Exam support that actually helps: calm, tailored SATs and GCSE tutoring in Suffolk
Every year, as SATs season approaches, I see the same pattern in Year 6.
Some children are quietly confident. Many are trying hard but feel overwhelmed. A few are carrying a weight that adults do not always spot at first: the sense that one set of papers will define them, that they have to be “ready” in a way that feels impossible, that they cannot afford to slip.
And at the other end of the school journey, I see similar pressures playing out again at GCSE. Teenagers who have absorbed the idea that they are “bad at Maths” or “can’t do English”. Students who could pass, but who have lost momentum, confidence, or belief. Young people who are capable, but stuck.
That is why I run MR Tutor. Not to add more noise, more pressure, or more panic… but to give children and teenagers something that is surprisingly rare in exam prep:
calm, structured support that meets them where they are, and gets them moving forward again.
My approach: calm does not mean soft
When I say calm, I do not mean low expectations.
I mean a space where a child can think.
A space where mistakes are treated as information, not evidence of failure. Where we slow down long enough to rebuild the bits that are wobbly, then speed up again when the foundations are solid. Where practice is purposeful, not endless. Where we work hard, but without the emotional cost that so often comes with “catch-up”.
I am a teacher currently working in Year 6, preparing children for SATs. I understand the current landscape, the pressure points, and the skills that actually move the needle in the real papers. I also tutor teenagers who are aiming to pass their GCSEs, especially those who need a clear route to a Grade 4 (and beyond).
And in both cases, the goal is the same:
build confidence through real competence.
SATs support: Year 6 that feels manageable again
SATs preparation works best when it is steady and targeted, not frantic.
For Year 6 pupils, I focus on:
Closing gaps without making children feel like they are “behind”
Maths fluency + reasoning, with step-by-step methods that reduce cognitive load
Reading comprehension, especially retrieval, inference, and answering in the style the mark scheme rewards
SPaG confidence: punctuation for meaning, sentence control, and the patterns that appear again and again
Test technique that is practical, child-friendly, and never fear-based
Most importantly, I help children feel like SATs is something they can do, not something that is happening to them.
GCSE support: for students who need a pass, quickly and realistically
GCSE tutoring is not about vague motivation talks. It is about a workable plan.
Many of the teenagers I support are aiming for a Grade 4 because that is what unlocks college pathways, apprenticeships, or simply the next step they want. Often, they are closer than they think, but they need:
The missing building blocks explained properly
A simple, repeatable exam method
The right practice (not “more” practice)
Someone steady in the room who does not judge them
That is the work: calm, focused sessions that rebuild the basics and convert them into marks.
SEND-aware tutoring that is genuinely tailored
One of the reasons families come to me is because their child does not thrive in one-size-fits-all support.
I am trained and experienced in working with children and young people with autism, dyslexia, and ADHD, and I have experience supporting school-refusers and home-educated pupils too.
That matters, because “try harder” is not a strategy.
What works is thoughtful adjustment: pacing, clarity, routines, chunking, scaffolding, and teaching in a way that reduces friction and increases success. Often, the first big win is simply helping a child feel understood. After that, learning becomes possible again.
Who I’m best placed to help
You might be considering tutoring because:
Your child is capable but anxious and needs confidence
They are working hard but not seeing results
They need structure and routine to stay on track
They have SEND needs and school support is stretched
They have missed learning through absence, anxiety, or disrupted schooling
You want someone experienced to guide the run-up to SATs or GCSEs with a clear plan
If any of that sounds familiar, you are not alone, and it is not too late to make progress.
A quiet rallying cry
I will be honest: I care deeply about this work.
I have taught long enough to know how quickly a child can internalise the story that they are “not clever”, “not academic”, “not the sort of person who does well in exams”. Those stories can stick for years.
And I have also seen, again and again, how quickly that story can change when the right adult sits beside them and teaches them properly.
Not perfectly. Not magically.
Just consistently, thoughtfully, and with high standards delivered in a calm way.
That is what I offer.
If you’re thinking about getting in touch
If you feel your child could benefit from SATs or GCSE support, I would genuinely love to hear from you. A short message is enough to start: tell me what year group they are in, what you are hoping for, and what feels hardest right now.
From there, we can talk about the most sensible next step.
Because exam success is not about pressure.
It is about clarity, practice that makes sense, and confidence built the right way.
And that is exactly what we can build together.