Lila

Experience

- A Level English and Music

- GCSE English and History

- GCSE Maths

- GCSE Music

- GCSE Physics, Chemistry and Biology

- 13+ English & Maths: ISEB and public school entrance exams

- 11+ English and Maths: ISEB and public school exams, including pre-tests

As a private tutor, I have taught students for several years in a variety of subjects. I specialise in tutoring for 11+ and 13+ entrance examinations, but I have also tutored for GCSE preparation (English, History, Music, Maths, Biology, Chemistry & Physics), A-Level (English & Music) and Oxbridge entrance preparation. Having worked at Rugby School, I am also well placed to discuss entrance to British boarding schools, and tutor in preparation for the 13+ examinations.

Teaching Music Theory to year 9 groups and A-Level Music to sixth form students at Rugby School gave me experience of working with students in a classroom environment. I also ran a weekly extension academic Music class to challenge two high-achieving sixth-form students to expand their knowledge and critical thinking skills. One of these pupils chose to apply to study Music at Cambridge and was successful in her application. I have given mock Oxbridge interviews in Music to students from some of the top schools around the country (MCS Oxford, Perse School, Rugby School), and gave consultations to many students in my boarding house at Rugby on their personal statements for university applications.

My experience of working with children stretches outside tutoring, from babysitting (3-12 year olds) and full-time nannying (8-10 year olds), to working in a pastoral role on the prestigious Oxford Royale Academy summer courses. I also spent the summer of 2018 volunteering in Zambia, teaching music to children and adults living in difficult circumstances.

Biography

I graduated from studying Music at the University of Oxford (Merton College) in 2017 with a high first class honours degree (average of 74, placed second in the year), having received two academic scholarships and a choral scholarship during my time there. Previously, I studied at the highly academic Tiffin Girls’ School in London where I took Music, English & French for A-Level (A*A*A), as well as History and Maths (AA) for AS-Level.

After graduating from Oxford, I went to work as a Music Teaching Assistant at Rugby School - one of England’s most prestigious boarding schools - before moving to Germany for a year, where I worked as a nanny to two girls aged 8 & 10. Alongside my teaching, I am currently training for a career as an opera singer.

Personal Approach

One of the most wonderful things about tutoring is being able to tailor a lesson to the specific needs of each student. Having previously worked in a classroom environment, I know how difficult it is for a teacher to solve the individual problems of every student, and that is why tutoring is so helpful to fill in those gaps from lessons and really figure out what is needed to achieve a pupil’s academic goals. The exact structure of my lessons is therefore very variable, and I would normally begin my teaching with a consultation to decide on what approach would be most helpful for that particular student.

I choose to teach primarily because I enjoy academic work and I love to pass on my passion for learning to my pupils. My teaching style therefore balances a strong focus on exam technique and acquisition of the skills and knowledge required with more relaxed exercises that allow a pupil to stay focused and interested. For example, with younger students I might work in regular games to help with their learning or creative mini-projects, while when working on A-Level and University applications, I would challenge students to read further and develop critical thinking skills, to help them not only in their exams and applications, but in life too!

What I do when I am not tutoring

In my spare time I enjoy above all curling up with a good book, and have an ever-growing list of books I want to read. I am particularly interested in culture and the arts, and love going to museums, galleries, theatre, opera and the cinema.

Testimonials

"William has really enjoyed his sessions with Lila. She is brilliant. In fact I wish we had discovered her earlier!! She works really well with William and hopefully has given him a lot of confidence in his ability." (Rula, mother of 11+ student)

"Lila has been really great so far - very good indeed at engaging Bea, giving her homework that she has done with no grumbles, and which have been very helpful. She has identified what holes Bea seems to have and is really helping her work on them, so so far it’s all looking incredibly positive...Not only is she really helping Bea with the things she finds difficult, but she is also being helpful with her attitude to and confidence with her learning." (Caroline, mother of GCSE student)

"Lila Chrisp worked for us for two years, as my son’s tutor for his IGCSE’s, between 2015 and 2016. We found Lila to be incredibly diligent, conscientious, creative and inspirational as well as being highly intelligent. She frequently would go the extra mile in order to be prepared and organised in delivering her lessons. Also, she made an extra effort to make the lessons enjoyable in order to engage him. We believe we can credit her for his achievements." (Jenny, mother of GCSE student)