Qualifications
& Experience
Experience
I have over 20 years’ experience in helping children with a wide range of abilities achieve their potential.
I know the syllabus inside out for all of the subjects I teach and can provide condensed notes that I have painstakingly developed over years (particularly important for the sciences!).
When it comes to exams, I ensure that students fully grasp all the concepts, creating comprehensive notes, practicing past papers, perfecting exam technique, understanding AOs and mark schemes and – all importantly – how to get those marks.
Crafted with swiftness and success in mind, my proven teaching methods boost English comprehension, essay structuring, and creative writing.
I succeed in communicating even the most difficult and anxiety-inducing concepts. Every stage of the academic process brings complex ideas – from learning fractions at 8 to Faustus at 18 – but with patience and empathy, I believe that one can teach anything.
Achieving
Goals
Initially I set goals with parents and students, and then, together, we devise a program to achieve those goals.
For example:
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School entry examinations
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Public examinations
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Revision
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Specific skills
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Building confidence
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Filling gaps of knowledge in a particular subject
Diverse Needs
I have a long history of working with children with Special Educational Needs: ADHD, dyslexia, hearing impairment, Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorder, as well as emotional and behavioural issues.
The students that get referred to me often have obstacles to learning. Teaching is an exercise in empathy; it’s about finding out what the blocks and barriers are and helping the student through them. I always tell students that if they don’t understand something, it’s me that has to work harder – not them.
One of the things that surprises (and reassures) my students is that I, myself, am dyslexic. I know how demoralising and demotivating it can be at times. I teach the coping mechanisms that I learned the hard way and which helped me to succeed. If I can read English at Oxford then it shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone!