Meet The Team
“Listen less to your fears and more to your dreams.”
— The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse (Charles Mackesy)
Our Teachers
Emily Spurgeon
BA (Hons), PGCE
Founder of Love To Learn & English Teacher
Reading and writing have been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember. Pursuing a passion for Literature and Creative Writing, I completed an English degree and undertook numerous work experience placements in literary agencies, libraries, book shops and newspapers before landing a job as a television drama script editor at Pinewood Studios. I transitioned into a role as a content writer for a luxury lifestyle website, and eventually found my calling within education as a Secondary English, Drama and Media Studies teacher. During the past 20 years, I have supported countless numbers of young people (from as young as age 7 to those beyond school age) with their literacy within both the state and private sector. I am passionate about helping children to read and write, and to cultivate a lifelong love of learning. I set up Love To Learn in 2017 in order to provide personalised learning for the children within my community. I’ve never looked back!
3 FACTS ABOUT EMILY: she loves meditation, trips in her camper-van Frida, and making crochet blankets!
Paul Chapman
BA (Hons), GTP
KS3 & GCSE Maths Teacher
Whichever hat I wear,(Teacher, Parent, Assistant Principal or Designated Safeguarding Lead), I believe that quality education delivered in an easy-to-understand manner, with an added pinch of humour, is essential for all children. I have been teaching within secondary education for over twenty years, and have gained enormous satisfaction from nurturing and influencing the lives of many young people. Experienced in delivering art, design technology, PE, maths and RE, to classes within Dorset schools, I now embark upon my tuition adventure. Decades after we first met, when both training to become teachers at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne, I am delighted to be working with Emily again as part of her Love To Learn team.
3 FACTS ABOUT PAUL: he loves playing music, riding bikes with his kids and surfing with his friends!
Laura Barnes
BA (Hons), PGCE
GCSE English Teacher
After a varied career in the voluntary and public sector supporting and advocating for young adults with learning disabilities, I transitioned into education. For the past 10 years, I have taught GCSE English Language and Literature in local secondary schools. I have gained great pleasure from engaging young people, opening up new worlds through the books we read and learning the skills needed for effective communication. It gives me real satisfaction to see how quickly young people can make progress given one-to-one or small group support.
3 FACTS ABOUT LAURA: she loves all things creative (painting, drawing, writing), her cats and reading!
Emily King
BA (Hons), PGCE
KS1 and KS2 Teacher
Yes, I am another Emily! Must be something in our genes that makes us teach! I am joining the Love To Learn tutoring team as an experienced primary teacher and a content writer/editor for the well-known educational online resource provider Twinkl. I believe every child has the potential to succeed and it is our job to ensure we provide the right teaching environment, support and resources to enable this to happen. I am passionate about making a positive impact on young people’s education, and I look forward to helping your child.
3 FACTS ABOUT EMILY: she loves baking, watercolour painting and football!
Sue Hankins
BTec OND and BTec HND
KS3 & GCSE Maths Tutor
After a career in the financial services, I moved into education and began running numeracy groups in a local secondary school. Throughout these 15 years, I have seen first-hand how much a small, nurturing teaching environment can help young people with both their self-confidence and also their understanding and application of maths. Supporting learners with their numeracy skills and preparing them for their GCSE maths exam gives me a huge sense of reward. Whilst it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, I love maths!
3 FACTS ABOUT SUE: she loves dogs, reading and skiing!
John Dover
BEd, SLE
Mental Health Practitioner and Maths Teacher
My entire career has been within education! I have been a teacher for over 20 years and have worked in schools as a Head of Department, a trainee teacher mentoring lead, a Deputy Headteacher and as a Director of College. For many years, I ran a PE department and I have taught KS2, KS3 and GCSE maths throughout my teaching career. As a trained and qualified Mental Health Practitioner, I am passionate about working with young people – to promote and nurture their self-esteem and emotional well-being.
3 FACTS ABOUT JOHN: he loves Star Wars, coastal walking and reading about positive mindsets!
Chloe Bentinck
BA (Hons)
GCSE & A level English Teacher (online only)
I have been teaching English Literature and Language to students in KS3 up to A-level for over twenty years. Having spent much of my career teaching in a leading local independent school, helping students achieve their personal and academic goals, I now specialise in personally tailored English tuition for a wide range of learners. Helping students engage with their learning and gain confidence in their ability is always at the heart of what I do. I am looking forward to joining Love To Learn as a GCSE and A-level English teacher.
3 FACTS ABOUT CHLOE: she loves dogs, plants and a good walk in the countryside!
Cameron Rogers
BA (hons), MA
KS3 and GCSE English Teacher (online only)
I have always loved the written and spoken word, and find it is one of the best ways to express inner creativity. In my current secondary school, I teach the AQA GCSE syllabus. Therefore, I have specialised knowledge in this field, but I can help students with any aspect of the KS3 and GCSE English curriculum.
Before I entered the world of education, I worked in financial services and public relations. My degrees are in political science. I feel that this breadth of experience has helped me in my teaching career, as it has enabled me to have a very broad and very real perspective of the world in which we live.
3 FACTS ABOUT CAMERON: he likes running, playing music and meditating!