Comp Sci - Python A Level/GCSE: CIE, OCR, AQA (GCSE)

Eng Lit A Level: AQA B, OCR, Edexcel

Eng Lit + Lang GCSE: AQA

Hi! I'm Bri, a First-Class Durham graduate in English Literature now pursuing a Master's in English Studies there too. I specialise in Shakespeare, actively studying his works at university level and aiming to pursue a career in lecturing on the subject. Having tutored for three years, I understand the importance of demystifying his language which can, at first, seem very daunting to students. I aim to transfer my passion for his work over to my students! I love the variety of discussions, opinions, and texts that come from teaching English Literature. Engaging with students, dissecting why they have certain opinions about a novel or play, and being able to challenge my own interpretations keeps me constantly learning too!

I also specialise in the theoretical side of Computer Science, with an emphasis on long form questions. Having studied it from GCSE to A Level, and achieving an A*, I focus on developing the exam technique and written skills needed to score highly in this area of the exam. My favourite part of teaching Computer Science is guiding students towards the moment that the theory and logic clicks, and watching their development and excitement once they realise the steps to solve complex coding problems.

I have developed a very collaborative and discussion-based style drawing on my experience of tutorials and seminars at Durham University. I find that a lot of the time allowing students to express their opinions about a text in a judgement-free environment, even if they don't seem academic at first, is key to unlocking the skills of analysis and critique integral to studying literature. Applying this to short tasks that focus on the structure and quality of their answers has always yielded a great improvement. I learn so much from my students every day just through discussing our similar or different opinions about works, and often knowing that something they study isn't my favourite makes them feel understood and more willing to engage with the text. Over six months of one lesson a week, one of my literature students improved from a D grade to an A (in the notoriously hard OCR exam board!) from the work we did on cultivating their critical voice and structured responses.

For Computer Science, depending on which stage the student is at in their studies, I often start by reviewing or teaching difficult content in simple ways, with logical methods that work every time. For revision, I take a topic-by-topic approach based on past paper questions to really consolidate my students' understanding. I've fostered an improvement from grade C to A* by analysing the mark schemes and focusing on the important information needed, simplifying confusing concepts down to bullet points.