Natalie

I am a friendly and experienced teacher who has been Head of Department for 17 years. I have an excellent sense of humour and believe in teaching in a relaxed yet functional environment. I am a very cheerful, caring and upbeat person, who truly loves their subjects and teaching. If you were to choose me as tutor, I will give one hundred percent support and commitment to helping you improve in psychology and/or criminology.

Pass rates in 2023: Psychology 100% A-C and Criminology 100% A*-B, the majority of students in criminology achieved an 'A' grade..

Pass rates in 2022- 100% A*- D Psychology A-level, and 86% A*-C. For the Criminology Diploma, was 100% A-B pass rates for Year 13 and Year 12.

At Worcester College of Technology GCSE Psychology and Sociology pass rates were 100% A-C; in my final year 100% achieved A grades for Sociology. A level results were also excellent with 70% A-C grades in my final year for both Psychology and Sociology. Prior to my employment A-level results were poor averaging 40% pass rate A-C grade for Psychology.

Whilst working at King Edwards VI College an overall Grade 1 rating by Ofsted was achieved, I am proud to say that the Psychology Department was also considered ‘outstanding’; examination results were also high, 98% pass rate for Psychology and 75% of students achieving grade A-B. King Edward VI College was a high achieving establishment so I have experience of teaching at high achieving institutions.

I have been privileged in working in a variety of institutions including an international school in Hong Kong, whilst working at West Island School, the highest ever I.B. results in ESF Psychology were achieved and also the highest pass rate in the school in 2010 with 55% gaining level 6’s. In 2011 the Psychology results were outstanding, the average grade for Higher level was 6 and for Standard level 6.3 which is well above the national average (4.55) and above the average of the Individual and Societies Department at West Island School which was 5.65. This was achieved even with significant increases in student numbers choosing Psychology. Prior to my employment, results were average and few students wanted to study Psychology, I am proud to say during my time at the School, I taught more than half of the Upper School cohort and it became the most popular subject in Group 3.

In every establishment I have worked in standards have been raised alongside achievement. In my current school Psychology AS results this summer where strong and the highest grades achieved since Psychology was introduced in Sixth Form.

I also currently mark for Psychology A- level AQA new specification Unit's 1 AS and 2 AL in addition to I.B. Standard level in Psychology also.

Tutoring Experience

I have been teaching since 1998 and my teaching experience is listed below.

September 2016- present
Head of Social Sciences, Lichfield Cathedral School
Subjects: Psychology AS and AL, (new AQA specifications) and the Criminology Applied Diploma.

January 2015- September 2016
Supply Teacher, Celsian Education
Subject: Psychology AS and AL (old and new specifications)
August 2014- January 2016
Head of Psychology, King's High School.
Subject taught: Psychology AS and AL.

April 2012- August 2014
Head of Social Sciences, Kingsley College
Subjects taught: Psychology AS and AL and Sociology AL.

September 2011- April 2012
Temporary Teacher of Psychology (maternity cover), Bishop’s Stortford College.
Subject taught: Psychology AS and AL

Jan 2009- August 2011
Head of Psychology, West Island School, Hong Kong
Subjects taught: IB Psychology, P.E. Teacher, KS3 Humanities teacher (Geography, History, Religious Studies), Extended Essay Supervisor

2003- 2009
Teacher of Psychology, King Edward VI College
Subject taught: Psychology AS and AL

2000- 2003
Teacher of Psychology and Sociology, Worcester College of Technology
Subjects taught: Psychology GCSE, AS and AL and Sociology GCSE and AS level.

August 1998- July 2000
European Education Centre, Pireaus, Greece
Subject: Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, KS2, KS4, KS5

Tutoring Approach

I try to make lessons as practical as possible and enjoy using ‘prop’s to aid learning. , I also use directed challenging questioning specific to each student’s ability, I plan the main questions I am going to ask in advance to really push my tutee's. I would set work weekly so I can see areas that need improving. I am a big believer in creating writing frames for my students which have proved to be very effective. I also will ensure my tutee's keep a key terminology word bank for Psychology and criminology. as accurate definitions are key to gaining a higher grade. I will regularly test my students on these and set timed assessments, to help gain examination experience. I also will provide targets on marked work, weekly, to be worked on by my student(s).