Rory

Experience

• 11+ English, Maths & Science: ISEB and public school entrance exams and pre-test

• 13+ English, Maths & Science: ISEB and public school entrance exams

• I/GCSE English Language & Literature (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• I/GCSE Biology (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• I/GCSE Chemistry (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• A-level & PreU English (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• A-level Biology (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• A-level Chemistry (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC)

• English Language Aptitude Test Preparation

While Keystone marks the beginning of my professional tutoring career, I have experience working with children of all ages across a range of subjects. For two years I conducted weekly tutoring sessions for students in years 7-11 at my school. I assisted with homework and revision for English, Biology, Chemistry, and Maths. I have also received Keystone's training for tutoring 11+ English and Maths.

In my final year at Oxford, I provided free tutorials to first year English students, reviewing their coursework and discussing possible emendations, for which I received resoundingly positive feedback. Additionally, through Vacation Project, I have gained some experience working with children who have SEN and ASD.

Biography

My father serves in the Armed Forces, so I spent my childhood jumping between various schools and countries, including a two-year stint in Kuwait. Eventually I joined Wycliffe School as a boarder, remaining there until I completed my GCSEs.

By sixth-form, my parents had settled permanently in Stratford-upon-Avon. I attended the local state grammar, King Edward VI School, renowned for its pedagogical contribution to the genius of William Shakespeare.

Surrounded by the RSC's vibrant theatrical productions, my interest in literature superseded my scientific curiosity; alongside Maths AS (A), Biology (A*), and Chemistry (A*), I took the Cambridge Pre-U in English (D1), which I went on to read at Lincoln College, University of Oxford.

While at university, I received the Lord Crewe Scholarship for consistently producing work of a high standard. I later received a first-class mark for my dissertation, which fused my literary and scientific knowledge by exploring Donne's poetry in relation to Early Modern cosmological theory. I also flexed my creative muscles, winning a college poetry competition, and writing various miscellaneous pieces in prose and verse.

Having now graduated with a 2.1, I very much look forward to passing on my range of skills and knowledge to budding tutees.

Personal Approach

To my mind, interaction and discussion are prerequisites to a successful tutorial. A lesson is not a lecture; rather, it is an opportunity to inform and consolidate understanding through active engagement in a specific topic. Having worked with students of all ages, I have come to notice a common trend: often, the basic knowledge of how to answer a question or solve a problem is present, but the student lacks the skill-set to confidently perform this in an exam scenario. My interlocutory approach will encourage critical investigation into a topic, resulting in a more complete understanding and improved confidence.

What I do when I am not tutoring

Unsurprisingly, I'm a big fan of books. I'm currently causing irreversible damage to my retinas as I trudge through Nabokov, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky.

As well as reading, I occassionally try and put pen to paper. I hope one day to exorcise a high-blown epic novel from my mind, but in the meantime I am writing poems and short stories for magazines and journals.

I also enjoy press-ups. A lot. I'm a mere ten away from completing the US Marines cadence test, a challenge I hope to surmount by next year.