Meet the team

A team of dedicated writers, teachers and tutors with a passion for teaching.

• Helena

  Founder
  Helena

  Founder

  I created The Story Room as a place where children can come and be themselves and write freely, without fear of judgment or the red pen. As an 11-plus tutor I am all too aware that children are often told what they should and should not write. But at the Story Room there is no right or wrong. In the welcoming and friendly environment of our workshops children can let their creativity flow. Through this they can grow in confidence and become better writers, which ultimately will help them improve across the whole curriculum. I aim to instil a passion for writing and reading in all the children who come through our doors.  I have worked with children who thought they didn’t like English and now skip to our workshops and enjoy writing in their free time.

  I spend a lot of my time reading and writing and am constantly on the look out for new, exciting ideas for our workshops. I regularly attend writing courses to develop my own writing skills and have had my poetry published in City Lit's 'Between The Lines' and 'South Bank Poetry'. I write poetry, short stories and am working on a teen novel. I was a 2020 BBC 500 Words judge and have appeared on BBC Radio Berkshire talking about the work the Story Room does.  

  As a mother of three boys, I am particularly passionate about getting boys into reading and writing.  I have written articles for N21online.com on helping dyslexic children access literature and  how to encourage boys to read

  I have a degree in Law from UCL and am a qualified solicitor.

  I absolutely love what we do at The Story Room - We are very lucky to have a brilliant team of workshops leaders, all passionate about writing and guiding children to flourish personally and academically.  We are proud of what every child writes at The Story Room.

  See you soon at The Story Room!

  Helena Steel

  LIST OF SUBJECTS HELENA TUTORS IN:

  • 11-plus and 13-plus Entrance Exams
  • King’s Scholarship (Eton)
  • Creative writing 
• Àngels
  Àngels

  Once upon a time I decided to be a creative writing coach for children. I was born in the beautiful blue city of Barcelona where I trained to be a Tax Lawyer. One Autumn I attended a series of lessons on Hamlet at the English Studies Faculty in Barcelona and a few months after I moved to London. Maybe I had heard the call of the English language. That was almost twenty years ago and the love story has endured.

  I took an MA on Bilingual Literary Translation at Westminster University and later on a second MA on Comparative Literature at King’s College. I am now a freelance literary translator from English into Spanish, my last published translations in Spain are TimeRiders I and II, the first two books of a time travelling series by Scarrow for 11+ that have been a bestseller in England.

  I have my dream jobs working with children at  The Story Room and with families and children at The Tate as a Tate Early Years and Families workshop innovator. I also volunteer as a Writing Mentor at The Ministry of Stories and I have attended multiple Creative Writing courses and workshops at City Lit, Birkbeck College and Arvon which have helped me immensely both in my own writing but also in enabling children to free their own creativity. I am also a qualified Neuro Linguistic Programming coach, which is helpful when children are stuck in a negative self-limiting belief and are really convinced they are ‘not creative’.

  As an aspiring author I am working towards the publication of two Tales for children and a collection of Short Stories for grown ups.

  My favourite part of working as a writing coach is when a child comes to a workshop and  looks down thinking he cannot ‘write’ anything because he does not ‘know what to write’ and then leaves proud and smiling, eager to show something he has ‘written’ and was ‘so easy to write’! The next time he attends, the only question is ‘what are we going to be writing about today?’. It's amazing to see the transformation when children see that writing is not such a daunting task anymore.

  I look forward to meeting your children at The Story Room workshops.

  Àngels G.Vila

  LIST OF SUBJECTS ANGELS TUTORS IN: 

  •  Creative writing (small groups and one-to-one)
  •  GCSE Spanish (all boards) 
  • A Level Spanish (all boards)
• Lizzy
  Lizzy

  For me, working with children began with a volunteering role. As a mentor and visitor to a child in foster care, I felt the reward and privilege of being part of a young person’s life over many years. This led me on a path away from a career in University Administration to a role supporting pupils with SEN in a secondary boys’ school. After 9 years, I moved on to a primary school and a Graduate TA role, supporting pupils’ learning and teaching groups as well as whole classes. I am now a primary English and maths tutor.

  Sharing stories with my own three children has been one of life’s gifts - although interesting boys in books has been, at times, a battle with digital temptations. Thank goodness for authors that took us into battles, on journeys to discover magical lands and introduced us to characters that we were thirsty to learn more about.  Writing with children has unlocked hidden treasures too. Appreciating the beauty of nature from vivid descriptions: like the intricate beauty of a cobweb or a morning cloaked in snow.

