Gill

I am a highly experienced teacher having taught and/or examined AQA Psychology and Sociology for 30 years. Having had a very successful and enjoyable academic year 23/24, with students really engaging with their learning, I now have to take a break from tutoring. I am in the process of moving from the Isle of Man back to England, therefore in the short term I cannot commit to regular teaching. If you require the odd session, please do contact me and I'll see what I can do, otherwise I don't expect to be able to take on regular 1-1 online tuition/ group tuition until November. Never say 'never' though, so you can always try me.

I enjoy hiking, trekking and painting; music; gardening. I have been a professional ballroom and latin dance teacher, and am also qualified as a fitness instructor and in other areas of fitness. I do all sorts of voluntary work.

Tutoring Experience

I am an accomplished and very successful Psychology teacher, and pride myself in enabling students to get the grades they deserve. I have a 1st Class B.Sc (Hons) degree from Loughborough University, came top of the year and won a Bursary for Outstanding Achievement in the same year. I achieve results which generally match or exceed the student's ability and I have extensive knowledge of the requirements of AQA, having been an Examiner and Moderator for them over the years. I wrote the A level AQA Psychology course for Oxford Open Learning. In recent years, I have completed (with Distinctions) Diplomas in Neuropsychology, End of Life Therapy, and attended several webinars through the Mental Health Academy. I am currently studying Cognitive Neuroscience through a course run by Chicago University.

I work very hard for my students, and as I am semi-retired, I am able to give more time to my students, which is often not the case with other tutors. I particularly enjoy working with home-schooled students and those with specific needs as we have the opportunity to build up excellent relationships and develop the student's personal skills, which is not possible in a school situation. In addition, as a psychologist, I am able to bring these skills to bear in the relationship.

Tutoring Approach

I expect students to want to work to the best of their ability, and therefore do any reading and research associated with any activities or homework I set in a timely fashion. I can offer real value to any student by having an extensive knowledge and I try to bring in a different approach and other alternative ways of thinking about issues. If you get stuck, we break down the information together into manageable chunks, putting psychology into practice! Most importantly, I care for my students and go the extra mile for them on many occasions.

As a private student, you will have your ideas about what you want from the tuition and also what grade you want to achieve. We will use these thoughts as our starting point, and I will follow your lead unless I think you are going off track - in which case I will point you and keep you going in the right direction.

I am well known for sending links of interesting articles or facts for you to include in essay answers, so that you can surprise the examiner by having up to date information.

Once we agree to work together, we have an initial 30 mins free session to get to know each other. You can be certain that I will work hard for you. As a rule, for every hour I teach online, I do 2-3 hrs behind the scenes, researching, preparing, and marking for you. I also give extensive feedback. You will be in good hands.