I have recently graduated from University studying Business and Finance, I particularly enjoyed the modules where I had to apply my mathematical skills and this inhibited my need to help others, where they were struggling in their Maths GCSEs. I started tutoring in my second year of uni and my last year of uni and then came to a realisation when I graduated that I wanted to pursue a career, not only in Mathematics but a sense of purpose where I was helping the future
generations better themselves.

To kick start my career, I am currently working as a volunteer tutor for a company that helps me tutor in schools, this role has definitely equipped me with the relevant knowledge that I need for English and Maths SATs and GCSEs. I am also working as a lead tutor, overlooking the quality of tutors that teach keen pupils aged 6-16 (over 16s retaking their English and Maths included). I have previously worked in retail, in the Centre of London where I have met all walks of life and
this in turn has helped me to improve my people and communication and team building skills, making it easier for me to connect with students. I understand that it is sometimes a little challenging to engage with teenagers as well as pre-teens that have already a lot of pressure to do well and that encouraged me more to prolong my tutoring days.

I started tutoring a group of 5 students, studying GCSEs, in my second year of university every Saturday before I started my retail work shift for 2 hours. I believe 1 hour is enough for an individual to consume relevant information, but 2 hours is where a student can really show that the topics they have learned can be applied on paper again and again. The students were in year 9-11 and they all lived locally so I would be more than happy to host my lessons in my own home and the local library so that they wouldn’t need to pay for travels and resources were available any time they needed past papers, internet connection, laptop use and PC use. It is important that students that suffer from material deprivation should be encouraged the same when studying a core subject like Mathematics and English.

The students ability in Maths ranged from individuals in set 1 (being the highest ability), 2 and 4 (being the lowest ability). This helped me cater to different students where I felt the need to simplify materials, honing in on my skills where I wanted the student to feel comfortable when showing me what they found difficult. The last year of uni was also the last year of school for some of the students I was tutoring, where I had made preparations to make tailor made past papers for each student, not necessarily printing out past papers but picking out questions and making my own past papers to really see an individuals progress.

In order to be a prosperous educator I would need to be versatile in my approach with students that will become young adults in the future. I have experienced working with students with backgrounds that do not necessarily have a positive start in life and has boosted me to adapt to their situation. I am an extrovert and appreciate new connections I make knowing that I myself can motivate a student to become a more advanced individual with reasonable confidence to
use in the future. I myself have completed my education on a degree level however I like to open about my struggles in exams and preparation of exams, SATs is essentially the first stage before entering secondary school, and the amount to revise for the majority of students can be daunting so it is important to repeat information, to inhibit remembering information and to always have patience with the pupil when they are struggling and are reluctant to ask for help
i.e. spotting a pupil not doing their work.

Recently, the examinations have changed for SATs and so the need to succeed in Maths, (three papers including arithmetic and reasoning) and English (3 papers including grammar, punctuation, spelling and a reading comprehension test), it is imperative that educators are able to teach both subjects accordingly and I believe I have the knowledge in helping a student develop an engaging mindset.

Students may need the help of a teacher nearby purely to stimulate a driving force in them to revise for SATs and GCSEs in the first place and some choose to improve on an academic level and I believe I can help both ways by carefully choosing relevant resources and being encouraging at all times.

In 2018 I was a Student ambassador and an E-mentor where I would talk to students that would be starting their first year of university (I was just about to finish my last year), studying the same subject that I was studying and I would give advice on what books to buy and answer any questions on any possible anxieties they would face and how to overcome them. I also worked in Primark, where I would work in the kids section and would come across all ages when helping them purchase their item. Talking and helping out different age groups would help me point out current trends pre-teens and teenagers in general were interested in, this would also help me gauge their interests when tutoring as well., developing effective communication.

I have had the opportunity to complete an online SEN training course and developed an in depth understanding of what needs are vital to create a suitable and most importantly comfortable environment for a SEN student to engage in learning their chosen subject. For example, a student with ADHD would need to be given rules and regular breaks due to the difficulty of staying still for long periods of time or a student with severe hearing difficulties would
grasp a subject better with props and interactive boards.

I am indeed proud to say that the students that I have taught have managed to secure their place in grammar schools, colleges and 6th forms, diving into further education with biology, chemistry, maths, further maths and psychology as their chosen A levels.


I hope you will consider me.
Kind regards Afsana