  I am very excited to share these joys with children at The Story Room and look forward to helping them find their hidden gems.

  I have a degree in Politics from Loughborough University, and a Masters in Nationalism, Society and Culture from Middlesex University.

  Lizzy Richards

• Ben
  Ben

  As a musician and poet, storytelling has always been at the heart of what I do. And whether I'm leading a writing workshop of Traveller children in Belfast, or performing my one-man show An Imaginary Circus to families at the Edinburgh Festival, my aim is always to make people excited about the magic of their own imaginations. 

   

  My teaching experience began in Belfast where I moved to complete a Masters and then PhD in creative writing. During that time I taught undergraduate and Masters students, while running creative writing workshops for children in local Northern Irish communities. Back in London, I began working as a tutor with several top London agencies, teaching children from 5-18 years of age. I currently tutor children in 8-plus, 11-plus and 13-plus for London grammar, selective and independent schools. 

   

  Kids always come up with the most incredibly imaginative ideas. They are born storytellers (usually much better than adults, I have to confess...). My job as a workshop leader is to create a space where they can feel confident to let their stories unfold. Just as everyone is unique, so every child has a different way of seeing the world, and a different story to tell.

   

  I have a degree in English from Durham University, and a Masters and PhD in Creative Writing from the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, Belfast. 

   

  The words and ideas that children come up with in the vibrant and encouraging space of the Story Room amaze me. I look forward to seeing you there!

   

  List of subjects Ben tutors in: 

  • KS1, KS2 and KS3 English Booster
  • SATS preparation
  • Creative writing for all ages (one-to-one and group sessions)
  • 7-plus and 8-plus Entrance Exams
  • 11-plus and 13-plus Entrance Exams
  • GCSE ENGLISH - all boards
  • A level ENGLISH - all boards
  • King’s Scholarship (Eton)
  • Westminster Challenge' (13+ Scholarship)
• Allan
  Allan

  Allan Boroughs is a traveller and writer with a passion for classic adventure stories “in which a lot of stuff happens”. His debut novel, Ironheart, published by Macmillan in 2014, was inspired by his travels in Siberia, whilst the sequel, Bloodstone (Jan 2015) took him to the Antarctic. He is currently planning a trip to the jungles of Venezuela for the third book in the series.

  Allan is also a founding member of Future Perfect Writers, who perform regularly at spoken-word events. He divides his time between his business in London and his home in Cornwall; he lives with his wife and two children

• Sundra
  Sundra

  I have always loved words, the way they sound, the way they can dance, and the way they create striking images that leave you gob-smacked. It’s the closest thing to chocolate on the page!

  So when I was 6 I told my Mum I wanted to be a poet. I have been writing ever since, and many many years later, I have been fortunate to perform my work on television and radio. I have performed in lots of wonderful places including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, Soho Theatre, the Bristol Poetry Festival, as well as jazz cafes in Prague, and cool poetry places in Chicago. 

  I have lead creative writing workshops in a range of places including Arvon, the Royal Geographical Society, Apples and Snakes, Spread the Word, as well as in lots of schools across the country. I was also a Poet Coach in the Teenage Poetry Slam for many years and in 2004, my team of students won. Our prize was to tour Chicago with our poetry and our smiles!

  Because of my love of American TV legal dramas I read Law at University. 

  I have also written restaurant reviews for Eat Japan magazine, and have worked as a Sub-Editor for Playstation Magazine, the Estates Gazette and the Press Association. 

  Moved by the wonderful poetry sprouting from young people like daisies in spring, I founded Write Lines, an organisation that places poets in to schools and in 2020 I was a BBC 500 words judge. 

  Starchild (2003) was my first poetry pamphlet, my work has also been published in the Los Angeles Review, Redhen, Contraflower, Scriberazone, Kin Anthology, Poetic Licence vol. 5, Handmade Fire (2007).

  We are all creative and our stories will come to life if we write and breath them. So sharpen your pencils and meet me in the Story Room!

