Philippa

Over the 10 years of my teaching career, I have experience teaching and tutoring all three sciences up to GCSE and biology to A Level. I have worked in both state and private secondary schools and managed two KS3 science teams. I began tutoring in 2021, starting online during lockdown and then in-person shortly after. I have tutored students with a range of abilities, supporting students reach their target grades and above in GCSE and A Level. In just six lessons, a student turned their D grade into a B; and a student who found science challenging, came away with the highest possible grade at foundation level GCSE. The resources I use in my lessons are clear and concise, explaining complex ideas with simple images and minimal text. Teaching segments are chunked with regular assessment which build students' confidence. I model exam-style questions for, then alongside, my students. We build up to independent practice that familiarises students with questions asked in assessments and makes examinations less daunting. Tutoring has allowed me to support students 1-1 and watch them flourish. I enjoy building strong relationships and using methods most suited to the learner. It is rewarding to see students grasp a subject I feel passionate about and make invaluable progress towards their goals. Outside teaching and tutoring, I mark AQA, GCSE and OCR A Level examination papers, giving me first-hand insight into exactly what examiners are looking for and what students need to do to achieve the highest marks. This examiner experience informs every lesson I teach. I regularly incorporate exam-style questions and exam technique throughout the learning process and find by exposing students to exam questions from the outset, they become familiar with the style, language, and expectations of the assessments, making exams feel far less daunting and ensuring they are as prepared and confident as possible.