History taught by a practising historian
History at GCSE and A-Level is not a memory test. It is an exercise in constructing and defending arguments using evidence. That is what I teach: how to read sources critically, how to evaluate the reliability and utility of evidence, and how to present a sustained, well-supported case in writing. These are the same skills I use daily in my own research.
My academic background in Classics and Ancient History gives me a particular strength in teaching the ancient world, but my teaching spans the full chronological range required by the major exam boards, from medieval Britain through to the Cold War and beyond. I have taught topics including Weimar and Nazi Germany, the Tudors, the American West, and the British Empire, among many others.
At A-Level, the demands shift towards historiographical awareness. Pupils must engage with competing interpretations and demonstrate that they understand why historians disagree. I introduce pupils to the key debates in their chosen topics and teach them how to incorporate scholarship into their essays without losing their own argument.
For university students, I provide guidance on research methods, dissertation planning, source evaluation, and the conventions of academic writing in the Humanities. My experience as a university lecturer at Liverpool and Manchester means I understand the standards expected at every level of higher education.
Philosophy tuition covers the core areas examined at A-Level, including epistemology, ethics, and the philosophy of religion. I teach pupils to construct and evaluate philosophical arguments with logical rigour, a skill that transfers directly into any discipline that values precise thinking.
