Izzy

Hi! My name is Izzy! I’m a motivated, approachable and experienced professional tutor. I recently completed a Masters degree in Immunology of Infectious Disease at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, after graduating from Durham University with a first-class honors degree in Biomedical Science in 2017. I'm due to start a postgraduate-medical degree in September at Bart's Medical School, but currently work in medical education part-time, helping to produce educational materials on cutting-edge medical research for healthcare professionals internationally.

I have always loved to learn new things and problem-solve, and since beginning tutoring, bolstering my students against the toughest aspects of their studies in order to rediscover and develop their own intrigue in the classroom. Of particular importance to me is building my students' confidence, their ability to independently explore their subject and find ways to be self-aware in their learning and achievement, to find the best way for them to succeed and feel positively about their accomplishments.

Tutoring Experience

I have 7 years of tutoring experience, and have taught a range of subjects including Biology, Psychology and English, at both GCSE and A-Level while studying for my degrees. This has been through lessons given face-to-face and via an online classroom, and includes one-off booster sessions, short term tuition to help my students catch up or crack a particularly difficult subject, or year-round tuition to support my student through the academic year.

Additionally, over the course of 6 months I volunteered as a teaching assistant at a primary school, helping with independent work, reading practice, and I even had the opportunity to lead a biology class! This, and my work as a workshop leader for a STEM experience day hosted for gifted and talented children interested in science, technology and maths, has honed my ability to deliver lessons to a variety of students for the purpose of enhancing formal education and for driving fun and curiously through new experiences.

Tutoring Approach

The benefit of tutoring over the conventional classroom experience is the freedom and flexibility to provide one-to-one lessons as and when required, that are free to expand on the rigid specifications of exam boards and encourage more expansive academic thought. In my tuition I strive to teach self-motivation, develop intrigue in the subjects I teach, independent of institutional schooling, and give my students lessons that they can take with them to the next stage of their education.

Over the years I have spent tutoring I have learned that the biggest changes in my students came about as a result of focused and tailored lessons, in which the learning material, pace and tasks are matched to the educational needs of the student. In my work I advocate the individualisation of the learning experience, encompassing not only the academic content of the course, but also mindful work, a fuller use of learning materials, and confidence-building. Stress and anxiety often hinder students in reaching their full potential, and so a key part of my tuition practices is the incorporation of coping mechanisms when approaching high-pressure revision or coursework.

Throughout my own studies I came to realise that the benefits of learning can be acquired by working through many learning platforms which may include face-to-face tuition one-to-one, as part of a small study group where critical though or discussion is beneficial, via remote document editing, which is especially useful when drafting coursework or doing practice exams, or through online classrooms, comprising of webcam and microphone, as well as digital whiteboards and document sharing, for flexible tuition. I try and employ all resources available to provide the best learning experience possible.