Phoebe

I grew up in rural Sussex and spent much of my childhood riding ponies around the country and competing in showing and dressage. A lover of Science from an early age, I was involved in an ambitious school project to build and race a solar car across Australia in the World Series Challenge whilst studying for my A Levels at Ardingly College. As ‘Business Manager’ I led a team of 30 students to raise over £70k from corporate sponsorship and donations through presentations and public speaking. Our solar car finished 6th in Class, beating major technological institutions and Universities (the project has evolved and is ongoing). The Head of Science who has led the project from inception, and also taught me Physics, inspired my love of Science and was recently honoured with an MBE for services to education.

After studying Environmental Geography at the University of York and specialising in the Chemistry of soil and how it affects agriculture, I embarked on my journey within education and trained as a Science teacher through Teach First. I spent three years teaching in an extremely challenging state comprehensive school in Lewisham, South East London, serving disadvantaged students and working hard to ensure that their success was not limited by socio-economic background. During this time I taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics to students in all year groups, achieving excellent results: 92% of my students achieved at least one grade above predictions, with 56% achieving three grades higher than predicted. Through Teach First, I was awarded my PGDE (Science) through the Institute of Education at UCL, which is consistently ranked as the world's best teacher training provider.

Whilst completing the Teach First programme, I held the added responsibilities of Form Tutor of 30 students (including supporting them through the transition into secondary school), Deputy Head of House and Head of Science Club, which I relaunched and transformed into the most over-subscribed school club. During my third year of teaching I simultaneously completed a Master's degree in Educational Leadership at UCL, where I wrote my dissertation on Diversity & Inclusion policies in London schools and how they affect student wellbeing.

After a stint working in Corporate Philanthropy in an investment bank, I returned to studying and completed an MPhil in Education, Globalisation and International Development at the University of Cambridge, for which I was awarded a First Class with Distinction and elected to a College Scholarship for excellent results. My thesis, also graded with Distinction, focused on statistical modelling to project the benefits of using technology-based learning within Maths, and how EdTech will disrupt education in the future.

While at Cambridge, I coxed and rowed for Jesus College Boat Club (the most successful women's side on the Cam) and was an active member of the University Lawn Tennis Club and Caledonian Society. I was also the Treasurer of Jesus College May Ball (Oxbridge's largest ball with 3,000 guests and a budget of over £500k) and the Finance Director of the Oxford & Cambridge Varsity Ski Trip, the world's largest and oldest student ski trip (predating the Winter Olympics!) with a budget of over £2.5 million. While carrying out these responsibilities at the same time as studying for an intensive degree, I maintained tutoring with Keystone - all my students achieved (I)GCSE grades of 8/9.

I pride myself in taking time and effort to ensure my lessons meet the needs of each individual child and have high expectations whilst encouraging an enjoyable learning environment. I have experience of teaching children with additional needs such as SEN and EAL, and I believe in breaking down complex topics and ideas into a form that the student can understand and digest rather than rote learning. I believe that learning should be fun and foster imagination and creativity, and aim to develop students’ confidence so they believe in their own ability.

Aside from tutoring, I am a keen chef and baker, and I am currently training for my next half marathon. I also enjoy skiing, tennis and equestrian sport - I occasionally assist my family in judging British Eventing events and have been a volunteer for Riding for the Disabled Association since 2008.