Ross

I grew up in southeast London and attended Colfe's School in Lee, completing my A Levels in History, German and French in 2006. I began my undergraduate degree, German Studies, at the University of Manchester in 2007. I was drawn to German Studies as it combined developing my German language skills as well as studying much of the history, culture and politics of Germany. I spent my Erasmus year working as an English Language Assistant in a Mittelschule in rural Saxony, and graduated in 2011. I completed a PGCE in Secondary MFL at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2012. I returned to the University of Manchester to complete an MA in Modern European History. I finished my MA in September 2013, graduating with a Merit.

In November 2013 I started working as a teacher of history at a comprehensive school in Kent. I worked there continuously from November 2013 until August 2024 as a teacher of history, while also holding a variety of middle leadership roles. Most recently I have been Head of History and RE, before that Head of Humanities, Head of Sixth Form and Team Leader (Pastoral). In August 2024 I transitioned to self-employed freelance educational work, including tutoring.

My tutoring style is based around building a positive working relationship with the student, understanding their needs and motivations. I am a friendly, personable teacher with a real passion for my subjects. I promote a love of history and curiosity about the world in the children I teach, through teaching topics I enjoy learning about and that I feel the students will engage with. Not only do students learn a lot about history in my lessons, they also learn effective learning routines and strategies to improve their literacy and reading skills, knowledge retention, summarising, extended writing, source and historical interpretation analysis and evaluation skills. I am a very reflective practitioner; I integrate current research-based teaching methods and continuously develop my resources. I adhere to Rosenshine's 17 Principles of Effective Instruction and implement ''Thinking Hard'' strategies (derived from Pixl CPD) to challenge students' thinking successfully. I use Knowledge Organisers and Seneca Learning for knowledge retention across all key stages. Currently, I focus on modelling best-practice work, especially in essay planning and writing, to enhance students' historical writing skills. Tailoring lessons to individual needs, I create a welcoming environment where students of all abilities feel successful.

Alongside tutoring privately, I work with local home education schools and also as a supply teacher.

In my spare time I play cricket for Hadlow Cricket Club. I am the current Chairman, so this role keeps me pretty busy. I am also the lead singer in a covers band. We perform gigs a few times a year in the Sevenoaks/ Tunbridge Wells area.

Otherwise I like to travel abroad on holiday, exercise in the gym, relax with friends or spend time with my partner and our dog, Stan.