Hello there! I'm Clare. I'm an experienced A-level Psychology and Sociology teacher and private tutor, with over 20 years' experience teaching students of different abilities and helping them achieve their academic potential.

I have held senior teaching positions, including Head of Psychology at Hurtwood House and Head of Psychology and Sociology at Collingwood College. I have a real passion for teaching and enjoy helping students develop confidence in subjects that can sometimes seem challenging.

Having spent many years in the classroom, I understand the demands of A-level study, the pressures of exams and the difference that individual support can make. Whether a student is aiming for an A*, struggling with a particular topic or simply needs to build confidence, I enjoy helping them make progress.

I offer friendly, experienced and personalised tuition from my home in Shalford, near Guildford, or online.

I have over 18 years' experience teaching A-level Psychology and Sociology in schools and sixth-form colleges, including Farnborough Sixth Form College, Collingwood College and Hurtwood House.

I spent ten years as Head of Psychology at Hurtwood House, leading a highly successful department with consistently strong A-level results and student progression to leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Previously, I was Head of Psychology and Sociology at Collingwood College, where I led curriculum development, assessment and improvements in teaching and learning.

I have also worked as a senior examiner for AQA and OCR, giving me detailed insight into examination requirements, mark schemes and the skills students need to demonstrate to achieve higher grades. I have experience of curriculum development and have taught across different examination specifications.

Alongside classroom teaching, I have provided private A-level tuition, including to students at Godalming College. I have worked with students across the ability range, from those requiring additional support to high-achieving students aiming for top grades.

My qualifications include a postgraduate teaching qualification, a PhD in Psychology and an MSc in Advanced Statistics and Experimental Methods. I have particular expertise in teaching research methods, statistics, essay writing and evaluation skills.

Every student learns differently, and I believe that effective tutoring starts with understanding the individual. I take time to establish what a student knows, where they are struggling and what they want to achieve, then tailor lessons accordingly.

My approach is supportive, encouraging and focused on building genuine understanding. Psychology and Sociology are fascinating subjects, but they also require students to develop quite specific examination skills. I help students make sense of difficult theories and concepts, develop their analytical thinking and learn how to turn their knowledge into well-structured, evaluative answers.

Having worked as an examiner, I place particular emphasis on examination technique. Students often know far more than their marks suggest, and small changes in how they interpret questions, structure answers or develop evaluation can make a significant difference.

Sessions typically combine clear explanations, discussion, worked examples and exam-question practice, with constructive feedback and achievable targets. I also adapt my teaching for students who need a different pace, additional structure or alternative ways of approaching the material.

I want students to leave lessons feeling that something which previously seemed difficult now makes sense. Building that confidence, alongside the knowledge and skills needed for exams, is at the heart of my tutoring.