Isabel Ruthven - Professional Teacher in South London
I graduated from Durham University in 2012 with a degree in Natural Sciences, specialising in Biology and Psychology. Shortly after graduating, I moved to London to begin work as a Medical Writer. This involved writing a variety of medical papers for the pharmaceutical industry for new, or developing, medical drugs.
In 2015 I made the change into teaching. I undertook my teaching degree at Goldsmith's University and specialised in Secondary Science. I am now a professional Science teacher based in South East London, teaching pupils aged 11-18 Chemistry, Biology and Physics to GCSE and Biology A-level. I am an enthusiastic and committed teacher and am passionate about helping young people to understand and enjoy science. I encourage pupils to think on their own, scaffolding their learning and slowly taking away training wheels so they have the confidence and self-belief to make progress on their own. Tutoring allows me to have for the 1-1 teaching contact that young people so often need in order to reach their potential.
Subjects I Teach
My Education & Qualifications
-
University of Goldsmiths, 2015 – 2016
PGCE Secondary Science (PGCE): Outstanding -
University of Durham, 2009 – 2012
Natural Sciences (BSc Hons): 2:1 -
St Leonards Mayfield School, 2001 – 2008
Biology, Chemistry, Maths (A-level): A,A,A
My Tutoring & Teaching Experience
I have been teaching Secondary Science full-time since 2016 in a co-educational Academy in South-East London. I teach all three sciences at KS3 and KS4 level but I specialise in Biology and Chemistry at GCSE and Biology A-level (AQA and OCR specifications). I teach pupils with a variety of abilities and attainment level and am able to adapt my teaching strategies to suit each individual. I strive to have a positive and encouraging atmosphere in my classroom which has helped enthuse even the trickiest of classes.
I run intervention sessions after school and on Saturdays to help students who are struggling on a particular concept and need some 1-1 support; or those who need revision techniques and exam practice. These sessions have provided invaluable support for those approaching GCSE or end of year exams.
I also have 2 years tutoring experience with long- and short-term clients. (Long-term: tutoring 2 hours each week for a year duration leading to an A-level Biology exam; short-term: intense revision courses prior to GCSE and SATS exams).
My Approach to Tutoring
I believe it is important to know the individual in order to be an effective teacher. I therefore spend time getting to know my pupils before teaching begins - finding out their interests, hobbies, strengths and weaknesses. We will then chose achievable goals together - this is very important as it is vital the student has a sense of ownership for their learning. After that, it is all about making the lessons as relaxed, interactive and informative as possible. By being approachable and encouraging I like to create a safe space where students can make mistakes to aid their learning. For pupils in KS2 and KS3, I like to use a variety of activities in the sessions to help keep focus. When preparing pupils for GCSE and A-level exams, I focus on key content and revision techniques with plenty of exam practice. I always strive to make my lessons as fun as possible, while ensuring pupils make as much progress as possible.
Fun Facts About Me
I love to play sport and do anything active. I play in netball and hockey teams during the week and run everywhere I can - my current marathon total is at 7 and I am on the lookout for number 8, 9 and 10!
Similar Tutors to Isabel Ruthven
You may also be interested to view some profiles of our tutors who are similar to Isabel Ruthven. Alternatively please feel free to contact us to discuss your tutoring needs, and how Wentworth Education and Isabel Ruthven can help you and your family achieve your goals.
Otherwise, you can read about our tutor selection criteria, or read about Wentworth Education's philosophy and approach in a letter to parents from Dr Katherine Wiles, our Founder. You can also see more tutor profiles on our tutors listing page, where you can filter by subject.