After completing my D.Phil from Christ Church, University of Oxford, I worked for 7 years as a Senior Biologist for a small drug discovery company where I was responsible for screening new drug targets in tissue models for human disease. Over the years I’ve had so many comments from students/colleagues about my ability to break subjects down to ease understanding, and coupled with my passion for science and sharing that with others I decided to change career and become a full-time science tutor in 2013. I’ve never looked back! Prior to this, I obtained a 1st Class honours degree in Pharmacology (with a placement year) from the University of Leeds.
I have many hobbies but particularly enjoy outdoor pursuits including: sailing, mountaineering, climbing, mountain biking and running. Most of my free time though is spent with my wonderful husband and two beautiful children!
During my time researching at Oxford, I tutored an array of students in Biochemistry, Biology, Genetics, Human Science and Medicine and in my working career I was heavily involved in training employees in new areas of biology we were researching, to ensure their knowledge base was up-to-scratch. I have vast tutоring experience аt both GCSE аnd AS/A2 level across all UK examination boards, including IB and also tutor to degree level.
My tutoring style is informal, working with each student to improve their approach to learning whilst maintaining motivation. My teaching is clear, concise and to the syllabus, I pride myself on being able to break down the subject so it’s easier to understand, making even the most demanding topics attainable. I have a huge array of past questions which I often use in my lessons – the best way to learn how to tackle the questions is to practice lots of them! I also provide detailed notes, use presentations, flashcards, mnemonics as part of my teaching methods. I am a reliable, smiley person but most of all patient – at the end of the day, learning should be fun!
I am also a freelance examiner and team lead for a UK based examining board, and am involved in writing mark schemes for these examinations. This work is invaluable to my role as a science tutor and to the development of my students’ abilities in preparation for their examinations. It has taught me to understand the very specific focus of each syllabus as a whole, to read for the specific aim of relevant text, and to concentrate not just on surface comprehension but to expand science beyond basic skills.