Fenella Chesterfield - Professional Teacher in London and Cambridge
I am a home-schooling specialist and trained teacher, with a Cambridge first-class degree and experience working at a top UK boarding school. Having taught classes of students of wide-ranging abilities, I am aware of the importance of catering for the specific needs of individuals; this is what primarily draws me to tutoring. There is nothing more satisfying than having the time to sit and work through the challenges that a particular student is facing, one-to-one. As a teacher, I know the value that this can add to both their achievement and also their enjoyment of schoolwork. So often seemingly overwhelming problems are born of a simple misunderstanding which can be quickly ironed out within individual tutor time, and I thoroughly enjoy getting to know the individual learning styles and interests of my students.
Subjects I Teach
My Education & Qualifications
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University of Buckingham, 2017 – 2018
PGCE in Secondary Education (): -
University of Cambridge , 2016 – 2017
Philosophy and Theology (MPhil): -
University of Cambridge , 2013 – 2016
Theology and Religious Studies (BA): 1st -
School: King's School Canterbury
Private boarding school in Canterbury, Kent. (September 2008 to July 2013) IGCSE - 11A* AS Level - French A, Music A, EPQ A* A Levels - English A* (100%), Religious Studies A* (100%), History A
My Tutoring & Teaching Experience
I first started tutoring whilst I was at Cambridge. Here I was invited back to the King's School Canterbury to talk to prospective candidates and help them with their Oxbridge applications. Since then I have taken on voluntary teaching roles all over the world. I have taught English to students in the remote regions of Himalayan Nepal as well as rural Northern Uganda.
During my time at Rugby School, a top independent boarding school, I attained qualified teacher status whilst working with students at KS3, GCSE and A Level. When working with my KS3 students, I tailored my lessons to ensure they were comfortable discussing foundational philosophical concepts to help develop enquiring and critical minds. I also encourage my students to practice their essay writing skills, and to develop strong literacy tools.
At A level I take particular interest in helping students who are struggling with some of the more complex ideas, and helping them structure their ideas into coherent essays. I inspire my students to analyse and criticise complex concepts. These are crucial skills to develop as a student of the humanities and stand pupils in excellent stead for approaching degree level writing at the world's top class universities.
I have worked closely with several London agencies as well as the head of Oxbridge at Rugby school, helping guide pupils through the stages of the Oxbridge application process, and giving mock interviews to candidates.
My Approach to Tutoring
Having taught classes of students of wide-ranging abilities, I am aware of the importance of catering for the specific needs of individuals. This is what primarily draws me to tutoring. There is nothing more satisfying than having the time to sit and work through the challenges that a particular student is facing, one-to-one. As a teacher, I know the value that this can add to both their achievement and also their enjoyment of school work. So often seemingly overwhelming problems are born of a simple misunderstandings which can be quickly ironed out within individual tutor time.
One of my greatest skills is helping underperforming students overcome the fear of extended essay writing. I am frequently approached by students (many of whom I have not taught before) who have heard how helpful I can be in clearly breaking down topics and building clear essay plans to help them with difficult assignments. In doing this, I have worked not only with students preparing for public examinations and Extended Projects (EPQ), but also students for whom English is an additional language and dyslexic students.
When it gets towards exam season I also hold exam style essay writing classes to help my students to understand what the marking criteria are for the different essay questions that they will be examined on. So often even the best students fail to meet the marking criteria and so cannot access the highest grades. I help students develop the skills of quick planning and coherent structuring of essays under time pressured conditions.
Fun Facts About Me
Music: I have played the violin since age four. Whilst at school I performed as a member of the National Children's Orchestra, and then went on to be awarded a diploma in violin performance (DipATCL). Whilst at university I developed also as a singer. I was awarded a choral scholarship at St John's College, Cambridge as well as singing for Corpus Christi choir. I still regularly sing and have been involved in several BBC choral recordings this year.
Sport: I love to keep active, and at university, I was a competitive rower and cross-country team member. I also gained three half blues for various competitive shooting disciplines, including clay pigeon shooting, and I am now training and shooting with the England match rifle team.
Travel: I am an avid traveller. I have volunteered on community projects all over the world and carried out research projects in Africa and Israel. I love hiking and being outdoors. I spent last summer studying Hebrew in Tel Aviv. I have also explored much of India through my passion for yoga and am a qualified yoga and meditation instructor.
My Client Testimonials
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A Level RS
"Fenella is brilliant and [my daughter] has really warmed to her and has found her sessions very informative and bespoke to her needs and they have helped [my daughter] to start to focus on what she really needs to address and how in order to succeed in her A levels." -
KS2
"“We are grateful for all the help and encouragement you have given our son, and much of his success is to your credit. You should feel proud too for what you have done for your students. Our son really enjoyed studying and learning with you. You are a good and very responsible teacher who prepares all the lessons very well in advance, and has the interest and wellbeing of the students first and foremost. You genuinely care very much about them and work hard with them.”"
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