Art Tutor

In 2023, I completed a PGCE in Art & Design, gaining hands-on teaching experience across secondary schools. I taught classes of 20+ pupils across KS3, GCSE and A Level, with projects spanning fine art, photography, graphic design and textiles.

Working primarily with the AQA exam board, I developed a strong understanding of assessment criteria and gained experience marking and assessing pupils’ work. I particularly enjoyed encouraging students to develop their own ideas, experiment creatively and build confidence in their artistic abilities.

My background as a professional designer brings an additional practical and creative perspective to teaching, allowing me to connect classroom projects with the wider world of design, visual communication and the creative industries.

I’m currently open to helping students build and strengthen their GCSE and A Level sketchbooks, with one-to-one or small group sessions designed to help them develop their ideas, refine their presentation and better understand what is needed to achieve higher grades. Sessions can be arranged on an ad hoc basis or regularly, depending on the student’s needs.

GCSE & A'Level Sketchbooks

The A0, A1, A2 and A3 sections of the Art exam represent the different stages of the creative process: research, experimentation, refinement and development, culminating in the final piece.

Each area is worth 25% of the overall mark, and examiners are looking at both the standard of the artwork and the quality, originality and development of ideas.

It’s important to remember that an idea that doesn’t work out can still gain you marks. In fact, experimentation is something examiners actively want to see. A “try it and see what happens” approach is seen as far more valuable than aiming for perfection from the outset.

It is through experimentation that you can discover new, interesting and original ideas. Don’t be afraid to take risks, make mistakes and explore different directions — the journey and development of your ideas are just as important as the final outcome.

I really enjoy looking through students’ sketchbooks and supporting them in developing their ideas. If the work is completed diligently and consistently, I aim to help students raise their grade by up to two grades from their current level.

There is, of course, much more detail to the assessment criteria, but this gives you an overall picture of what examiners are looking for.

Here are some examples of the types of sketchbook layouts and approaches that tend to appeal to examiners.