Cat

I'm Cat, an experienced primary teacher with a varied background and a passion for creating a love for learning! With over a decade of experience as a primary teacher across various school settings, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible potential every child has within them!

I believe that learning should be a joyful adventure, where connections between subjects spark curiosity and engagement. My mission is to help children build their confidence and embrace their unique strengths, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

Recently, I’ve taken on the role of a Forest School leader, where I’ve seen first hand the impact of nature and community in supporting children’s learning. This experience has fueled my passion for creating a nurturing and playful tutoring environment where every student feels welcome and empowered. I’m excited to embark on this learning journey together, celebrating each child’s individuality and helping them thrive!

I have just set up my business, Merry Learners! I have some tutoring slots available for booking, feel free to send me a message to arrange a phone call to see if I’d be the right fit for your child and your needs!

Tutoring Experience

2025/Current: Inverclyde and Renfrewshire Council
Primary School Teacher
• Adapt to the varying needs of the school, class, individuals
• Respond to formative assessments throughout the day ensuring each child gets the appropriate level of support
• Quickly establish positive relationships with stage partners, support staff and children

2024 Kelvinside Academy
Forest School Leader
• Responsible for encouraging children to learn outdoors, take risks and embrace their environment
• Established a positive relationship with my Forest School colleagues creating a sense of community which fostered the development of many critical skills including confidence, social skills, communication and motivation
• Collaborated with the outdoor educator and other members of staff to create various risk assessments in order to allow us to work outdoors, and work with tools

2021 - 2024 Kelvinside Academy
Maths Lead and Primary School Teacher
• Professional dialogue with impact for learning being at the core of all of our decisions
• Co-hosted regular meetings with support for learning and parents, both online and in person to ensure good communication between home and school with the whole child always as the focus
• Planned, risk assessed and organised successful school trips in order to bring learning to life
• Developed a strong relationship with the team at Kelvinside, from janitors, sfl and dinner ladies to SLT
• Shadowed Forest School Leaders which sparked my desire to take on the course myself
• Responsibility for improvements in planning and teaching of maths and use of assessment in order to improve progress in learning
• Worked effectively with individual teachers in lessons and in their planning teams to deliver quality maths lessons
• Put together and reviewed the implementation of a well-informed action plan for maths
• Led workshops for staff on White Rose Maths, resulting in some teachers gaining confidence and the quality of learning strengthened
• Organised whole school events encouraging engagement in maths

2020 - 2021 King's College British School of Alicante
Head of Year
• Ensure continuity in teaching delivery between all year Removed – Regular Book Looks & Learning Walks
• Decision making based on regular Reviews of Year 3 data, speaking to parents and developing interventions
• Hosted assemblies in real life, pre-recorded and live online
• Lead the Year 3 team during PENTA inspection, a key contribution to an Outstanding result
• Lead the Year 3 team through various phases of online teaching – from filming, editing and posting pre-recorded lessons to teaching live via Removed Meet
• Adapted teaching style, planning and resources at pace to suit the hybrid school model. Enabling the Year 3 team to provide education to both online learners and in the classroom
• Embraced the challenge of navigating the demands of ever changing restrictions, class attendance, technology demands, leadership and personal demands
• Regular parents meetings via Removed Meet during Covid-19 restrictions to ensure good communication between home and school
• Brought the team together with weekly team meetings. Included year 3 teacher
from our sister school, providing this colleague with a team environment
• Managed planning across the year group, sharing accountability across the team allowing us to benefit from in depth lesson planning across the school year
• Rotated planning assignments across the team, ensuring content is fresh from term to term, year to year
• Developed a strong relationship with the Spanish team to ensure continuity in the learning provided to Year 3
• Planned, risk assessed and organised successful school trips in order to bring learning to life
• Mentored, managed, trained and effectively utilised interns to provide
interventions necessary within the year group – one of whom went on to study a PGCE in primary teaching
• IPGCE Mentor – student quickly established as a core member of staff covering for isolating teachers
• Attended a 2 day training course in Birmingham to observe and learn from a successful Talk 4 Writing school

2019 - 2020 King's College British School of Alicante
Head of Year and Digital Lead
• Worked with SLT to ensure that students missed zero days of education during the pandemic
• Created a buzz for coding and digital learning by organising a successful #DLDay which included visits from parents who work in the industry
• Created numerous help videos for staff and parents to ensure continuity of quality of teaching and learning throughout virtual school
• Built a high quality virtual art gallery to display children’s art work from Y1-Y6 during virtual school
• Planned, prepared and hosted various themed days to sustain enthusiasm during virtual school. E.g. The Knight’s Quest Day, Oceans Art Day, Science Day

2014 - 2019 Glasgow City Council
Primary School Teacher and Football Team Co-Ordinator
• Overall responsibility for planning and assessing programmes of study which meet the individual needs of each pupil in accordance Curriculum for Excellence (First and Second Level)
• Researched, trained and implemented the CPA approach in numeracy to enhance pupil understanding and raise attainment
• Led “Let’s Learn” family maths event to encourage and support parents in their understanding of new maths approaches
• Trained in ‘The Tapestry Programme’ based on assessment approaches by Dylan Wiliam
• Led staff in a collaborative working group to share research, evaluate and challenge our practice to improve school pedagogy
• Worked in partnership with specialists to enhance learning and inspire pupils in both STEM and Health and Wellbeing
• Developed numerous lessons and resources for regular outdoor learning days, which had many benefits to children i.e. improved team work, better resilience, engagement and confidence, leading to better learning
• Filmed lessons which were used by Education Scotland for the National Hub as an example of excellent practice in teaching outdoors
• Enhanced parental communication by creating a blog of pupils’ learning using the Seesaw app
• Full responsibility for the school football team
• Attended sessions after school every week
• Sought out and arranged several opportunities for experienced coaching and competitions
• Organised the annual school football tournament to involve and build partnerships with local schools

2013 - 2014 Glasgow City Council
Primary School Teacher
• Developed and shared my practice through regular peer visits, professional dialogue and moderation
• Built a positive and respectful ethos with the children and encourage the development of a growth mind-set
• Actively encouraged parents to become involved in my classroom and utilise their expertise to enhance learning
• Worked in partnership with specialists to enhance learning and inspire pupils in both expressive arts

2012 - 2013 East Renfrewshire Council
NQT Probation Year Primary Teacher
• Responsible for teaching, engaging, challenging, encouraging and supporting pupils of a P4 class in Busby Primary School through the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence
• Engaged in cyclical planning and assessment in order to continually monitor and track the progress of the pupils in my class
• As a probationer, collaborated with my mentor to check pace of work and progress within my class.
• I then used this information to report to parents on the progress of their children at Parents' Evening

Tutoring Approach

I love to be creative and I prefer to get children engaged and enjoy their learning through games, active sessions and fun as much as possible. I will cater and plan sessions to the needs of the individual utilising interests and hobbies etc where possible.