Catherine Harper

I understand the importance of the relationship between student and teacher in determining a student's enjoyment of the subject and developing confidence in their ability to succeed. I see it as a privilege to be entrusted with the role of tutor.

I have had an extensive career as a Biologist before becoming a teacher, working in the field of cancer research, and in the pharmaceutical industry, which gives me an insight into the possible careers associated with the subject.

I teach online using Zoom which has been very successful.

I work hard with my students to build trust quickly, so that they overcome their fear of `getting it wrong` and `sounding stupid`. This helps the students feel relaxed and more willing to verbalise their thinking. This in turn gives me the opportunity to understand their reasoning, identify gaps in their knowledge and correct any misunderstandings.

I am an accredited AQA A-level examiner and I support students to develop revision resources and exam strategies as they go through the specification. The sooner they start, the easier the revision before the exams and the more time for question practice they have. I have extensive experience marking the A-Level essay and can help develop this skill.

It is important that the students I tutor enjoy their sessions and grow in confidence throughout their time with me, and I employ my coaching skills to achieve this.