Jesse Nicholls
Location: Central London
I predominantly teach:
AS/A2 History , Politics
I also teach:
11+ English, 13+ English, 13+ History, Essay Writing, GCSE English, GCSE History, Oxbridge Preparation, Verbal Reasoning
Experience
I have experience of tutoring History and Politics at GCSE, AS and A-Level, and I can also tutor English Literature. I have worked with a number of students in Stoke Newington where I grew up. I am also currently tutoring an eight year-old and a five year-old, and I worked with younger children while undertaking an internship at the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights (completed in the summer of 2009).
Biography
I graduated in 2007 from Trinity College, Cambridge with a double-first with distinction in History. Prior to that I attended City of London school, where I achieved 4 As at A-level (including marks of 580/600 in History, 598/600 in politics and 600/600 in English Literature) and 9A*s and 2As at GCSE. (I have included full details of my academic record below, including scholarships and awards.)
Having graduated I was employed as an academic researcher for a senior Cambridge historian, and then worked for about a year as a political consultant at Apex Communications, acting for a range of commercial, NGO and third sector clients. I then decided to pursue a career at the Bar and recently secured a Commendation on the CPE/Graduate Diploma in Law from City University, as well as being offered pupillage at Tooks Chambers to commence in October 2010. My interest in the law stems largely from my belief in the importance of access to justice, and I have worked at a number of organisations reflecting this, including the Royal Court of Justice Citizens Advice Bureau, the London Innocence Project, and the Independent Jamaican Council for Human Rights.
I have always played a great deal of sport, representing Middlesex at cricket between the ages of 10 and 17, as well as playing county badminton, and representing my school First XIs at both cricket and football. Much of my sporting experiences have also involved the responsibility of captaincy, and I captained the Trinity College football and cricket First XIs, as well as playing both cricket and football for Cambridge University.
I’m keen on cinema and I also like to read, particularly on modern Africa. I enjoy travelling and have self-financed trips to South East Asia, South America and Kenya, a country that featured extensively in my academic studies.
ACADEMIC RECORD
City Law School (2008-2009):
CPE: Commendation
Coursework: 5/7 first class marks
Trinity College, Cambridge (2004-2007):
Graduated with BA Hons in History: 1st with distinction
Historical Tripos Part II (2007): 1st with distinction (third in academic year)
Breakdown: 9/10 first class marks
Average: 72.9
Top mark: 79
Historical Tripos Part I (2006): 1st
City of London School (1996-2004):
A-Levels (2004)
4 A’s (History - 580/600, English Literature - 600/600, Politics - 598/600, Geography - 563/600)
GCSEs
9 A*s (2002) (English Literature, English Language, French, Greek, History, Geography, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
2 As (2001) (Mathematics, Latin)
SCHOLARSHIPS, AWARDS AND PRIZES
Inner Temple:
Peter Taylor Scholarship (BVC) (2009)
Internship Award (2009)
Exhibition Scholarship (CPE) (2008)
Human Rights Lawyers Association:
Bursary Award (2009)
Trinity College, Cambridge:
Tripos Prize (2007)
Earl of Derby Prize (2007)
Senior Scholarship (2006)
Junior Scholarship (2005)
City of London School:
Ockford Scholarship (2004)
The Brooke-Caws Prize for History (2004)
The Innes Prize for Politics (2004)
The Guild of Scholars’ Sixth Form Prize for Service (2004)
John Carpenter Club Junior Sixth Form Prizes for English Literature, History and Politics (2003)
Exhibition Scholarship (2002)
Personal Approach
My personal approach to teaching and private tuition has always been based on the need to respond and adapt to the learning style that suits the particular subject, group or individual I am working with. As well as helping students to get to grips with the factual material, I aim to offer insight into the skills that are often overlooked in school class environments, such as essay writing and structure, argument and exam technique. I have found that this approach can help to open a student’s mind to more than mere rote learning, and therefore enable him/her to both enjoy the material more deeply and perform better in assessments as a result. Finally, I think of myself as a friendly person and I have always got on well with my students, establishing a necessary relationship of trust and creating a fun study environment without losing the ability to work hard and focus on the task in hand.
Testimonials
'' I just wanted to mention how delightful Jesse is and what a great match for Peter. Please thank him very much on our behalf. I suspect we may need him again!''