  Sundra Lawrence

• Kerry
  Kerry

  For as long as I can remember I have been devouring books and writing. When I was eight, I won a nationwide writing competition for Ottakers and had several poems published. These heartening experiences gave me the confidence to keep writing and I have since written one full length fantasy novel, various award-winning comedy scripts for TV and several short films and stories. I was lucky to have teachers who encouraged my writing and know just how crucial inspirational role models are to a child’s academic and personal development. My main intention, as a tutor and workshop leader, is to spark a genuine interest within the student for the subject. I bring a vital sense of humour, patience, and tailor my approach to every student. If they struggle with focus, I’ll find new ways to engage with them. If they are lacking confidence, I use my background in performing arts to help them with their storytelling.

  I have a degree in English Literature and since graduating have worked with children in the performing arts.  I have had an exciting career, running workshops all over the country including at Shakespeare’s Globe and for BBC Radio. I currently tutor children in creative writing, 11-plus and GCSE English. As a scholarship student at the Godolphin School I understand the pressures of the 11-plus incredibly well. I have a flair for helping children learn how to negotiate the expectations of exams and have a talent for breaking things down in a way that children can understand and enjoy. 

  I take great pride and joy in helping every one of my students flourish and I look forward to helping your child find their voice at The Story Room. 

   

  Kerry can be heard on BBC Radio 4 as:

   

  - Nerissa in Merchant of Venice (Hayley Atwell, Andrew Scott)

  - Kiyoko in Seven Songs for Simon Dixelius (Arthur Darvill)

  - Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest (Mat Baynton, Gemma Jones)

  - Isabella in Wuthering Heights (Ben Batt, Chloe Pirrie)

   

  The Guardian (Lyn Gardner)
  a good performance from Kerry Gooderson as Little Em'ly, casually destroyed by Steerforth

   

  London Pub Theatres

  But it is to Kerry Gooderson as Beth who attracts most praise. She draws us in on so many levels. Hers is not a straightforward performance at all...A sublime piece of acting on Gooderson's part.

  
  The Stage
  Kerry Gooderson provides a succession of scene-stealing cameos.

   

  KERRY TUTORS IN: 

  • KS1, KS2 and KS3 English
  • SATS preparation
  • Creative writing for all ages (one-to-one and group sessions)
  • 7-plus and 8-plus Entrance Exams
  • 11-plus Entrance Exams
  • GCSE ENGLISH
  • A LEVEL ENGLISH
• Michelle
  Michelle

  After several years of working in a variety of creative roles including working in galleries and as a graphic designer, I decided to become a teacher. I felt compelled to share my experiences and insights with children and young people. I completed a PGCE in secondary Art and Design at Goldsmiths University London, where I soon found the most enjoyable part of teaching for me was around building relationships with the children. Seeing what children could achieve once they felt they were in a trusting situation is still a big part of my motivation to teach today. 

  I am a qualified practitioner BA (Hons) PGCE with over ten years’ experience as a Primary School Teacher, Secondary School Teacher and SENCO. I am currently working part time as a school SENCO in a north London primary school with an Independent Schools Inspectorate rating of Excellence in 2019.  A role that enables me to continually develop my teaching practice and expertise, depending on the needs of the child that I am working with. I have a very natural teaching style and I have high expectations of all the children that I teach.

  Teaching provides an excellent opportunity for me to pass on my interests and experience. I particularly enjoy inspiring creativity in children and sharing with them ways in which they can see ideas through to reality. I believe my experiences outside of teaching can be of real value in supporting children and giving them a firm foundation. 

  I continue to build my small creative business, designing a range of unique illustrated products.  I supply a number of specialist stockists, most notably Benjamin Pollocks Toyshop in Covent Garden, famous for its paper theatres and unusual range of toys and games. A couple of Christmas’s ago, I was invited to create various props including – paper sledges, reindeers and magical Christmas fairies for ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ Christmas themed window display. It was a really delightful experience and wonderful to be able to observe visitors reactions to the final display!   

  I look forward to working at the Story Room and inspiring creativity, passing on my knowledge and developing children’s writing skills in a fun and inclusive environment. 

   

  List of subjects Michelle tutors in: 

  • KS1, KS2 and KS3 English Booster
  • SATS preparation
  • Creative writing for all ages (one-to-one and group sessions)
  • 7-plus and 8-plus Entrance Exams
  • 11-plus Entrance Exams
  • GCSE ART
  • SEN (all ages)

   

• Christian
  Christian

  With six years of tutoring experience in English, Maths and Science, I take a lot of pride in teaching. I enjoy teaching English as it is much-needed creative outlet for many students. I am constantly inspired by their ideas and their different perspectives. Having experienced first-hand the strenuous nature of entrance examinations, I do my utmost to nurture progress and provide challenges without bringing additional stress to the children’s lives. Through building rapport and confidence, I like to motivate students whilst remaining conscious of their energy levels. I put a lot of thought into helping students achieve their potential and personal goals, though I am equally determined to ensure the children are happy whilst doing so and find this balance completely necessary for success. 

