Lower Secondary
Geography

Having an in-depth knowledge of both human and physical geography allows me to understand both my immediate environment and the wider world. Geography is a broad subject including a wide range of topics from the processes of coastal erosion to the worldwide phenomenon of globalisation. I believe that through my passion for all of Geography, I can support you through all the topics included in your studies.

I have always been fascinated by the world’s infinite complexity and learning about the constantly changing human interactions with the natural environment. I embraced the amazing natural environment of Devon that I grew up in, walking on Dartmoor and along the ever-changing coastline. Throughout my time at school, Geography and Geology were my favourite subjects due to their ability to transport you to fantastic places around the world. When the opportunity arose to return to studying, it was an easy decision to choose Geography. I undertook my BSc in Geography remotely through the Open University, which gave me a unique perspective on the challenges of studying remotely. I can draw on this experience to assist you throughout your studies.

I gained my BSc in Geography and completed my PGCE the following year. While studying, I also worked as a Learning Support Assistant. This gave me invaluable experience of working with small groups and individuals to meet their specific needs. I have over ten years of experience teaching Geography in Kingston-Upon-Hull, including experience as Head of Geography. I also have several years of experience as a GCSE examiner. I have been able to draw on having a better understanding of the exam process to help my students exceed expectations in exams.

In my holidays, I love travelling throughout the UK and Europe in my motorhome with my bicycle, they together give me the freedom to explore all corners of the UK and Europe. Travelling gives me the inspiration to share a passion for the world with my students, including through organising field trips for them both within the UK and abroad. My favourite was taking the A Level geographers to Iceland; the country never ceases to amaze me.

I look forward to being able to share my passion for Geography and supporting you through your course to ensure you achieve your full potential. As your Tutor, I will be readily available to answer your questions – I’m only a virtual call or an email away.

When I was a small child, I used to stay with my grandparents on a Friday night. My favourite thing to do was to sit on their big, squashy sofa with my Grandad’s big old atlas on my knees, turning the dusty pages to follow rivers and railways, cities and forests, mountain ranges and oceans. A fascination with the world and its physical and human characteristics has stayed with me, and after enjoying the subject very much through school, I chose to take Geography as a degree. I was privileged to have the opportunity to do this at Mansfield College, Oxford.

It seems like a very long time since I graduated in 1999, and since then I’ve taken a City and Guilds Certificate in Delivering Learning, and have tutored lots of students at my home, at their home, at colleges and at revision courses. I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed every minute. One size does not always fit all, and working as a private Tutor on a one-to-one or small group basis has meant I can get to know each student as an individual, to answer their queries in detail, and to ensure they fully understand the subject matter, whatever their level of prior knowledge or academic ability.

Geography is a vitally important study of ‘who and what is where, and why?’ It bridges the sciences and the humanities brilliantly and I believe it has something to interest everyone – my personal interests lie in the fascinating story of human population, and the social, economic, and environmental challenges this brings as over seven billion (and counting!) of us vie for space on our one and only planet Earth.

But whether you’re interested in rocks and rivers, weather and water, or people and places, I’m so pleased you’ve chosen to study Geography with Wolsey Hall Oxford. Wherever in the world you are, I’m here to help you make the most of your studies and, I hope, learn to love Geography as much as I do. I’m only a Skype call or an email away with any questions – however big or small.

As well as being a busy Geography Tutor, I work as an IT system trainer for a big publishing company in Oxford. But it’s not all work, I promise! In my spare time I enjoy baking, birdwatching, and visiting historic sites and houses. I also enjoy quizzes, and have recently been on the BBC TV quiz show ‘Mastermind’.

Geography and Environmental Management are both such important subjects. They teach us what the world we live in is like now, how it came to be this way, what it may look like in the future, and what we can do to help. They are vital, ever-changing, and there is always something new to learn and see. I hope that, through your studies with Wolsey Hall Oxford, you will come to love them as much as me!

