Helen Louise

I gave up teaching History in 2013 to bring up my three children. In this time I have volunteered to run the local Ti a Fi group for pre-school children. My husband and I produce beeswax candles and honey from our own bees. I love to read and keep fit (when I'm not taking our children to their many extra-curricular activities!) I have learned Welsh to a very basic standard but strive to improve this day by day.

Tutoring Experience

I have taught History from ages 11-18 to all abilities for fourteen years. In this time I won The Guardian Award for Outstanding New Teacher of the Year 2003 out of both primary and secondary schools in Wales. I worked as Head of Year for three years with year groups in excess of 160 pupils and then took up the post of Head of History - leading a department of ten staff. I was responsible for mentoring History PGCE students from Swansea University who were aspiring to become History teachers. I currently sell my teaching resources to The Times Educational Supplement for fellow teachers to purchase.

Tutoring Approach

My first step in tutoring students is to identify their strengths and weaknesses - whether this be focusing on the gaps they have in their knowledge, analysis skills, exam techniques or writing styles for controlled assessment pieces. Using a variety of teaching methods I would build on their knowledge and understanding, chronological awareness, analysis and interpretation skills and writing styles. I would give manageable amounts of homework to complete between tutoring sessions that would be exam focussed.I would be happy to accept GCSE students following the WJEC syllabus who are simply needing some help preparing for their controlled assessment or for those who want more regular tutoring to ensure they achieve their full potential. My particular areas of expertise are: The History of Policing and Crime in Wales and England from c1500-present day; The History of Sport, Entertainment and Tourism c1900-present day in England and Wales; Radicalism and Protest 1810-1848 in Wales and England; The Effects of War in Wales and England in the 19th and 20th century; Changes in Health and Medicine in England and Wales c1500-present day; Germany in Transition 1919-1939; The Cold War.
For those students in Years 7-9, I would cover all aspects of the curriculum from the Medieval period; Early Modern (Tudors and Stuarts); Industrial and Modern e.g. WWI and WWII. I would help them develop the skills they need to become experts in the best subject in the world - History of course!