Michael

I believe that I have a unique combination of attributes which enables me to get the best out of students about to sit their GCSE or A Level Exams.

I believe my biggest strength is my rapport with students. As I am still a (relatively!) young teacher, I find it easy to connect with students and empathise with the pressure they find themselves under. This is, in my opinion, the single most important thing about finding the right tutor. The pupil and tutor have to get along - this is because so much of the progress is made when the tutor is not around. Its imperative that the student understands how much I care about the grade they get, and that all the hard work will be worthwhile in the end. I hate the idea that a student dreads the hour or so spent together and sees it as a chore.

I have, and currently hold, a number of roles which have proved invaluable in helping students achieve exceptional grades in History examinations. I am a current Head of History at one of the largest schools in the country. I am also a former Head of Faculty, and so I know better than most the pressure that students find themselves under. I have taught 100s of GCSE and A Level students over the last six years - covering a number of different topics and exam boards. I have been an examiner for OCR (A-Level Russia 1894-1941) and a Team Leader for Edexcel (GCSE Elizabeth and Cold War) and so I know exactly what the pupils need to do in order to achieve the top marks. I have taught a number of topics at GCSE and A-Level, including:
- Russia 1894-1941 (A-Level)
- GCSE Weimar and Nazi Germany
- GCSE Superpower Relations & Cold War
- GCSE Early Elizabethan England
- GCSE Medicine Through Time

I have a wealth of resources that will allow pupils to practice key skills in-between sessions (from revision cards to Mock papers and revision booklets to model answers). I use a range of techniques, which I why I usually like to speak with the parents and student prior to the first meeting in order to establish expectations and discuss learning styles. I can then personalise the support. Work to be done between sessions will be set at the end of every meeting (agreed between myself, parents & student). I am happy to mark any exam questions they wish to write, and I will mark Mock papers at no extra cost.

I have also done a huge amount of work with students suffering with exam stress/anxiety. Helping student cope with the added pressure of exams (alongside the usual struggles being a teenager!) is a real passion of mine. I use various mindfulness/meditation techniques which have proven to drastically reduce suffering. Please let me know if this is something you think you might be interested in.

£25 per hour.

A profile can only tell you so much about a person. I ask that if you are genuinely interested in working together, then you give me a call so that we can discuss things in more depth.

Availability: Flexible over the weekend (preferred)
Weekdays available from 4pm (dependent on the day)
Skype sessions available

Willing to travel: 10 miles

Experience: Current Head of History
History teacher for 6 Years (QTS gained in 2013)
Edecxel Exam team Leader - 2018
Edexcel Examiner - 3 years experience
OCR A-Level Examiner - 3 Years experience
Former Head of faculty (Social Sciences)
8 Week Mindfulness Course
Led various workshops on Mindfulness and Anxiety in Schools