My personal interest in learning about the world began at school when I had an inspirational Geography teacher who made me think about the world around me in a new and interconnected way. Geography has something for everyone, from the pure science of rock formations to the practical applications of water supply and demand, from the historical migration of people around the world to the future of our cities and countryside. When I reached A levels, I studied Environmental Science and began to focus on the ways humans are affecting the world and how we can change our behaviours to make our impacts more positive. I believe that, through the studies of Geography and Environmental Science, we can learn how to make the world a better place.

After school, I went on to acquire a 2:1 degree in Geography and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, both from the University of Sheffield. For seven years, I worked as a successful Geography teacher at a well-respected Secondary school in Northamptonshire. During this time, I undertook several roles including Head of Geography, Citizenship Co-ordinator and Gifted & Talented Co-ordinator, which allowed me to help students of all levels of ability to achieve their full potential.

For the past decade, I have worked for Wolsey Hall, from KS2 to KS4 (from Primary Level, through Secondary Level and above). I love supporting students to get the education that is right for them. I enjoy helping students of all abilities to learn the specific skills and knowledge needed to succeed in Geography and Environmental Management, as well as transferable techniques for general revision, future learning and life!

Outside of work, I love travel, sport and reading. Two years ago, my husband and I took our children (then 8 and 10) on a ‘World Tour’, visiting 20 countries within a year. It was a fantastic way to experience real-world Geography and to experience homeschooling from the families’ viewpoint, as well as giving us all memories that will last a lifetime.

You’ve chosen an excellent subject to study and an excellent college to learn it through. From a single world of vocabulary, you don’t understand to a complex skill you need explained, I’m here to help, just an email away. I’m really looking forward to helping you achieve your full potential in one of the most important and interesting subjects you can study!

Geography and Environmental Management are such awesome subjects. Almost everything you can think of can be linked back to Geography, whether it is the production of a mobile phone or people moaning about their commute to work! It allows us to study and understand the processes of the natural world, how we live in it and interact with it. The great thing about Geography is that it is constantly changing so there is always something new and exciting to explore and study. Environmental Management is intrinsically linked to Geography and is such an important subject to learn about in our ever-changing world.

I have always loved Geography. This probably came from a childhood of running around the countryside and playing on a friend’s farm. I thrive on being outdoors, and Geography has given me the opportunity to study and learn from the world around me. I thoroughly enjoyed learning Geography at school, going on to study it at A level and then at university. I particularly enjoyed the Bio-Geography modules when I went to the University of Wales in Swansea, choosing a number of Environmental Biology modules to compliment my Geography studies.

After completing my degree, I travelled the world. I went to Japan, Australia and New Zealand for six months. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to see all sorts of landscapes, including active volcanoes, glaciers and waterfalls.

On my return, I studied for a PGCE at the College of St Mark and St John in Plymouth and secured a position in a local secondary school where I taught for 11 years in a variety of roles including Head of Department. I took great pleasure in teaching Geography to 11 to 18-year-olds as well as mentoring students on a one-to-one basis to improve their grades.

Since leaving the classroom, I have tutored A Level students and been a GCSE examiner. I delight in helping people to reach their full potential, and I am always happy to help. I am approachable and friendly, and I look forward to helping you to learn.

In my spare time, my hobbies include reading, gardening and (when it’s warm enough) swimming in the sea! My favourite pastime is walking our dog Lola with my husband and two children.

As the world has continued to ‘shrink’ in the 21st century, the relevance of geography and the wider social sciences has become even more pronounced. These are subjects and topics that are all around us, whether we refer to river studies, population dynamics or climate change. Of course, the world is only shrinking in a hypothetical sense due to our increased use of technology and ever-expanding flight network, but it means we can communicate with people on the other side of the world at the touch of a button. The fact that this is (almost – the rate of change does vary in different parts of the world) a global phenomenon gives it a unique geographical perspective. Being an online homeschooling tutor is undoubtedly a part of this shrinking world and something that would not have been possible in the past. The opportunity to learn at home and at your own pace are just some of the advantages of this type of education.

