Iona
University of Oxford
English Language and Literature
Graduate
DBS
30About Me
I am an English subject specialist and full-time teacher with Qualified Teacher Status (DfE).
As an academic and educator, I have approached all of my studies, tutoring and teaching with curiosity and intellectual rigour. As a teacher, I work to invite my students into this process of critical inquiry, helping them achieve excellence as scholars themselves. In this sense, I am constantly pushing to achieve excellence as a teacher who inspires students to become resilient and independent learners.
I was awarded my Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from the University of Oxford in 2021, earning a first-class degree. My dissertation, which earned a first-class mark, examined the connection between Japanese medieval literature (The Tale of Genji) and Anglophone Modernist poets. Inspired by the texts I studied at Oxford, such as the mystic writings of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe, I chose to pursue an MA in Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UCL, graduating in 2023.
I made the transition to teaching through tutoring: I found that sharing knowledge about the subject deepened my own understanding, and I found it deeply rewarding to be able to impart the passion I have for literature to my students.
My teaching style
I am a qualified English teacher (QTS) with classroom experience teaching students of all abilities. I have taught all of the core texts within the national GCSE and A-Level curricula in depth, and have up-to-date knowledge of statutory exam requirements. All of my students receive tuition tailored to their individual academic goals. My experience as a classroom teacher allows students to supplement their school studies at school with targeted feedback and one-on-one help from an experienced teacher.
My past experience
I have been tutoring for 8 years, and I have helped students of all ages and abilities.
I believe the success of my students can be attributed to my personal, results-driven approach.
Before tutoring begins, I provide parents with a personalised scheme of work, outlining the planned lesson content and how the student’s progress will be assessed. I base this scheme of work on the student’s academic goals and examples of recent work, and establishing this is central to my tutoring process. It clarifies the aims of tutoring, tracks the student’s progress, and measures the effectiveness of the sessions.
My Proudest Achievements
At GCSE, I achieved 10 A*s and 1 A, the highest GCSE attainment at my school. My experience of both IB and GCSE/A-Level curricula makes me well-placed to support international students switching between different systems, particularly in preparation for competitive admissions.
I teach
- Oxbridge Interview
- ELAT
- Verbal Reasoning
- TEFL
- TOEFL
- GCSE Re-take Tutor
- A-Level Re-take Tutor
- 11+
- 13+
- English
- English Language
- English Literature
- Phonics
- Reading
- Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar
- Communication
- Creative Writing
- Extended Essay
- Speech Writing
- Speed Reading
- Journalism
- Japanese
- Film Studies
- TOK
- English Skills
- English as a Foreign Language
- Essays
- Oxbridge Application
- UCAS
- Personal Statement
My Results and Achievements
- GCSE: 10A* 1A
- Award for Highest GCSE Attainment at my School
- Dangoor Scholarship for Oxford
- IBDP: 42 points
- ELAT: 56/60
- Offer from UCL
- Offer from Edinburgh
- Offer from Bristol
- Offer from Oxford
- Oxford: BA English (First-Class)
- First-Class Mark for Dissertation
- UCL: MA Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)
- 97% achieve desired grade at GCSE/A-Level
- Helped 2 achieve offers from Cambridge
- Helped 3 achieve offers from Oxford