Philippa is a qualified Biology teacher with years of classroom and tutoring experience. She identifies each students' learning style and then tailors her lessons to each individual.
Primarily Teaches: 13+ Science, GCSE Biology
- GCSE/IGCSE Biology
- A-Level Biology
I undertook a PGCE in Science at Oxford Brookes University between 2008 and 2009 where I learnt the pedagogy of teaching and had two placements in secondary state schools. I completed my NQT year at Coombe Girls School before moving to become a full time Biology teacher at Stowe School between 2010 and 2013. I then moved to London and taught Biology at The Lady Eleanor Holles School between 2013 and 2016. I returned to teaching, after children, at Stowe School as a full-time teacher between 2018 and 2019. During this whole period of teaching I have tutored students both over a longer period of time and during intensive revision periods prior to examinations. All the students I have taught in a classroom context have had the opportunity to have one-to-one sessions or small group teaching sessions with me. This has been one of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching for me; unpicking the misconceptions a student has and then building a comprehensive understanding of a topic on strong foundations is one of the driving forces for my passion to teach.
I am a trained Biology teacher with 9 years of teaching and tutoring experience. My teaching philosophy is to energize and stimulate young people so that they strive towards reaching their full potential. I am extremely personable and develop strong relationships with students. Intuition and sensitivity allow an understanding of my students’ needs quickly and my enthusiasm and love of Biology leads to students developing a more inquisitive approach to the world around them.
I am mother of 3-year-old twins and I returned to teaching at Stowe School between 2018-2019 but I am now a full-time mother. I felt I couldn’t dedicate myself wholeheartedly to a boarding school environment with such a young family; I do hope to return to teaching in a classroom when my children are older.
Every aspect of our lives is touched by science; from technology to our relationship with the planet. This omnipresence is one of the many reasons I feel passionate about teaching. Explaining to students the link between science and the world in which they live is indicative of my approach.
Having taught all three sciences from year 7 to GCSE, and specialising in GCSE and A level Biology, I can deliver engaging and inspiring lessons to enthuse students. I strongly believe in enabling students to challenge themselves and to develop their problem-solving ability through scientific enquiry.
I am extremely well-organised and find that thorough planning naturally leads to well-paced and dynamic lessons, which challenge pupils intellectually. While teaching at Stowe and LEH, I regularly extended and deepened students’ understanding by providing opportunities for independent enquiry. This can bring a real energy and ownership to the learning process as well as developing the students’ passion for knowledge.
I have a detailed knowledge of how to enable students to succeed in KS3 science, GCSE and A level Biology. All the students I taught at LEH achieved A* to B grades at GCSE and A level students gained A* to C grades. The vast majority of A level students gained A* and A grades; many went on to study Medicine and Veterinary sciences. I thoroughly enjoyed being part of their journey to succeed in Biology.
With a wealth of teaching and tutoring experience, I am able to identify a student's learning style and use this to tailor my lessons to the individual. I use a variety of teaching methods and learning tasks, such as using creativity, problem-solving skills and the use of models and analogies to explain abstract concepts.
I continually provide opportunities for students to assess and monitor their progress, which I believe is particularly important in a tutoring environment where every minute counts. I particularly enjoy the dialogue between tutor and student to unpick questions and responses to examination style questions which allows examination technique to develop efficiently.
Anything that involves quality time with my family and friends. I also love reading, keeping fit and love a good movie.
Philippa has been extremely conscientious with the work she has done with my son – she prepares her lessons with a lot of thought and produces thorough and detailed notes for him to revise from once the lesson has finished. She has explained some of the more difficult topics in a way which has really helped him understand them. Her friendly approach has resonated very well with my son.