Elena

Professional Keystone Tutor

Elena is warm and patient tutor who has experience supporting students across primary and secondary levels. Alongside tutoring, Elena works on her freelance historical research and writing.

Elena is a professional Keystone tutor. This means Elena:

✔ Engages with Keystone's bespoke professional development programme
✔ Works exclusively for Keystone on a fully employed basis
✔ Is committed to tutoring as a career and profession

We believe these factors combine to make a unique difference to the level of commitment we can assure, as well as the quality of teaching that our professional tutors offer.

Elena teaches: Primary (Year 1 - 6) English, Primary (Year 1 - 6) Maths, 7+ English, 7+ Maths, 8+ English, 8+ Maths, 11+ English, 11+ Maths, 13+ English, 13+ History, GCSE History, AS/A Level History, IB History, School Entrance Interviews, History Aptitude Test (HAT), Undergraduate & Graduate Academic writing, Undergraduate & Graduate Dissertation, Undergraduate & Graduate Essay, Undergraduate & Graduate History, Undergraduate & Graduate PHD, Motivation, Exam Preparation and Study Skills, Oxbridge Preparation, Verbal Reasoning & Non-Verbal Reasoning

''The lessons with Elena were fantastic! She is truly one of the best tutors I have had. She goes above and beyond and has a lot of passion for her teaching. Thank you for finding her!''

Undergraduate History student

About Elena:

Experience
Biography
Approach to Tutoring
When not tutoring

Experience

- 7+ English & Maths

- 8+ English & Maths

- 11+ English & Maths

- GCSE History

- A Level History

- History Aptitude Test (HAT)

- Undergraduate History

I have 1500+ hours experience of working in state and independent primary schools with children aged 2-11, providing 1:1 interventions in Phonics, English and Maths, and teaching small groups. During my gap year, I worked full-time in an independent mixed pre-preparatory school as a classroom assistant in the Nursery and at an independent prep school as a teaching assistant. I prepared materials for lessons, produced classroom displays, marked Maths and English homework and exam papers. After leaving Oxford, I spent six months working full-time in state primary schools as a teaching assistant. I taught KS1 and KS2 English, Phonics and Mathematics as well as providing targeted Mathematics and Phonics to small groups. I also provided 1:1 literacy sessions for Year 4 and Year 5 pupils to improve reading fluency and accuracy. I prepared classroom resources, planned lessons and administered assessments. I also attended staff training sessions. I therefore have familiarity with the national curriculum and the 11+ as well as with the various entrance examinations for independent schools.

Since leaving Oxford I have tutored History and Oxbridge admissions. I have 125+ hours experience tutoring KS4-KS5 History and I have also given history talks at secondary schools. In addition, prior to my MPhil I spent a week working with the history department of a state secondary school working on their GCSE History curriculum. I also have experience tutoring undergraduates at Oxford, as well as delivering in-person and online workshops on essay-writing and source analysis skills for secondary school history students. I therefore have excellent subject knowledge, a good knowledge of the national curriculum and significant experience working with secondary school pupils. I am able to teach all of the major exam boards (OCR, AQA, Edexcel, CIE) alongside IB and Edexcel IGCSE. I have supported clients with coursework planning, essay technique, source analysis, exam technique and revision strategies. I have experience working for both British clients and international clients based in Japan and Hong Kong. I also have experience working with pupils with complex needs and varied abilities, including a student who achieved an A despite struggling with emotional difficulties and mental health issues, ensuring he could take up his offer to study PPE at Durham. Topics I have covered include the Tudors, Russia, China, and the British Empire. I have supported clients with coursework planning, essay technique, source analysis, exam technique and revision strategies. My academic background means I have excellent subject knowledge across the national curriculum in History, and I am also well-placed to tutor KS3 English Literature, owing to the literary focus of my research. I also have 300+ hours experience of supporting Oxbridge admissions. Alongside my private tuition clients, during my PhD I spent three years working as a Graduate Outreach Tutor, delivering Oxford admissions workshops and history workshops to state secondary school pupils. In addition, I was a tutor for the Oxford University UNIQ Summer School, leading group tutorials with sixth form students and providing essay skills workshops. I also spent two terms teaching Modern British history to undergraduates at Oxford, designing courses and reading lists, delivering seminars and tutorials, giving written feedback on essay assignments and providing end of term reports. I have been tutoring with Keystone since April 2025 and in August 2025 I joined Keystone as a Professional Tutor, taking part in their 11+ training programme alongside attending training sessions on online tutoring and homeschooling.

Biography

I grew up in London and attended James Allen's Girls' School. Having achieved 3 A*s in A-Level History, Politics and English, I took a gap year before going to Oxford to study History at New College. During my gap year I spent six months working at independent pre-preparatory and primary schools as a classroom assistant before travelling around Europe. After graduating from Oxford in 2016 with a First Class degree, I spent some time travelling in Southeast Asia, then worked for six months in primary state schools as a teaching assistant. I also worked as a private tutor, and briefly as a research assistant for an education research project, working with primary schools. I then did an MPhil in Modern British History at the University of Cambridge, graduating with a Distinction. After my MPhil I spent almost two years working at an education charity in London, before starting a PhD in History at the University of Oxford in 2020. I completed my thesis in January 2025, passing my viva with no corrections. Since 2016 I have also assisted students with Oxbridge admissions, working with private clients and in my role as a Graduate Outreach Tutor for the Oxford history faculty.

Approach to Tutoring

I have a firm but warm and patient approach and strive to make my lessons engaging by tailoring my teaching style to the individual needs and abilities of each student. Every student is different, and I seek to draw out the unique strengths and interests of each student, as well as identifying the key gaps in foundational knowledge and understanding which are blocking their progress. I draw on my experience of working with students of all ages and abilities to deploy a range of pedagogical methods and techniques to ensure steady progress. I am passionate about helping my students to develop confidence, motivation and enthusiasm for their studies.

When not tutoring

I live in London with my partner and combine tutoring with freelance historical research and writing. When I'm not tutoring, I enjoy pilates, going to the cinema and visiting museum and art exhibitions.

What clients say about Elena:

"I have finally received results for my first essay. I got 91 percent! I cannot thank you enough for your guidance and support throughout all the sessions we’ve had. Your teaching has helped me navigate the challenges of negative past educational experiences linked to dyslexia while also holding me to a high standard that helped me achieve results far beyond what I could have hoped for. Thank you so much for believing in my ability and demanding the best from me. I’m excited to continue learning from you and developing ideas for the next essays and dissertation!"

Mature Postgrad student

“Thank you very much for our session. It was very helpful in terms of thinking about my application to Cambridge, but more importantly in thinking about History as a whole!”

Cambridge Undergraduate History applicant

“I’m glad that you were able to provide such extensive and thorough support for [my child] in preparing for the exams. You have put him in a very good position to get the grade that he needs, and I’m really grateful for your help.”

Parent of A Level History student

“[My child] is getting a lot from her sessions with you and is finding the support you give her very helpful.”

Parent of A Level History student

“[My child] is getting a lot out of his sessions with you. The approach you’re taking is very sensible, and he does seem to be really enjoying reading around his coursework, and writing the draft.”

Parent of A Level History student

“You really stimulated my enjoyment of history this year, and that felt like it had paid off [in the exam]!”

A Level History student

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