Jessica P
"Jess is warm and engaging and our daughter, who finds maths a real struggle, has already noticed an improvement in just 2 months."
GCSE Maths
A Level
Fine Art
GCSE
Maths
Photography
Academic History
University of Brighton, Level 7 Further Education and Training PGCE (Visual Arts)
Kingston University London, First Class Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Fine Art)
Brighton and Hove City College, Level 3 Art Foundation – Art Foundation Diploma (Distinction)
About Me
I am committed to facilitating creativity and learning in a supportive, compassionate and inspiring manner, with a focus on providing my learners with the tools to confidently and independently navigate their studies. I provide patient and encouraging support to my learners to aid in the process of building confidence, as I have witnessed this as one the most common hurdles for my students.
All sessions that I design and deliver are tailored to the individual and written with embedded numeracy and literacy support. This includes modelling problem solving, critical thinking, reflection and evaluation processes through enquiry, exploration and discussion. I use questioning techniques consistently throughout sessions, demonstrating this as a very useful process to navigate learning and its inevitable hurdles such as knowledge retention challenges or creative blocks. I find that this approach, combined with keeping sessions engaging and positive, relieves pressure around learning and/or creating, resulting in increased productivity and motivation.
Recent tuition
Maths GCSE (Edexcel) and Art GCSE (AQA)
When maths sessions commenced, the student was still in the higher set (and due to sit the higher paper) but achieved a grade 4 in their most recent test. Their confidence was very low with the subject and it seemed this was having a negative impact on results and ability to show true skill in exam situations. We mainly focused on gaps in knowledge, exam techniques and most crucially building confidence in the subject. They achieved a 6 in their mocks and are predicted to get a 6 in GCSE. They expressed that they felt so confident going into the exam, and this has aided confidence in other subjects and in their life in general. For art, I supported coursework development, art literacy/annotation and idea progression. When sessions commenced, the student was at grade 7 and now are predicted grade 9 for GCSE. They are going on to study Art A Level at college (FE).
Art & Design Extended Diploma (UAL) SEND
When support commenced this student was at merit grade level and was struggling with focus on ideas (seeing an idea through enough before moving off), motivation and time management. We worked on ways of recording all their brilliant ideas without needing to realise all of them and their ability to demonstrate idea procession in their coursework. Through this process, their motivation improved, as they could see the journey of their ideas developing and they expressed how much more rewarding this was than trying to progress too many ideas at once. I supported time management through creating timetables for the student to use. The student achieved a distinction grade in this course and gained a place on an Art Foundation course.
Photography A Level (AQA)
When support commenced, this student was at a grade D level and had high anxiety and social difficulties. They received in-college support from the wellbeing team and my assistance bridged this support to help them feel more at ease within the class. Sessions were greatly differentiated to adapt to the student’s capability each time, and as confidence in the subject grew, their anxiety inside and outside of class began to lessen. They achieved a B grade.
Home Education Creative Numeracy/Maths, Art and Business, Year 11 equivalent
We initially started with support in maths (dyscalculia support) by exploring application of mathematical concepts and processes within creativity and areas of interest e.g product design, engineering and finance. Creative and mathematical support naturally progressed into exploring business studies as the student has expressed interest in owning a business one day. Maths ability vastly improved over time – the student manages own business finances and designs products that are mathematically supported. They now have a small product design business with a steadily growing client base.
Home Education Creative Numeracy/Maths (SEND), Year 9 equivalent
When sessions commenced, the student was very anxious about maths and learning. We worked a lot on building rapport and trust, finding ways to access learning for them and navigate their challenges. As good foundation skill in maths was building they progressed to joining Woolsey Hall online studies for Maths. Their confidence in maths and in general life is vastly improved, along with their ability to self manage and regulate. They are consistently achieving above 70% in graded assignments.
Hobbies
As a practicing artist, I spend a lot of my time gathering sources for artworks and creating. I have recently started back up with painting again, a medium that I have enjoyed teaching for many years but hadn’t felt suited to my practice. As my style has solidified over the years, it lends itself very well to painting now and I’m thrilled!
I love movement and exercise, I walk absolutely everywhere and really enjoy running, yoga and meditation. These practices are very important to me because of the mental clarity and physical strength they provide. I have worked a lot on my mental health and wellbeing over the years and mindful movement has enabled me to take this to a new level, and feel connected in my mind, body and soul.
Other hobbies of mine include spending a lot of quality time with family and friends, I am incredibly proud of the relationships I have built and nurtured in my life thus far, and I am very lucky to have the people around me that I do! I also spend a lot of time listening and playing music – I play the piano, guitar and violin. Music is a very helpful alternative creative and mindful activity that helps me take time away from visual art forms when needed. For a long time I thought I might go into music for a career but my natural lean to visual arts was too strong!
Testimonials
“The teaching and management team have been very impressed by the level of work and teaching standards Jess has delivered whilst teaching in Fine Art A Level. Jess has also made an incredibly positive impact on our learners across a variety of subjects.”
A Level Fine Art
“Jess is warm and engaging and our daughter, who finds maths a real struggle, has already noticed an improvement in just 2 months. My daughter is open to switching between in person sessions and online sessions depending on our location, which I put down to Jess’ approach and relationship they have developed. I would have no hesitation in recommending Jess.”
GCSE Maths
“Jess is great and is very able to adapt her tutoring to my daughter’s needs. She is a fun and engaging tutor who shows a lot of dedication on helping my daughter who can be difficult and will try to distract, but Jess is able to stay patient and keep her engaged.”
SEND, Creative Numeracy, KS3