  I have been an avid reader from a young age and will often incorporate passages that have inspired me into my lessons. Reading is undoubtedly the best way to expand a young learner's mind; I find a lot of fulfilment in instilling love for literature in my students. I have a range of accessible books to recommend to your child and like to tailor recommendations to their interests. I particularly enjoy Italian literature, science fiction (I have been enjoying the works of Phillip K Dick most recently) and classical horror. I love languages and am currently studying Japanese and Italian. 

  I have tutored children successfully for the following schools’ entrance exams: Latymer, Dame Alice Owen and Queen Elizabeth School for boys.

  I attended Dame Alice Owen School and am an undergraduate at Leeds University reading Chemical Engineering.  

  LIST OF SUBJECTS CHRISTIAN TUTORS IN: 

  • SATS preparation
  • KS3 booster English/Maths
  • Creative writing for 11-plus
  • 11-plus Entrance Exams - ENGLISH/MATHS
  • 13-plus Entrance Exams - ENGLISH/MATHS
• Katherine
  Katherine

   

  The best thing about teaching children is showing them how to let go of everyday life so that they can find creative freedom. This freedom will  allow them to grow in confidence and will also develop their literacy skills, both in terms of reading and writing. This confidence can be applied in all areas of life, but especially in the classroom at school. Creative children make happy children!

   

  I love to make the children's sessions playful and enjoyable, often using mindfulness and meditation at the beginning of sessions as a means of getting them to relax and focus on the present moment. I also incorporate drama - both partner and group work as means of improving their social skills and allowing them to bond with other children. This creates a safe space for the children to express themselves orally and on the page, share their written work and grow in confidence.

   

  My work with children has been varied; from running Creative Writing parties and small creative writing groups to working with the young people's charity Body and Soul which promotes creativity in the next generation. 

   

  I am associate editor for the publisher Flipped Eye Publishing and I run South Bank Poetry (workshops and open mic nights for adults) and co-edit the South Bank Poetry magazine. As well as this I am a published poet, with many poems published in numerous publications. My latest publication is a poem which will shortly appear in The Spectator. 

   

  I love writing and passing on the joys and benefits it can bring to the younger generation! 
• Catherine
  Catherine

  English to my mind is the best subject at school but of course I am biased being both an English teacher and bookworm. It really has something for everyone; whether you like making up stories, talking about books or performing speeches about the state of the world: English is for you.  However sometimes students need a little help in finding their voice in this subject and this is where I come in.

  In the last 5 years, I have enjoyed working one to one and in small groups, seeking to motivate and mentor my students.  Working with all abilities – from the underperforming and very unconfident to those who may be in a top set in a grammar school who are not being stretched enough – I can help.  Usually, my students far exceed their predicted grade and become more assured along the way - this often encourages them to work with a greater self-assurance in other subjects. One of my parents recently described her son’s experience of English tutoring as suddenly opening a Pandora’s Box in a positive way, helping him fuel an interest for learning. I am passionate about my students’ success both at school and in the exam hall. Though I consider myself an exam specialist, I am fond of identifying bespoke strategies that work with the individual student and not solely teach to the test.

  Previously I worked at Highlands School for 10 years and there ran a fast track group for GCSE and taught solely exam classes across Key stage 4 &5 for GCSE and A Level. Since leaving after having my son, I have been focused on tutoring and have also moderated coursework for AQA. 

  I have a degree in English Literature from Loughborough University, a PGCE from London Metropolitan and more recently a Graduate Certificate in Linguistics from Birkbeck.  In my twenties, I worked in marketing, gaining experience in writing persuasive copy that has been invaluable to me as both an English teacher and tutor helping my students with both their university personal statements and writing in general.

  LIST OF SUBJECTS CATHERINE TUTORS IN:

  English KS3 booster/support

  GCSE English Language

  GCSE English Literature

  Catherine can also assist with: 

  EPQ writing

  Writing a personal statement