My career in education began in Leeds, England in 2004, where I gained my PGCE. Following this, I did further training and placements near Vancouver, Canada, before teaching in Scotland for seven years. I also took on a pastoral leadership role during this time. I then moved into international education and have been both a head of department and faculty coordinator in schools in Germany and Belgium. My principal subject is geography, but I have also taught combined social studies to lower secondary and environmental systems to upper secondary at IB level. In addition to this, I am an external examiner for A Level and IB, have had a study guide for ‘Urban Environments’ published and act as a course advisor and revision course leader. My goal is to make sure every student can achieve to the very best of their ability, which is one of the reasons I have been gaining further experience in the online world in recent years through both group and 1-1 tutoring.

Outside of the educational world, I am a great lover of the outdoors, and I have completed many cycle trips around Europe. It’s a fantastic way to travel and see places you otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to! I am a keen snowboarder and footballer (my playing days are largely behind me, but I am still a big supporter of Falkirk football club and keep up with both the Scottish and English leagues and love a good champions league night!). I also enjoy spending time with my wife and two-year-old son, who certainly keeps me busy and entertained.

I am very excited to continue my educational journey by helping Wolsey Hall Oxford students become strong, independent learners, ready to embrace the ‘shrinking’ world around us.

Geography is a fascinating subject that explains so much about the world around us. It is contemporary and relevant; consider the current issues of climate change, resource consumption and population growth. My favourite topics are weather, hydrology and development.

At school I also loved Mathematics, I enjoy logic and problem solving and liked the fact that it was possible to get full marks. I was also one of the first group of pupils to sit a public examination in Computer Science. At the time the school had three computers!

At university I opted for a joint degree in Geography and Computer Science. Having gained a first class BA (Joint Honours), I remained at Keele University and completed a PGCE in Geography and Mathematics.

For the last 26 years, I have taught Secondary (Key Stage 3), GCSE, and A Level Geography. During this time, I have also taught Secondary Level Mathematics, Information Technology and Computing.

My first teaching job was in a private boarding school in Cheltenham, I then moved to an international boarding school in Suffolk, and most recently have been teaching in a state boarding school in Dover. I have experience of tutoring a wide range of students.

During my spare time, I am passionate about horse riding. I own two horses and compete regularly. I am proud to have competed in British Show Jumping’s National Amateur Finals on two occasions and to have competed at Hickstead. I also enjoy trampolining, skiing, shooting, fell walking and rock climbing.

I am an approachable person and always willing to advise those who are keen to learn. I am happy to keep explaining things until you understand. Learning is challenging, but I am sure that with hard work, tenacity and resilience you will succeed in achieving your goals.

I have always been fascinated about the world, discovering new locations and learning about the constantly changing human interactions with the natural environment. Throughout my school career, Geography was my favourite subject, and it was an easy decision to go on and study it at university.

I gained my BSc in Geography in 2003 and completed my PGCE the following year, both from the University of Exeter. While at university, I embraced the wonderful natural environment of Devon, by canoe, walking on Dartmoor and surfing on the beaches. Following my PGCE, I started my teaching career in Gloucestershire, where I taught for six years. The opportunity to inspire others about Geography and lead field trips to a variety of locations was extremely rewarding. Iceland was a favourite of mine and is on my list of places to revisit.

Following a career break to bring up my two young children, I worked as a Learning Support teacher In Devon. This gave me invaluable experience of working with small groups and one-to-one, providing specific programmes for individual’s needs. More recently, I have moved to rural Suffolk and have been working as a part-time Geography teacher. Throughout this time, I have been a GCSE examiner.

While I am not working, I still enjoy being outdoors and exploring different places with my family. We have a camper-van and love the freedom this brings.

I look forward to being able to share my passion for Geography and supporting you through your course. It is a real privilege to be able to help, and as your Tutor, I will be readily available to answer your questions.