Laura C

Academic History

MRes in Social Research | University College London | Present

PGCE in Secondary English (with QTS) |University of Reading | July 2020

BSc in Sociology (1st Class, Hons) | University of Bristol | July 2017

Recent tuition

I have an excellent track record of successfully supporting students ahead of school entrance exams to achieve top grades and places at schools including Eton, Radley, Merchant Taylors, Haberdashers and Epsom College. I am also confident in supporting students with 11+ and Post 16+ interview preparation.

11+ English

I tutored a student in Year 7 with an offer from Westminster ‘under review’ due to under achieving in the ISEB in Year 6. We worked together on developing his inference skills and taking his writing further. An extremely bright child with English as an additional language. He had a tendency to keep his reading analysis quite surface level, so we found ways for him to zoom in and uncover layers of meaning. We did this through things such as character workshopping and getting confident with the concept of ‘showing, not telling’. Following additional assessments, my tutee’s offer was confirmed earlier this year.

13+ English

I worked 1-1 with this student following low scores in his ISEB tests and no firm offers from secondary schools. He lacked confidence and had become disengaged with English generally. My aim was to remind him of his ability and work towards small weekly goals (improving his growth mindset). Across six months, this student was achieving some of the top scores in his class (particularly on Reading comprehension). He took time to write carefully and insightfully and began to recognise again the value of putting effort into his work. We also worked together on his interview skills, getting him to reflect on his communication and vocabulary specifically. He achieved successful places at two schools in the Spring term of Year 7 and chose to attend Epsom College.

GCSE English Literature/Language

I am currently working 1-1 with a student in Year 10 who has serious challenges with his dyslexia and ADHD (I have supported him from Year 9). He struggles to express himself effectively on paper but is extremely intelligent (considered a gifted and talented student at his school). We have worked collaboratively to find alternative methods that support his learning; for example, he absorbs information best orally, so instead of bullet pointing or mind mapping ideas, he discusses and presents them as if he is performing. My intention has been to cultivate a space in our sessions where he feels empowered to learn in ways that feel right for him. It has been important to ensure that I provide him with the correct scaffolding in each one our lessons together. His grades have moved up from a 4 to a 7 and we still have one more year to go before he takes his GCSEs in Year 11.

GCSE English Literature/Language and Study Skills

I worked with a student across Year 10 and 11 who was embarking on her GCSE journey (Francis Holland). Focusing on generalist skills in addition to English, we worked collaboratively to uncover strategies that would enable her to organise her revision notes effectively and take proactive steps so that she felt in control throughout her GCSE learning. I modelled specific revision tools and together we explored which ones might be right for her. It was the creation of Knowledge Organisers that my student clicked with the most; she successfully and consistently applied these across all of her subjects. Ultimately, she built a routine that not only boosted confidence, but enhanced her learning, leading her to reach her potential in ways she did not think were possible. This student moved from a capable yet inefficient grade 7 and achieved an 8/9 in her English Literature and Language.

GCSE English & Humanities with SEN

I supported a student in person as part of an SEN department through his GCSE year. He had autism and needed support inside and outside of the classroom to thrive in a mainstream environment. Previously, he had been struggling with the volume of work required of him. Across humanities, he was achieving 2s and 3s; often unable to access more nuanced perspectives independently, particularly when it came to analysis in English. Through building a trusting a relationship, my student’s self-confidence grew and he came to believe that he could in fact pass his GCSEs. He thrived through focused discussion and we developed consistent routines that would support his ability to take on new information or see things through different lenses. I also oversaw his exams, taking him through each GCSE paper, creating a safe and motivating environment for him to reach his potential and achieve the grades he deserved. He scored 4s across his humanities subjects and was successfully awarded his place in 6th form.

A-Level English Literature and confidence building

A pupil needed support with her essay writing, with a focus on taking her analysis further. She loved the subject but had felt a confidence knock with the jump from GCSE to A-Level, struggling to express her ideas onto paper effectively in ways that flowed. Although capable of achieving an A, there was a tendency to become bewildered under timed conditions which was impacting my student’s grades significantly. I worked her with her to identify a useful essay structure that she could use each time she came to tackle critical essays. With this stripped back essay framework, her higher level analysis could emerge, particularly when it came to passages from texts like Shelley’s Frankenstein. Planning efficiently and clearly allowed her to zoom into ideas in ways that she previously wasn’t when faced with a blank page.

Hobbies

Currently, I am pursuing my Masters of Research (MRes) at UCL with an ambition to get involved in UK educational policy and research. The MRes is self-directed research and part-time, which means I have lots of availability to tutor alongside this. Although it may be viewed by some as niche, I am extremely passionate about social research and motivated by the power it has to impact lives for good.

I am also a singer and part of a large choir in London, we sing once a week and put on two performances a year. Additionally, I really enjoy going to the gym and spinning. I love the way exercise makes me feel both mentally and physically.

Testimonials