Heather

I am currently Head of Classics at an independent girls school in Surrey, with an MPhil in Classics from the University of Cambridge and Qualified Teacher Status. I pride myself on communicating with my students to ascertain how best they learn, and to find something they truly enjoy within the subject.

Tutoring Experience

I have a PGCE in Classics from King’s College London (2021) and have been teaching at a school in Guildford since gaining this qualification. I teach Ancient Greek, Latin, and Classical Civilisation up to A Level, following OCR’s courses. In A Level Classical Civilisation I specialise in World of the Hero, Imperial Image, Greek Theatre, and Greek Religion, but I am also comfortable with other modules.

Tutoring Approach

I pride myself on an approach to teaching which adapts to the needs of all students. Communication about preferred styles of learning is, of course, vital.

Classical Civilisation can be very information heavy, which can feel overwhelming (and, for some, dry!). I aim to engage students through the specifications’ key questions, giving everything we learn a purpose. This is always backed up with reviews and practice of past papers.

When teaching Latin and Ancient Greek, I break down translation ability into key skills: understanding a construction/word type conceptually; being able to identify the construction/word type; being able to translate it in a passage. Different exercises will focus on each of these skills, building up to full translation competency.

In terms of literature, I like to tailor my teaching to the needs of the individual student. Previously, I have found student preparation, followed up by making collaborative notes, most fruitful.