Anna B is a recent addition to the fold at No Nonsense and she started tutoring one of our long-term clients in January at the start of this year. We caught up with her recently to ask her a few questions about her motivation to tutor and how she got into it, as well as her interests outside of tutoring, which include being a former professional swimmer!

What are you up to at the moment outside of tutoring? And what proportion of your working time is spent tutoring?

Outside of tutoring, I am getting ready for my Master’s in International Affairs and continuing my volunteering work. This means like many of my students, I am getting back into the swing of full-time study! I currently spend half of my week tutoring students from KS1 to university applicants.

Why did you get into tutoring?

I began tutoring whilst studying at Durham University, having previously benefited from private tuition myself. Whilst my tutoring began as a casual project with students from my old school in London, I quickly developed a love for tutoring expanding my hours. I knew just how beneficial it was to have someone who’s been in the same boat as you, providing extra support outside of the classroom. As a passionate student of the humanities, juggling full-time sporting commitments, and private tuition had given me the confidence I had lacked despite my abilities. As a result, the ethos of my tuition quickly became the need to provide students with confidence, as much as stretching material and working on exam skills that aren’t subject-specific.

What has been the most rewarding moment for you as a tutor thus far?

I would say the most rewarding experiences as a tutor are those key moments where students grasp new concepts or skills that they can confidently use on their own during exams or in the classroom when you won’t be there to support them. I also find my students enjoy education equally rewarding as better grades or successful university applications, as engaging with your studies is one of the most important skills throughout mainstream education.

How do you see tutoring improving tutees’ lives and prospects, as an addition to their mainstream education?

I firmly believe that tutoring can help with wider confidence, in students’ own skills and abilities outside of the classroom in sports and social interactions.

What are your interests/hobbies? 

As a former professional swimmer, I still enjoy training for open water swims and rowing in London when the weather gets a bit warmer! I have a keen interest in European politics and often visit new cities across Europe.

And finally, what’s your main piece of advice for other tutors?  

My advice to other tutors would be to embrace the different ways your students learn and see how they can help other students. Parents and tutors alike will often find that changing or trying new teaching methods can have the same impact as increased tuition and revision. It’s important to remember we all learn differently!