Anne-Marie

I was born and spent my first two years in Dublin, before emigrating to Melbourne, Australia, for 5 years due to my father's work. I spent my first few years of primary schooling there and thoroughly enjoyed the active approach to education. I returned to Dublin aged 7, where I attended Sutton Park International school, an independent co-educational multi-denominational school. Having attended an all-through international school of 300 pupils, I am familiar with such close-knit, multicultural, supportive school communities. My personal experiences have given me an understanding of the specific environments of schools; teachers have the responsibility to nurture the differences of individual students, and to equally encourage and facilitate students’ integration into, and respect of, the local culture and social environment. I flourished during primary and secondary school, engaging with all aspects of school life and participating in a wide range of extra-curricular activities including sports, drama, music and national debating through both English and foreign languages. I was a competitive swimmer, athlete, hockey and basketball player, and captained the Senior Girls' Hockey Team in my final two years. I have also played basketball competitively since the age of 7 and was a member of the U17s Dublin National Team and U16s Irish International Squad. I continue to play basketball in London at a high level. I was an active member of the Student Council, and was delighted to be Deputy Head Girl in my final year of school.

Following my Leaving Certificate Examinations (A Level equivalent), I achieved a BA Hons in European Studies at Trinity College Dublin, with Distinction in Spoken French. I spent one year of my four year undergraduate degree studying at Institut d'Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Bordeaux, France (Erasmus year). Throughout my time at university, I developed a strong interest in humanitarian issues and educational disadvantage in underprivileged communities, and undertook several volunteering and internship roles in Ireland, India and Israel/Palestine.

On completion of my BA, I completed the two-year Teach First Development Programme in Birmingham (UK) and obtained my PGCE. I continued to teach in Birmingham for a further three years, and undertook an MA in Educational Leadership with the University of Warwick (2018). I achieved Distinction in my dissertation, of which the subject was gender and educational leadership (a study of how gender has influenced the professional experiences and identity constructs of female senior leaders in a large UK primary school).

Since 2019, I have been living and working in London as a fully independent private tutor and run my own successful business, mainly working with students in Singapore, Hong Kong and London to prepare for school entrance exams (7+, 11+, 13+ and 14+).

The British education system and school entrance process can be relentless, unforgiving and a somewhat anonymous experience, which is tough on children and parents. My uniquely personable approach is to know each student as an individual and to ensure they feel heard, valued and clear about their own education journey, while making the learning experience as fun and enjoyable as possible. All of my classes and teaching and learning methods are bespokely designed and tailored to meet the learning behaviours, personality, interests, needs and goals of the individual student. My extensive classroom experience and insider knowledge is a huge advantage, and allows my tutorials to complement the efforts of classroom teachers.

One-to-one tutoring allows for highly productive lessons where no time is wasted, and the learner is constantly moving forward. I also aim to nurture students' passions and interests during lessons, and to instil a love of and zest for learning. I am constantly reflective in my practice, and engage in continuous professional development through research and participation in educational forums and conferences.

My interests and past times include:

Travel

Reading

Music

Travel

Language learning

Human Rights and current affairs

Sport: Basketball (experienced competitive player), swimming, skiing, sailing, tennis, cycling

Volunteer work: I have participated in extensive volunteer work in various countries, including the UK, most recently working with the recent influx of young Syrian (and other) refugees into France and England. I currently work with children from Afghan refugee backgrounds to support their schoolwork in a pro bono capacity.