Meet the Team!
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Qualifications: MSt Literature and Arts (Oxon), PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications: Diploma in Life Coaching and Mindfulness, P4C Level 2b
Natasha’s passion for education arose from her own negative experiences at school, she was driven by the desire to ensure that every student has access to th
Qualifications: MSt Literature and Arts (Oxon), PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications: Diploma in Life Coaching and Mindfulness, P4C Level 2b
Natasha’s passion for education arose from her own negative experiences at school, she was driven by the desire to ensure that every student has access to the support and expertise that they deserve, believing that no student should have to go through what she did at school.
Natasha has over fifteen years’ experience as an English teacher in both private and state schools and was Head of English for eight years. She has a wealth of experience with students of all abilities and prides herself on her ability to adapt her teaching approach to best suit the individual, instilling confidence and knowledge in her students.
Natasha’s particular areas of tutoring expertise include: A Level English Literature, A Level Lang/Lit, IGCSE English Language and English Literature, GCSE English Language and Literature, helping students to fill knowledge gaps at Key Stage 3 and preparing students for private school entrance examinations (11+,12+,13+).
She has recently completed a Masters at the University of Oxford and this has reminded her that you are never too old to learn, and perhaps more importantly, it is never too late to chase a dream. This is a lesson that she wants to share with all learners who study with the Grade Accelerator Academy
Amy Bacon: Tutor
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Qualifications: PGDip Victorian Literature, Art and Culture, MA English Literature, PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications: Certified Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Unplug Meditation Teacher
Amy’s passion for education came from her desire to inspire the next generations of learners. She w
Qualifications: PGDip Victorian Literature, Art and Culture, MA English Literature, PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications: Certified Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance, Certified Unplug Meditation Teacher
Amy’s passion for education came from her desire to inspire the next generations of learners. She wants to instil the same enthusiasm, engagement and curiosity in her subject that she herself experienced throughout her school years.
Amy has over fourteen years’ experience as an English teacher in both private and state schools and was Head of English for four years. She was also responsible for leading literacy across the school and draws on her wealth of experience to ensure that learners of all abilities are challenged and supported to be the best that they can be.
Amy fosters a joy for learning, encourages confidence in her students and promotes a culture of scholarship in her classroom, and is dedicated to ensuring that her learners with the Grade Accelerator Academy have the same high-quality experience.
Amy’s particular areas of tutoring expertise include: A Level English Literature, A Level Lang/Lit, IGCSE English Language and English Literature, GCSE English Language and Literature, and helping students to fill knowledge gaps at Key Stage 3.
Amy continues to pursue her love for learning and has recently completed a PGDip allowing her to pursue her passion for her subject and use her newfound knowledge to support her delivery of the English curriculum. Her interest in wellness has led to her recent qualifications in Yoga and Meditation and has allowed her to unite the holistic world with that of education. Amy is excited about sharing her unique expertise with all learners who study with the Grade Accelerator Academy.
Charlie Fowler-Whale: Tutor
Natasha Shirman: Tutor and Founder
Charlie Fowler-Whale: Tutor
Qualifications: MA in Comparative Literature, PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications:
150hr Advanced Online Course TEFL certificate, Mental Health Champion Certificate
Charlie is a passionate, career teacher who is driven by the desire to inspire a love of English in all her students. She believes t
Qualifications: MA in Comparative Literature, PGCE Secondary English, Ba Hons English Literature
Additional Qualifications:
150hr Advanced Online Course TEFL certificate, Mental Health Champion Certificate
Charlie is a passionate, career teacher who is driven by the desire to inspire a love of English in all her students. She believes that every child has the potential to succeed and wants to help learners to develop the confidence and self-awareness they need to discover their own passion and to achieve their own goals.
Charlie has been a qualified English teacher for over nine years and has held many positions of responsibility during her career. She has held the title of Gifted and Talented Coordinator/Highly Able Coordinator, has been Second in English and has also held responsibility for Key Stage 5 English.
Charlie adopts a highly successful student-focused approach to teaching and learning and prides herself on her ability to identify areas where students need further support, designing and deploying a bespoke range of strategies to support them in achieving their goals: a practice she is excited about bringing to the Grade Accelerator Academy.
Charlie’s particular areas of tutoring expertise include: A Level English Literature, A Level Language, IGCSE English Language and English Literature, GCSE English Language and Literature, helping students to fill gaps in knowledge and skills at Key Stage 3 and 11+ preparation.
Charlie has always been passionate about her subject and truly believes that teachers are eternal learners. She pursues new challenges and learning opportunities and has completed a course on Fairy Tales: Meaning, Messages and Morals which she uses to enhance her teaching whenever she gets the opportunity. She also believes in a holistic approach to education and brings together her desire to promote positive mental health and wellness with her ambitious academic goals for her learners. She is thrilled to bring her holistic approach to education to our learners at the Grade Accelerator Academy!