Jane

I am a teacher with 27 years experience of secondary schools and sixth form colleges, specialising in biology, achieving advanced skills teacher status in 2004.
I am well situtated to tutor in Guiseley, Rawdon and Horsforth as well as Saltaire, Shipley and South Bradford.
Travelling is one of my favourite pastimes - having been to some amazing places such as Brazil, Japan and Madagascar.
Being creative is important to me as it provides me with headspace after a busy day at work and I have just completed a part time degree in textiles.
Finally, I enjoy all sorts of music and the occasional live gig, having just been to Germany to see Rammstein and Pixies at the Piece Hall. I'm looking forward to seeing Paul Heaton and the Wedding Present soon!

Tutoring Experience

I have been a Head of Science and then Head of Biology with significant responsibility for post-18 destinations and medicine and dentistry applications. Since September I am now a UCAS coordinator with responsibility for all applications alongside apprenticeships in all subjects.
I am able to check personal statements for all subjects and offer up to date UCAS advice.
I regularly present at the national STEM centre and have been a National Strategies science consultant.

Tutoring Approach

A good tutor should not give out exam questions and memorise mark schemes, this is not the way to pass A level.
It is vital that students understand the need to learn basic biology, practice active recall and then apply that knowledge. My approach would be to ascertain the level of knowledge, encourage students to recall, listen for gaps in knowledge then explain ideas with clarity before attempting a few relevant questions. Some students will be more advanced and start on more challenging questions with less recall, some need data analysis practise as they have excellent basic knowledge.
All students are different, and not all will achieve an A grade!

I have met A level students who have had varying experiences with tutors: the best were able to explain concepts and deal with student misconceptions. However, simply handing out questions, sitting in silence watching students complete them and then reading from a mark scheme without explanation, will not allow students to make progress.

A level Biology cannot be passed by memorising mark schemes - students need to understand concepts before attempting the questions and applying their knowledge.

Please check in regularly with any tutor to ensure that understanding is being tested before attempting questions. Maybe ask them to explain a concept from the specifcation before you commit to regular sessions?

All students receive a password to their own Padlet, where I upload the following: specification, links to a Seneca classroom for extra revision, official past papers, questions grouped by style or topic (as required), tailored personal statement documents and finally any work that has been corrected outside of the session (or as an alternative to a session).

Students may also send full past papers for marking instead of (or to supplement) a session, charged at £30 not £40. These are then scanned in, added to a PowerPoint, with voice notes explaining
(a) where the student gained marks and how well they answered the question
(b) where the student made errors and how to correct the answer
These are uploaded to the student Padlet