Sam

Passionate about education, developing curiosity and standing firm against the inroads into intelligent learning that artificial intelligence threatens us with, I am a passionate, focussed and caring tutor with over nine years of experience. I grew up in Salisbury, where I attended Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School, quickly learning the advantages of that schooling system and what a good result on an 11+ exam can get you. I achieved high marks in Spanish, English Literature, Religious Studies and Early Modern History at A Level and spent my time writing, reading and thinking hard, like any precocious teenager.

Following school I attended Oxford University, from which I graduated in 2015 with a First Class in Theology. I specialised in 19th century Protestant Theology and wrote my dissertation on the theology of Dostoyevsky's 'The Brothers Karamazov', both of which continue to be vital points of interest for me today.

Since graduating, I have been working as a private tutor in London ever since, now with over 500 hours of tutoring experience across Humanities subjects, 11+, Oxbridge Preparation and other more bespoke tutoring as clients have required.

In my spare time I enjoy theatre, writing short stories and baking, as well as exploring London on my bike when I can. Having started my life in London suspicious of its business and wild spirit, I have found myself a convert, and now try and see as much of the city whenever I am able.

Having tutored for over nine years, I have learnt the value of a structured approach to teaching. My lessons are always interactive and customised to the student's needs, strengths and weaknesses. My teaching resources and materials are uniquely designed to engage students' interests while, at the same time, preparing them specifically towards their exams and assessments.

One of the most important aspects of tutoring is understanding the specific needs of the student. Therefore, no two lessons I teach are exactly the same. In my first lesson with a new student, I try to gauge their current understanding. In subsequent lessons, we aim to build a solid foundation of conceptual knowledge, essay skills and exam technique. To achieve this, I use specific activities, for example, essay planing exercises, memory techniques and interactive quizzes. As lessons progress, we consolidate the knowledge and techniques learnt in previous lessons, so that they become ingrained in the student's understanding.

I consider myself a patient, friendly and highly enthusiastic tutor. I seek to inspire students through my own passion for the subjects I teach, while retaining a specific focus on pedagogical techniques. Experience has taught me that students become more engaged, motivated and confident in their subjects as they see improvements in their grades.

When not tutoring, I invest my time in the theatrical side of my life, both with my theatre company and alone in darkened auditoriums, going to as many shows as I can get into. I write and direct my own work, and currently have two shows out on national tours.

I am also an avid reader, both of fictional texts and, failing to leave my degree fully behind, modern theological works. I am a particular devourer of Dostoyevsky and Sartre, as well as any and all play-texts, and some beautiful American novels, young and old.