BA(Hons) History, 1st, University of Oxford
PGCE (Secondary History), University of Oxford; MSc History & International Relations, LSE (current)
CRB checked from recent teaching career
General Teaching Council for England, NASUWT, Historical Association
References are available upon request
I'm on LinkedIn

Subjects

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Personal Message

I'm a recent school teacher in my late 20s and have just embarked on a Masters degree in History and International Relations. I have been tutoring for over a year.

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I am a qualified History teacher, but have taught Geography extensively at GCSE. I enjoy tutoring students in History up to undergraduate level and Geography to GCSE. I also have experience teaching and tutoring English and Religious Studies and can teach all of these subjects from Common Entrance to GCSE.

I also very much enjoy supporting and advising students with their university applications and decision making.

Tell me about your qualifications.
I have ten GCSEs at grade A and A* (and a random AO level at grade A in Maths) and three A-levels in History (A), Geography (A) and French (A). I read History at Oxford University, studying a wide range of courses from Political Theory to various British and European History units in my first year. For my finals I focussed, amongst other things, on the aftermath of the English Civil War and Cromwell's Commonwealth and Protectorate and some more Political Theory and Social Science. I particularly enjoyed my dissertation on nationalism in Germany and the Balkans.

I was inspired to go into teaching at a comprehensive in central London, and so completed my secondary History PGCE at Oxford after I graduated from my undergraduate degree.

After five years teaching in the classroom and undertaking various positions including Head of History, joint Head of Sixth Form with particular responsibility for University Admissions and a stint in school leadership, I'm now undertaking an MSc in History and International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

What kind of experience do you have?
I have been teaching in a London comprehensive school for five years, mainly History at Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-level (particularly European history). I also taught Geography at GCSE, R.E., Citizenship and even some French.
I had responsibility for university admissions for two years, including Oxbridge preparation.
I have extensive History A-level tutoring experience, particularly for exam preparation. I have a great deal of experience teaching and tutoring late 19th century and twentieth century Russian history at A-level, but also tutor all the commonly chosen A-level topics, and some less common! I have also tutored iGCSE History, GCSE English (language and literature), and provided advice on university applications including extensive guidance on the UCAS application form.

Recent tutoring successes (2011) include: three A-level History students scored 94%, 92% and 85% in tutored units and two other students improved grades on tutored retakes from D to B. iGCSE History A*.
A-level History retake record remains either 2 grade improvement or A grade achievement.

How much do you charge?
I charge £35-£40 per hour. I may ask for you to compensate my time for long or complicated journeys (please let me know where you are based when making a tutoring enquiry, at least the London area or first part of the post code) and I normally ask for a deposit with the payment for the first session, which is then refunded via a 'free' final session. Our initial consultation meeting would, of course, be free.

Where do you teach?
I normally teach in your home, especially if you live in London reasonably close to public transport links, but we could also arrange another mutually convenient location.
If you are a long distance from London (or abroad) it may be possible to do some online tutoring at a reduced rate, depending on the specifics for which you need assistance.
See below for information about online tutoring and technology that can help face-to-face tutoring.

When are you available?
During November and December 2011 I'm free at various points during the day on Thursdays and Fridays, some evenings (especially Thursday at the moment) and some weekends. Over the Christmas holidays, I'm likely to be away from London between 21st and 28th December at least.
June to December (during and after the transition from lower Sixth/Year 12 to upper Sixth/Year 13) is a particularly good time to receive advice on university applications and to get help with UCAS personal statements, specific entrance tests and interview practice. Many students have help from September to January with A-level retakes.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
I teach everyone from age 13 upwards, but tend to focus on A-level exam preparation and beyond.

Which qualifications do you prepare your students for?
Mostly A-level, sometimes GCSE.

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
Yes, from my teaching career, updated regularly.

Describe your arrangements for online tutoring.
I have access to email, Skype, MSN messenger, Gmail/Google+ chat, and probably any other communication software you can install on a computer...!

I encourage all of my students to use 'Evernote' to keep organised and so that we can share notes taken during tutoring sessions, and 'Google+' for me to share general information I find outside of sessions.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
I belong to the teaching union NASUWT and to the Historical Association.

Where and with whom did you train?
I completed my PGCE at the University of Oxford and at secondary schools in Oxfordshire.

Tell me about some of your current students.
Recent tutoring successes (2011) include: three A-level History students scored 94%, 92% and 85% in tutored units and two other students improved grades on tutored retakes from D to B. iGCSE History at A*.
A-level History retake record remains either 2 grade improvement or A grade achievement.

Do you have a personal message for students?
Have a look at what I'm reading and noticing in the world of learning and teaching by finding and adding me on Google+. I encourage my students (and parents) to join the Google+ network so that I can share relevant news and advice quickly. Email + Evernote + Google+ adds an extra dimension to the help I can provide.