Francis

I am a geographer, adventurer and former athlete. The combination of these three makes me a highly motivated individual, as well as both hardworking and reliable. I can adapt to new or differing methods and attitudes and am at ease working alone and as part of an effective team. I love exploring the world and finding challenges for myself to complete athletically. This bleeds into the rest of my experiences too, as I love to challenge myself to be the best version of myself I can be.

Tutoring Experience

I achieved nine A*’s and one A in my GCSEs in 2007, before leaving school with all As in my A levels in 2009, having studied Geography, History, English Literature and Economics. I also received an A* in an Extended Project Qualification on the impacts of sea level rise.
I went on to Durham University to study an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in Geography, graduating in 2013, where my dissertation concerned the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, investigating the long-term impacts on the city of Edinburgh. I stayed at Durham University to take my interest in human Geography further with a Postgraduate master’s degree in Risk and Security, run in conjunction with the International Studies department. I wrote my dissertation on the London 2012 Olympics, investigating the security, surveillance practices and legacies of the Games.
In 2018, I completed by PGCE at the University of Reading, working on location in Wexham School in Slough, and Bohunt Academy in Wokingham. Moving to London on completion of this course in 2019, I started working as Teacher of Geography at Hampton School. During my tenure here, I have also coached rowing (holding a Level-2 Qualified rowing coach certification), run the Geography Club, helped to organise the Geographical Association’s Worldwise Quiz, and organised Geography trips to Tenerife, Iceland and Uganda. I am currently employed at this school.

Tutoring Approach

I am an experienced teacher with years of expertise in Geography. I have tutored for the last two years around my teaching role and have helped several students to improve their grades by nurturing their understanding through tailored teaching. I love Geography, and I believe it is more important than ever to focus on the issues that it as a subject can highlight. I try to encourage this feeling in my students, as I believe that when you are actively engaged in a topic, it is much easier to enjoy the learning process.
I am passionate about helping students to succeed academically while simultaneously helping them to see the source material as fresh, interesting and relevant to their day-to-day life. I do this by creating a supportive and encouraging environment, ensuring every tutee feels motivated and capable of achieving their goals. I excel at breaking down the more complex concepts of Geography, particularly at GCSE and A-Level, into manageable parts. This allows students to learn at their own pace without feeling rushed or overwhelmed. I explain topics in a clear and accessible way, allowing students to grasp key concepts and so improve their academic performance. I am flexible in my approach, really dialling into what a student may be struggling with to pinpoint areas where extra guidance is needed. By doing this, and recognising the unique struggles of each student, I create a trusting environment where they feel confident in their own learning journey, and where each student feels comfortable to ask questions and make mistakes.
Learning, and therefore tutoring, is a process, and progress takes time. I believe in the growth mindset; challenges are opportunities to learn, rather than obstacles to avoid. By working collaboratively with my students and tutees, we take steps to improve each and every session to achieve their goals and aspirations.