GCSE English Reviews & Student Results

"Before being taught by Alex (Mr Barton), English was, admittedly, a subject that didn’t excite me much, and one in which I performed worse than my other subjects. However, his teaching completely transformed my relationship with the subject, instilling in me a love for English that has stayed with me ever since. He made English lessons genuinely exciting, encouraging me to question assumptions, explore different interpretations and develop my own ideas rather than just searching for the ‘right’ answer, all while making challenging content digestible and accessible. As much as he taught me how to score marks in exams, which helped me progress from a grade 6 in Year 8 to achieving grades 9 and 8 at GCSE, some of the most valuable lessons I took from his classroom extend far beyond any mark scheme.

I’m now studying Economics & Management at the University of Oxford, and I’ve come to realise that some of the most valuable things that Alex taught me were never confined to English in the first place. The confidence he gave me to engage with difficult ideas and form my own perspective has proved invaluable. Perhaps more tellingly, despite choosing a very different academic path, I find myself missing English far more than I thought I would, which I think says a great deal about the teacher Alex is. Great teachers improve your grades; the very best change the way you think. For me, Alex did both, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been taught by him. There is no higher praise I could give him than to say that he represents everything I think a great teacher should be: inspiring as an individual, challenging, deeply caring, and utterly committed to his students - simply put, the kind of teacher that any student would be lucky to have."

My experience in Mr Barton’s class was truly amazing. I went from getting a grade 7 to a grade 9 in my GCSE English. At the beginning of year I lacked confidence in myself however as soon as Mr Barton joined I found the subject very interesting. We learnt from intricate language techniques to profound philosophical concepts. During my gap year I literally tutored children using his essay writing skills and techniques. Despite moving on to study STEM and civil engineering, his knowledge and wisdom have always stayed with me! And I’m forever grateful for that.

Mr Bartons ability to harvest talent, nurture ability and maximise efforts within and for his students is unmatched. 

Before joining his class, many would have written off my prospects to succeed in a class of high achievers, but his belief and unwavering commitment to unlock potential (especially where there may be very little) are exactly the qualities that make him one of the best at what he does.

Throughout my studies with him, I was challenged, encouraged and pushed to my limit - which resulted in a Grade 9. 

Taking me from borederline passing to comfortably thriving!

This is an especially commendable joint achievement as it was the first year to undergo massive systematic changes which proves Mr Bartons foresight ability to adapt and meticulously cater to the exam board requirements and individual student needs.

I am immensely greatful for the skillset I acquired and resillient characteristic development that was refined under his expert supervision. 

As a student undertaking my GCSE'S, I hated English. It was confusing, exhausting and it asked me to write about themes and ideas I didn't have the tools to understand at that point.

When Alex Barton took over my class I was getting 2s and 3s in my mock exams and was checked out of the subject completely. He had a completely different style of teaching to what I was used to: teaching me about philosophy and the historical context in which the novels occured - giving me the the vocabulary to understand and actually appreciate the texts I was forced to read. He made me understand WHY these texts were important and what they could teach me - rather than just having me memorise the answers to pass the exams. Because of this I went from 2's to a 8 and a 7 in my final exam.

Following my exams I went on to do law in college and sought to become a commercial solicitor - a goal I thought was unattainable before. I managed to get work experience at big firms like BCLP and Linklaters due to my high GCSE grades and the Social Mobility Foundation helping with the networking. I was was told to stay in touch and apply for a vacation scheme after my work experience was done. However, those same lessons which afforded me the opportunity to be in these rooms - also led to my deciding to retrain. Whilst the work was well paying, it didn't feel meaningful.

After the necessary time working in restaurants I decided to try my hand in Mechanical Engineering at MMU through a foundation year. Fast forward five years and I have competed in nationally recognised Engineering competitions, studied in China, started my own Engineering firm and I am currently undergoing a research project for the University.

All of this is to say that you will not regret choosing Alex as your child's private tutor. In a room of 30 he managed to pull my grades from 2 to 8 and, as a result I could do all the above. The lessons learned, from Alex and some of the great thinkers I was introduced to, have stayed with me and helped far beyond my GCSE classroom.

Studying English with Mr Barton had a lasting influence on both my academic development and my confidence as a writer. His lessons fostered a genuine appreciation for literature, particularly poetry, whilst encouraging me to think critically, analyse texts in depth, and express my ideas with clarity.

The lessons were engaging and thoughtfully structured, combining independent work, discussion, and opportunities to share our writing. I was continually challenged to improve, and the skills I developed have proved invaluable throughout my medical degree. Learning to write clear, detailed, and analytical essays has translated directly to the academic writing required at university, whilst the confidence I gained has strengthened my communication skills in presentations and professional settings.

Even now, whenever I read a classic novel, I find myself instinctively analysing themes and annotating passages. Habits created in Mr Barton’s classroom that have stayed with me ever since. Looking back, his lessons gave me skills that continue to support me throughout medical school and will remain invaluable throughout my future career as a doctor.

Before Alex’s lessons, I never really enjoyed English and was always much more interested in STEM subjects. However, his classes genuinely changed that because they were engaging and different. The way he taught AO3, especially ideas like Machiavellianism, Nietzsche, and other philosophical context, made our essays stand out and gave me a new perspective on literature. It also sparked an interest in philosophy that I hadn't had before. I was confident that my essays would be more analytical and less repetitive. I came away with a much stronger appreciation for English. Alex made the subject far more enjoyable than I ever thought it could be.

Before joining Alex’s classes, I lacked in my vocabulary and felt limited when trying to be descriptive. It held me back massively. I also struggled to see things betond their literal meaning. I was not at all comfortable in my writing because of these factors. Once I joined Alex’s English class, I learnt to expand my vocabulary and how to write in different ways. I’ve become much more confident in expressing my ideas and understanding things beyond their literal meaning and I’m now able to structure my work effectively. These classes also helped me develop a passion for historical literature 

I always struggled with literature and writing and had always been stuck around grades 4–6. With Alex’s help, my grades improved massively. I became more confident in structuring my answers, analysing texts and explaining my ideas in more detail. His feedback and encouragement helped me understand where I was going wrong and how I could improve all the time, and I came out with a grade 9 in literature. Since being in Alex’s English class, what I’ve learnt has stayed with me in my later studies and everyday life and fits in the courses I’ve chosen to do. This knowledge has not only helped me with my studies, but also in everyday life as English wasn’t my first language. I now feel more confident when communicating my ideas, analysing information and expressing myself clearly. The skills I developed in Alex’s lessons have also helped me in important areas of my life such as writing up my personal statement and getting into UCL.