Michele (Tutor)

 History (gcse, adult-learner, a-level)

 Humanities (degree)

 Politics (degree, adult-learner, a-level)

 Psychology (gcse, degree, adult-learner, a-level)

 Sociology (gcse, degree, adult-learner, a-level)

 History (gcse)

 History (a-level)

 Politics (a-level)

 Sociology (gcse)

 Psychology (gcse)

 Sociology (a-level)

 Psychology (a-level)

I am a college and University lecturer, with eleven years experience of teaching I have a young family and live in Hertfordshire. I am very passionate about education, teaching, learning the humanities and the social sciences in particular. I believe that learning is interactive and students should be fully engaged in the process for optimal achievement and to aid enjoyment. I believe the four subjects I am offering, have the potential to dramatically transform a young person`s perception and understanding of society. I am offering GCSE/A Level/Undergraduate History (AQA/OCR/Edexcel), Sociology (AQA/OCR), Psychology (AQA A/B/OCR/Edexcel), Government and Politics (Edexcel/AQA/OCR) and Study Skills.

I also offer essay planning/structuring, assessing, proof reading and copy editing services to access, undergraduate and postgraduate students.

History specialism in Russia,Germany and the USA - late 19th century to late 20th century.

I also provide intensive revision sessions in the 8-3 weeks before the January or summer exams, focusing on creating revision timetables, general topic revision, essay planning, structuring and writing exam planning, structuring and writing or answering source based questions and planning short mark questions. However, this must be block booked e.g. for a minimum of 3 hrs to a maximum of 5 hrs per week for the 8-3 weeks before the exams and this is charged at a higher rate than my usual hourly rate, because it is intensive and more exam driven.

I also charge for travel expenses if the distances are between 4 -7 miles, for distances of more than 7 miles I offer a online tutorial service via Skype or request the student travels to me.

I offer supervision of History coursework and offer support with structuring, use of sources and proof reading.

Availability: Weekday evenings and weekends

Willing to travel: 8 miles

Experience: I am an experienced social science teacher, (History, sociology, criminology, psychology, social policy and Government and Politics) who has also taught in a range of colleges and universities over the past eleven years. I have taught on access to higher education courses, GCSEs, AS and A2 levels courses, as well as undergraduate courses. I have also acted as an assistant examiner and assistant moderator for the AQA exam board. I was a Visiting Lecturer at Birkbeck College and London Metropolitan University for three and four years respectively. I was a research/dissertation supervisor at Birkbeck College, London University to final year diploma students for three years. I was a project supervisor, assessor and internal verifier to final year students at London Metropolitan University and a seminar tutor for four years. I also worked as a Unit Convenor for a year at London Metropolitan University on the Law Justice and Society Unit. I successfully ran the sociology department at City of Westminster College for four years, raising the A2 pass rate up to 95% pass rate with a 75% pass rate for grades A to B. Whilst the AS cohort for 2006 had a 98% pass rate with an 80% pass rate for grades A to B.The A2 cohort at Barnet College achieved 95% in the January 2011 exams grades A-D with 86% pass rate for grades A to B. In 2005-2006 I was the supervisor to a PGCE student from the Institute of Education. I worked as a sociology classroom teacher on LSE Choice from 2005 – 2009, initially I was involved with the development of the curriculum and the delivery of stretch and enhancement sessions for Aim higher students, however from 2007 I was involved with the delivery of the Saturday sociology and revision sessions for A2 A-B grade sociology students.

When tutoring I believe it is important, to adopt a student-centred approach, where the needs of the student are essential and clear, hence the aims and objectives are set in conjunction with the student to ensure their key learning objectives are achieved. I begin by carrying out a brief initial assessment and consultation, and discover the tutee`s learning style. The tutee`s learning style and development of analytical skills will underpin all sessions. A range of materials will be used during the session, e.g. thought shower, diagrams, practice past papers, planned answers, note taking, discussion and written exercises to support and aid learning. Contemporary links to real world events will also be discussed and assessed to support evaluative understanding.

Results of 2011-2012 cohort for January 2012 exams
A2 (Edexcel) Unit 3C G&P A
A2 (OCR) Crime & Deviance Sociology A
A2 (AQA) Religion Sociology B, C
A2 (AQA B) Unit 3 Psychology B
A2 Edexcel Unit 3 Psychology B
AS (AQA B) Unit 1 (B) & Unit 2 Psychology B
AS (OCR) Unit 1 Sociology B

From my current cohort, of students did not have January exams, I am also working with 4 students who were struggling in AS History & 1 AS Philosophy achieving grades around the C/D/E/U (some I have been working with since October and some of the recent ones only since January) who are now consistently achieving high Bs in homework essays and mock exams as of mid-March, our aims are to achieving As in the Summer (May) 2012 exams.

AS (Edexcel) Unit 2 History C
GCSE English Language C
GCSE English Literature C



My current cohorts attend a range of schools in Hertfordshire, Bishop Stortford College, St Edmunds College, Haileybury College, St Mary`s R.C. School Bishop Stortford , Richard Hale School, Simon Balle School, Broxbourne School, Cheshunt School, St Mary`s School and the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Example assignments
I tutored an A level student in 2008 (Franca)who attained an A in A Level Sociology, Italian and Government and Politics and went onto read Law at Southampton University. Please see an extract below from Franca`s testimonial:
“Skills Gained.
I have gained various skills which have all been useful in my further studies. These include analytical skills, namely being able to analyse a vast amount of information and establish what the most relevant parts are. Michele helped me with this by teaching me how to summarise the information contained in the textbook.
Writing skills: Michele`s guidance on how to plan essays enabled me to write concisely and to make sure that I answered the question.
Grade Achieved.
I achieved an A in all my exams.
How that helped in my studies.
Michele`s tutoring gave me the confidence and knowledge which enabled me to gain As in all my papers. Without the grades I would not have received an offer from my current university.
I still use the skills learned with Michele for my current studies, especially her tips on how to structure an essay.” Franca

In 2006 I also tutored an A level student (Brook) who achieved an A in Sociology, Government and Politics and Law and is now completing his PHD in Law and Economics in France and has stated the following in his testimonial.
"Michele was absolutely instrumental in ensuring that I achieved an A in my A-Level exam through diligent tutorship and encouragement. I was helped my Michele tremendously to have an overall sense of the subject and most importantly to develop my interest in research in social studies. I successfully completed my first research under her supervision which inspired me to continue in to my tertiary level education. As a direct result of her inspiration and help early on- I am currently doing a Ph.D. in Law and Economics." Brook

Qualifications: PGCE in Post-16 Education (Institute of Education)
MA Criminology (Merit)
BA (Hons) Criminology (including Politics) 2:1

CRB Check: Yes

Has References: Yes

Will Tutor Online: Yes