Sydney tutor in English, English Literature, Creative Writing, Reading

Hi, I'm Matthew. I've been teaching high school English for over twelve years and tutoring one-on-one for just over ten of those years. So when I sit down with a student, I'm not guessing at what they need. I have spent a long time in classrooms, designing curriculum, marking assessments (lots and lots of assessment marking) and watching exactly where students start to come unstuck. Seeing student work every day has played a huge role in shaping everything that I do.

The way I work is pretty straightforward: I try to understand what's actually going on for a student before I start throwing strategies at them. Sometimes the issue is a specific skill gap. Sometimes it's a confidence issue: ‘I just don’t ‘get’ English’ or ‘You can’t study for it!’. Often it's both issues. I build my sessions around clear, manageable steps, checking in as we go, making sure things are actually landing with a student rather than just being covered. And I personally think the emotional side of learning matters just as much as the technical side, so mentorship is a part of the deal, not just an afterthought.

I've had real success raising student grades over the years, both in early secondary and through to final HSC results. But often the students I’m most proud of didn’t necessarily get the best grades. They’re the ones that stopped saying they couldn’t do English, and who made huge personal leaps in their confidence and what they were capable of.

Years 7 to 10 is where my current availability is. I limit the number of students I work with at any one time, particularly at senior level, where the stakes are higher and the attention required is greater. For me it's a quality control thing. I prefer to work well with fewer students than spread myself across more.

In terms of lesson options, I do both online lessons and face to face in Caringbah. I have found online tutoring to be increasingly effective, but like to offer flexibility as some students work best face to face.

If my approach resonates with what you're after for your child, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out and we’ll have a good chat before committing to anything. If it feels like the right fit, we'll go from there.

Rates
Yr 7–10: $100 per hour
Yr 11–12: $120 per hour
In-person (Caringbah) or Online

Contact

Experience

- 12+ years as a qualified high school English teacher
- 10+ years one-on-one tutoring and mentorship
- Curriculum design and assessment across multiple year levels
- Specialist focus on literacy, analytical writing, comprehension and critical thinking
- Supporting students with learning gaps, diverse needs and confidence challenges

Qualifications

- Bachelor of Arts / Diploma of Education
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- NAPLAN Marker, including Senior NAPLAN marking
- 12 Years Teaching Experience

Rates

$100 per hour

Student Discount

Mention that you found this advertisement on Tutor Finder and you will receive your first lesson for half the normal hourly rate ($50 instead of $100).

Working With Children Check

Yes, I'm cleared to work with children in New South Wales until 14-Oct-2030 (details available on request)

Gender

Male

Registered

Joined Tutor Finder on 16-Mar-2026 (updated profile on 07-Sep-2026)