Sam

I have been working as a private tutor since 2015 with over 3000 hours of tutoring experience. I achieved 10 A* grades at GCSE, AAAA at AS and AAA at A2 (Philosophy, English Literature and Early Modern History). Following this, I attended Oxford University to study Theology, where I specialised in 19th century Protestant Theology and the Theology of Dostoyevsky, achieving a first degree overall.

I have a broad range of interests aside from academia. In my spare time I enjoy theatre, writing short stories and baking, as well as exploring London when I can.

Tutoring Experience

I have 9 years of experience tutoring English, History, Religious Studies and Philosophy at 11+, GCSE, A Level and Undergraduate levels, with 3000+ hours of one-to-one tutoring delivered in this time. I am a freelance tutor with London’s major tutoring agencies including Removed

I spent 2 years providing my services to The Access Project charity, delivering one-to-one tutoring in English Language and Literature to students in state comprehensive schools in under-resourced areas of London. I have worked as an interview practitioner for Oxbridge and I spent 2 years developing and creating a set of 11+ English worksheets for tutoring agencies to use across the country. Alongside supportive tutoring, I have over 1000 hours experience in home-schooling, having worked as the sole A Level Philosophy tutor for numerous students in the last 3 years.

I have detailed experience in the following:

• Philosophy/Religious Studies A Level (AQA, EdExcel, OCR, WJEC)
• (I)GCSE English (Cambridge, OCR, AQA)
• (I)GCSE History (OCR, AQA, EdExcel, WJEC)
• Oxbridge Preparation

I have a very strong track record of taking students up by at least 2 grade boundaries for their exams.

TESTIMONIALS

Sam was a terrific help to my daughter - when she was dealing with the challenges of philosophy and moral arguments, and the complexity of the Bible, he was a beacon of clarity and help. He really did encourage her too, and her confidence definitely grew. I would recommend Sam without reservation. (Parent of a Year 13 student)

"Sam was fantastic and just what my daughter needed. She had been quite anxious as she is quite shy with people she doesn’t know but his manner and obvious knowledge of the subject won her over very quickly." (Mother of Year 13 student).

Tutoring Approach

Having tutored for over seven years, I have learnt the value of a structured approach to teaching. My lessons are always interactive and customised to the student's needs, strengths and weaknesses. My teaching resources and materials are uniquely designed to engage students' interests while, at the same time, preparing them specifically towards their exams and assessments.

One of the most important aspects of tutoring is understanding the specific needs of the student. Therefore, no two lessons I teach are exactly the same. In my first lesson with a new student, I try to gauge their current understanding. In subsequent lessons, we aim to build a solid foundation of conceptual knowledge, essay skills and exam technique. To achieve this, I use specific activities, for example, essay planing exercises, memory techniques and interactive quizzes. As lessons progress, we consolidate the knowledge and techniques learnt in previous lessons, so that they become ingrained in the student's understanding.

I consider myself a patient, friendly and highly enthusiastic tutor. I seek to inspire students through my own passion for the subjects I teach, while retaining a specific focus on pedagogical techniques. Experience has taught me that students become more engaged, motivated and confident in their subjects as they see improvements in their grades.