Shona G
"She has helped my daughter to gain very high Grades in her GCSE exams and is now working with her on her A levels."
Multiple subjects at GCSE and A-Level
11+
13 +
A Level
English
GCSE
History
Maths
University Applications
Academic History
Durham University – History BA (Hons), 2:1
Ringwood Sixth Form – A-Levels Maths: A* History: A* Economics: A English Literature: A
Ringwood School – GCSEs Maths: A* English Language: A* English Literature: A* Science: A*A* History: A* Drama: A* Music: A* French: A* Spanish: A
About Me
I have almost seven years of tutoring experience. I have a very strong grasp of which areas students tend to find challenging and a catalogue of methods to help them fully understand the content and feel empowered in their learning. I’ve worked with students across a range of abilities and with varying requirements – I always tailor my approach to the individual. My approach to tutoring is very holistic, as I believe each student is unique and should be treated as such. I’m pleased to say that all my tutees have met or exceeded their targets.
My focus is on building confidence and enjoyment and letting positive results flow from that to create a cycle of reinforcement. Learning should be fun!
Recent tuition
Here is a snapshot of my recent tutoring experience:
11+ entrance exams (Greenwich/Blackheath area)
This high-achieving student (Blackheath Prep) was hoping to gain a place at a local competitive school, including scholarship applications, and needed some support. We did a lot of exam prep whilst keeping things fun and helping build his confidence in responding to pressure or unexpected questions, and he was offered places at Colfe’s, Dulwich and Eltham with a music scholarship to the latter.
KS2 Maths & English
This student (Harris Primary Academy Crystal Palace) was initially keen to work towards the 11+, and started tuition with me at age 8. She needed a boost in confidence and support with reasoning, as well as some specific topics in Maths and English. As the 11+ approached she decided she would rather not take the exam, but has opted to continue having tutoring as she has so much fun and gains vital consolidation and support for her school work.
GCSE Academic Mentoring
I began working with this student (Blackheath High) after helping her brother gain admission to Eltham College through the 11+. She was finding organisation difficult and struggling with a new diagnosis of ADHD. We worked together over the course of a year to help her feel clearer about gaps in her knowledge and strategies to overcome them, and she was over the moon at her GCSE results, exceeding or meeting all her target grades.
GCSE Maths (Edexcel)
I tutored this student (City of London Academy) for one year as part of Alternative Provision. When we began working together she had been out of school for most of the previous year for mental health reasons and was completely uninterested in her education. We slowly built up her contact time and she regained her confidence and enthusiasm for Maths, and she managed to take and pass her GCSE this summer, which was unimaginable for her a year earlier.
A-Level History & GCSE Academic Mentoring
I began working with this student (John Roan) whilst she was in Year 9 and was lucky enough to help her all the way through to her first long-form essay at university. Her main obstacles were confidence and structuring essay answers effectively. We worked together to gradually improve her understanding and methods, and more importantly feel empowered in her learning and ideas, and she exceeded her target grades in GCSE, A-Level and went on to her first-choice course at university.
Hobbies
Outside of tutoring, I’m an actor and writer – I love stories! I love building and telling them, but also being told them. I’m a big fan of reading, TV and film, and also fashion and art as ways to communicate ideas. I do a lot of exercise, particularly dance, yoga, kickboxing and calisthenics. I grew up in the countryside so I’m also very fond of walking and the outdoors.
Testimonials
“You did wonders for [name]’s confidence, she now says Maths is her favourite subject which is such a turnaround for her.”
Subject: Maths. Level: KS3
“Shona is an excellent tutor. She has helped my daughter [name] to gain very high Grades in her GCSE exams and is now working with her on her A levels. Before I hired Shona [name] was struggling and had little confidence in her academic ability. She is very professional and always on time. She has a very engaging personality and we are lucky to have her.”
Subjects: English, Maths, History, Personal Statement. Level: GCSE, A-Level and University Preparation
