to witness an excited child finding a book ☺️

I will be posting in my group Found it with Parkers Books where I will be hiding the books AND where you can post your finds and where you plan to hide your book next (unless you really love it then feel free to keep it ❤️)

Again please show your support for all these local businesses that genuinely make Swindon a better place and without their support none of this would be possible!

Thank you 🥰
Kerry & Parker

I've got one more week left with my Year 10s but as one is missing it due to attending an Awards evening at school (well done, A! ⭐), I gave them their summer revision pack. This is a light touch suggestion of activities to keep their brains ticking over summer (and chip away at their revision ready for Yr11).

I'll be following it up with a video for support over the summer on the parents' Whatsapp group.

See you next week for our final Year 10 session!

☀️ Hot weather update ☀️

I have secured an air-conditioned room for the sessions this evening - therefore, they are still running (and should be nice an cool).

Do bring a water bottle! Parents - don't be too jealous of our cool room!

Sorry all - I’ve been very quiet on here despite (or probably because of) lots to report.

I’ve said goodbye now to my year 11s - they have finished all of their English exams (and indeed most of their exams full stop now!). So strange not to see them as I taught many for 3 years tutoring and some I taught in school when they were in year 7! I wish them all the luck in the world and look forward to hearing from them in results day 🍀

Another update is my Year 9 ‘Ready, Set, GCSE’ group have had their first session. What a lovely bunch they are! We started with creative writing as preparation for Language Paper 1 q 5 and next week we are looking at tackling Q3- structure! 👌

Photo of one of my kittens because… why not? 🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Well this makes a change from my usual Wednesday evenings when I’d be tutoring.

Worry not, students, I’m still thinking of you as I read my book: ‘Reading Lessons: An English Teacher’s Love Letter to the Books That Shape Us.’ 📖

I’m lucky enough to be able to drive just 30 mins down the road to a lovely lake and I’m currently watching the boats sail past as I’m reading. Dreamy! ☀️

Some tips for Paper 2 language.

It’s much harder to revise for language - everything is unseen and it’s the skills that are tested. But revision of those skills is important.

Here are my suggestions for revision:

• my regular Tutees, use the red and purple book. Go to the paper 2 section and go through the overview and each question using the sources that we haven’t already looked at
• ⁠revise DAFORREST, logos, pathos and ethos for persuasive techniques.
• ⁠read some articles. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/commentisfree Identify their tone (use the vocabulary of tone sheets I gave you). Try to go beyond ‘positive’ or ‘negative’. Are they being cynical, scathing, critical, humorous etc? Does the tone change at any point?

Finally, 2 tasks to try for the 40 mark writing question. Plan one. Write one (and plan of course).

Plan this one:
- Fast fashion is causing a climate crisis. People should boycott cheaply produced clothes and buy from charity shops. Write an article for your school newspaper arguing your point of view on this matter.

Or this one:
- Footballers get paid an excessive salary. There are professions far more deserving and yet they get paid a fraction of what footballers get. Write an article for your school newspaper arguing your point of view on this matter.

Write this one:
- Too much homework is bad for you! Homework should be abolished and all work should be completed in school time. Write a letter to your local MP arguing your point of view.

For both, when planning, use a quick for and against table to organise your thoughts but pick one side of the argument. The other side can be used to pre-empt counter arguments.

Try to adapt your writing according to the format of the task.

Begin your piece with an anecdote. Use this paragraph to include descriptive writing that you applied in paper 1. From paragraph 2 onwards, be more explicit about your stance on the subject and use rhetorical devices to persuade the reader of your POV.

This can be a helpful structure. My Tutees, this is the same as we practise only we talk about the ‘describe’ as the anecdote.

Remember, this question is 45 mins long so at this stage it’s helpful to practise the timings.

Sam

Opinion | The Guardian Latest opinion, analysis and discussion from the Guardian. CP Scott: "Comment is free, but facts are sacred"

I’ve been quiet on here lately for a few reasons. The first is because I’ve been celebrating my birthday 🎁🎂
The second is because it’s just so hot 🥵
Finally, I’ve transferred a lot of my hints and tips for revision to my WhatsApp groups for parents. This way, parents can simply forward my messages to their children for revision support!

That being said, drop a comment if you would like to know about the tips I’ve given out for the final English GCSE - Language Paper 2 ✍️

Loved this response, from a student, to yesterday's paper 1 questions
🤣

The general feedback is students were happy with the questions yesterday - it's great that they've got off to such a great start to their GCSEs!

How did your child feel it went?

If they are happy - great, a confident start. If it didn't go quite so well as they wanted, reasssure them that all is not lost. Draw a line under Paper 1 and focus now on the others.