Jenna

I am a highly qualified and experienced history teacher and tutor. I have two postgraduate degrees and an undergraduate degree. I completed my PGCE in 2011-12 at the University of Roehampton and I was awarded a master's degree from the University of Warwick, in Religious and Social History 1500-1700 (ideal for the Tudor and Stuart history courses and exams). I also have a 2:1 degree in European and International Studies.

I really love my work. I enjoy the challenge of working with different learners, and planning and delivering courses which meet their requirements.

I undertake my own research and can be engaged as speaker by historical, or special interest groups. I am a professionally qualiifed public speaker, and passed my exams three days after the minimum assessment age.

On a personal level, I am fascinated by mythology and folklore and am a voracious reader. I enjoy sharing this knowledge and bringing some of this information where relevant into your sessions. I really love teaching some of the more unconventional subjects, for example:'Myths and Legends', 'Why storytelling is important', 'Representations of Death and the Devil' and 'Portrayals of Feminity'. I’m also a huge Leicester City fan and season ticket holder!

Tutoring Experience

2018 - Ongoing: Private Tutor (Full-time)

I currently work as a full time tutor. I have tutored and home schooled students, ranging from year 7 to adult learners in history; politics; religious studies; and classics.

In 2022, top A Level grades dropped in the uk, but my students still excelled. They achieved:

• A Level grades 100 per cent A*-B
• 100 per cent of students achieved their predicted grades
• 66 per cent of students achieved one grade or more higher than their predicted grades
• 100 per cent of students made a minimum of two grades progress
• 100 per cent of students were accepted into their first, or second choice universities

For GCSE:
• GCSE grades 100 per cent 9-8 (A** or A*)
• 100 per cent of students were accepted onto their choice of A Levels
• 100 per cent of students choose to continue with history

I also work with students to prepare for their Oxbridge and Cambridge entrance tests and have 100 per cent success rate for these exams.

I also have experience in mentoring both home and international university students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As well subject tuition, I have also proof read and provided content advice for university essays and dissertations. Subjects I have advised on include: Modern and Early modern history; both UK and comparative politics; American Studies; International Studies; and Education (PGCEs).

2017- Ongoing: Examiner Pearson (Contract)

I examine for the A-Level Tudor Paper. I am also a registered examiner for GCSE History and have marked A-Level Politics. This ensures that my knowledge of the exams remains up-to-date and that I know what examiners are looking for in the final examinations.

2012-2016: Teacher and Language Lead (Full time)

Prior to becoming a tutor, I was a teacher in a large London, comprehensive secondary school. I taught many subjects, but specialised in History and Politics at A-Level. My teaching has been consistently graded as 'outstanding' or 'good'. Students in all key stages make good progress in their lessons.

I worked with a large range of different students, and loved helping them maximise their potential. My major successes in teaching include:
• 100 per cent A* to C History A-Level (ALPs 3)
• At KS4 42 per cent of students of students achieved an A* or A, with 80 per cent of students attaining A* to C grades
• Appointed language lead for the history department working closely with the literacy team to embed the latest strategies into our lessons, with the aim of improving vocabulary and language for learning at KS3
• Worked with Facing History and Ourselves to design and implement a series of lessons about the Nanjing Massacre for year 8. This work was featured in an international blog.

Tutoring Approach

I balance being an academically vigorous teacher with a quirky teaching style, as I believe that students develop the most when they are confident, happy and having fun. I let each student's needs guide and inform my teaching, enabling them to make progress. Knowledge and learning should be empowering. My students are encouraged to ask questions, and to follow their own lines of enquiry, helping them to become confident, independent learners.

Successful tutition is very much a team effort and I work alongside my students to create an atmopshere of trust. I see tuition as a collabarative process. I take time to get to know my students as individuals. Together we analyse where they have been successful and why. This information is used to create an individual plan for success, which is agreed with each student at the start of their tuition. The plan is flexible and an on-going work in progress. It can be ammended at any time as per the student's needs.

Consequently, all my tutorials are personalised and tailored to suit each student's requirements. They are designed to make complex ideas clear and accessible. Activities are planned to sharpen and refine skills and knowledge. I have an extensive range of resources, which I share, and all my tutorials are fully prepared.

I have a positive and enthusastic approach to tuition. I particularly enjoy working with under confident and anxious students. I work hard to build my students' confidence and to help them look forward to our tutorials.

Reference from a recent parent:

'Jenna tutored our daughter through the last four months of her final year’s GCSE in History. Our daughter is diagnosed with Autism and Selective Mutism and suffers from severe anxiety which meant she was unable to attend her mainstream school from year 10 or to begin to study again until the January of her GCSE year. We were absolutely delighted to find Jenna to tutor her and who, despite the lack of time available, patiently spent time chatting to our daughter and building a rapport with her, to such an extent that she soon became comfortable enough to really engage with the learning and to start to produce some written answers and practise essays. Jenna took a detailed approach to the subject which suited our daughter and Jenna’s tuition greatly contributed to her achieving a Grade 8 in GCSE History – a fantastic result for a student who had been out of school for a year and received no lessons in the subject for eight months! Thank you, Jenna for all your hard work and understanding of our daughter’s needs.'

I have a strong interest in academic writing and in using this as a tool to access better grades. I really enjoy working with students at all levels to improve their essay techniques. On average students make two grades progress.

I also offer advice and help on personal statements for both university applications and have acted as an academic referee for homeschooled students.

I can be flexible most of time. Time is allocated on a first come first served basis.

I like to offer support to both students and their familiies by maintaining open contact with students and parents. I am on hand to offer advice support and even last minute interventions if necessary. I can be contacted 24/7 and will always get back to you as soon as I can.