Fenella

Having graduated from St John’s College Cambridge with a first class BA and an MPhil in Philosophy and Theology, I then began teaching at Rugby School. Here I underwent teacher training for the PGCE and also functioned as a full time tutor to ten GCSE level boys, as well as choral assistant and shooting coach. Having also worked closely with the head of Oxbridge, I am in a very strong position to advise on applications to leading universities worldwide. The last year has been spent working as a full time tutor in London, whilst setting up my own business focused on Oxbridge interview practice [contact detail removed]. Balancing work with competitive rifle-shooting at a semi-professional level requires huge drive and efficiency. I bring this drive to each of the pupils that I tutor, helping them to realise their own passions and potential.

Availability: I am available over Skype during the week.

Willing to travel: 20 miles

Experience: I first started tutoring whilst I was at Cambridge when I was invited back several times to the King`s School Canterbury to talk to prospective Oxbridge candidates and help them with their applications and interviews. While I was Cambridge I also started to take on GCSE and A level tuition in English, Geography and Religious Studies. Upon graduating I then decided to persue a career as a professional teacher and tutor.

Having taught classes of students of wide-ranging abilities, I am aware of the importance of catering for the specific needs of individuals. This is what primarily draws me to tutoring. There is nothing more satisfying than having the time to sit and work through the challenges that a particular student is facing, one-to-one. As a teacher, I know the value that this can add to both their achievement and also their enjoyment of school work. So often seemingly overwhelming problems are born of a simple misunderstandings which can be quickly ironed out within individual tutor time.

One of my greatest skills is helping underperforming students overcome the fear of extended essay writing. I am frequently approached by students (many of whom I have not taught before) who have heard how helpful I can be in clearly breaking down topics and building clear essay plans to help them with difficult assignments. In doing this, I have worked not only with students preparing for public examinations and Extended Projects (EPQ), but also students for whom English is an additional language and dyslexic students.

When it gets towards exam season I start to really focus helping my students to understand what the marking criteria are for the different essay questions that they will be examined on. So often, even the best students fail to meet the marking criteria and so cannot access the highest grades. I help students develop the skills of quick planning and coherent structuring of essays under time pressured conditions.