Leo Taylor-Hougham

I enjoyed A-Level politics a great deal, and it has led me to study Politics and International Relations at University. In my time as an undergraduate, I have studied abroad in Washington D.C, served as secretary of my university's debating society, and written a blog about politics, philosophy, and technology. I am passionate about my subject and about helping others enhance their interest in it. I believe there is something in politics for everyone, and that developing a base of political knowledge and the ability to engage in fair debate is crucial, regardless of one's career path. More importantly, I believe political education can be satisfying and fun, and I strive to help other A-Level students get from the course what I got from it. My sessions follow a student-led model, meaning I aim to be as flexible as possible around the student's specific needs. My number one priority is therefore staying tuned in to whether my student is relaxed, engaged, and keeping up. I make it clear that I am easy to talk to and hard to offend, meaning if my student has any feedback or requests, they should not hesitate to tell me - even if it involves my teaching style. That said, I find structured learning to be best, so I will develop a tailored schedule for my student after I have established what their goals are. This means they will go into every session knowing what we will be studying, and we will be working towards an end goal, such as nailing 12 marker questions or developing a thorough understanding of the United Nations. I also check in with my students every week to see if they remember the previous session's work to ensure it has been committed to long-term memory. Even if we are behind schedule, I never pressure or scold students, but rather try to find a different approach that may work better while staying positive.