Victoria

Victoria recently graduated with a First class degree in English from the University of Cambridge and secured a post at Wycombe Abbey as a Graduate Resident Tutor. She specialises in Oxbridge applications and has additional experience tutoring for A Level and GCSE English Language and English Literature. Prior to studying at university, she worked as a teaching assistant at a primary school providing individual support to children with special educational needs. Outside of teaching, she enjoys theatre, languages and food.

Tutoring Experience

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Graduate Resident Tutor, Wycombe Abbey (September 2021 – July 2022)

Mentor, The Oxbridge Launchpad (March 2021 - present)

Mentor, Kent Academies Network (September 2020 – present)

Course Assistant, National Youth Theatre (August 2020)

GCSE and A Level English Language and Literature Tutor, MyTutor (October 2018 – present)

Learning Support Assistant, St John’s Green Primary School, Colchester (October 2017 – February 2018)

Tutor, The Access Project and Coronavirus Tuition Initiative (July 2020 – present)

Mentor and Ambassador, Zero Gravity (July 2020 – January 2021)

Mentor, Target Oxbridge (July 2020 - January 2021)

Mentor, Access Oxbridge (September 2019 – July 2020)

Tutoring Approach

MY APPROACH
The ambiguous nature of English literature can often be scary and confusing. There's no set mark scheme with right or wrong answers. You have to learn quotes whilst still hoping you have got evidence appropriate to the question. However, I strongly believe that with the right tools and proper approach that there can be a method to the madness that is studying English.
As a tutor, I am thorough yet encouraging . I hope that our sessions together would not only increase your understanding and appreciation for your set texts but also prove that your opinions and interpretations are valid. Literature is for everyone and I believe studying it should help us learn how to articulate and justify our opinions; a skill that is necessary beyond school and the exam hall in order to achieve success.
In our first meeting, I like to get to know you and your your reasons for wanting tuition. We will then discuss your aims and where you feel you need support such as exam technique, essay writing advice or simply an opportunity to discuss your set texts outside of a classroom environment. I also appreciate having a sample of some of your written work to look at beforehand. This can be an extract from your coursework or an essay written in class or for homework. This gives me a sense of your writing style and current approach to answering exam questions. From there, we can get to work and see how we can smash those exams!

My tuition approaches can be divided into two broad categories: 'Understanding' and 'Responding'. These are both mark-scheme orientated for my GCSE and A Level tuition.
'Understanding' addresses discussion and commentary of either a character, theme, extract or indeed any topic of your choice relating to your set text(s). I am keen to hear your initial thoughts on the topic as your first responses are always worth noting when studying a text. From there, I can offer some alternative interpretations and discuss the topic in further detail to enrich your understanding and provide extra details to include as historical context or critical viewpoints.
'Responding' is where we get to brainstorm past paper questions or revise your essays so we can create a bank of material for you to revise with. It can feel hard to prepare for an English literature exam where there isn't a set topic list provided for you. This part of my tutoring practice helps us to create some order and a structure for your revision and study.
A combination of continuous assessment and regular feedback is the best way to ensure you are getting the most out of your tutoring and measuring your progress. I normally do this through using past paper questions as a springboard for essay plans and timed responses in exam conditions which I can then mark and discuss with you during our sessions.