Katie

At sixth form I studied Maths, Chemistry and Biology before completing an undergraduate degree in Archaeology at the University of Nottingham. During my degree I specialised within the field of Paleoanthropology and completed a research based dissertation, which focused on the evolution of the obstetric pelvis. I then moved to London and completed a PGCE in Science Education (specialising in Biology) at Kings College, London.

I worked as a Science teacher at St. Martin in the Fields High School for Girls in South London for two years teaching all three Sciences across a wide range of ability levels. I then moved to Switzerland to work as a Science Teacher at Leysin American School. During this time I worked with children from over sixty different countries and specialised in teaching Science to English as a second language learners. As Leysin American School was a boarding school I had many other pastoral responsibilities, including working as a dorm parent during the evenings and weekends, running the environmental club and planning and supervising after school activities such as running and fitness activities. I also tutored students within the subject of Science and mentored students generally including individuals with special educational needs.

After three years I returned back to the UK to complete a Master of Science course in Paleoanthropology and Paleolithic Archaeology at University College London. Whilst completing this course I worked on various tutoring assignments (including residential and non residential). I have recently completed my masters dissertation focusing on the importance of plant foods in Neanderthal diets and plan on applying to undertake a PhD within my field of interest in the near future.

I am a polite, eloquent, approachable, and friendly person and from my career path so far I am very used to being a role model for children. In addition to tutoring students academically I have also focused on preparing students for interview preparation as well as improving social skills generally.

I am sensitive to individual needs and believe that a personalised, multi sensory, cross-curricular and dynamic lesson plan, with positive encouragement, timed and structured activities, and assessment for learning, are key for all children to succeed as well as understand the direction of their learning moving forward. I believe that ‘Assessment for Learning’ is a particularly crucial element to lessons as this will allow the students to understand what they need to do to improve their learning and move on to a more advanced level of thinking.

When I am not tutoring I enjoy cooking and reading books about science, history and science fiction. I have mentored a young person in care, volunteered at a homeless shelter and spent time looking after five nieces and a nephew. I am also working to develop the business of a digital marketing agency. I am an active person who enjoys hiking outdoors, running, yoga, biking, snowboarding and many other activities such as reading, visiting places of historical and scientific interest. I am an avid traveller and have visited 95 countries. I have also taken part on two archaeological excavations in Cyprus and Kazakhstan.

During my time in Switzerland I organized and ran a variety of actives for primary and secondary school aged children including horse riding, paddle boarding, mountain biking, hiking, fitness courses, yoga, cooking, board games, rowing, outdoor adventure, scavenger hunts, baking, and painting.

I have a keen interest in plants, and spend one afternoon a week volunteering at a community run greenhouse running educational workshops and growing herbs, dye plants, medicinal plants and indoor and outdoor vegetables in London.