Ruth Prentice – GCSE Tuition and Mentoring GCSE tuition and mentoring
Ruth Prentice, GCSE Religious Studies tutor

About

About Ruth

Subject specialist, chaplain, pastoral leader, and mentor. Now combining all of this expertise as a full-time tutor with the time to do it properly.

My background

I have taught in independent and state schools for over fourteen years. Alongside my role as a Religious Studies specialist, I have built-up an outstanding reputation in pastoral care through my roles in boarding, mentoring, tutoring and chaplaincy. This experience means that I have seen students at their most confident as well as at their most fragile- often in the same week!

Working in boarding gives you insight that classroom teaching alone does not. It permits you see how a young person actually is at nine in the evening- when the lesson is over and the worry is still there. Far more than any training course could, this has influenced how (and why) I teach.

The subject

Why Religious Studies?

Religious Studies asks young people to think about things that matter- What adds meaning to a person's life. What we owe each other. How we can empathise with 'the other'. Whether we are more than the sum of our parts. Much like the sciences, Religious Studies examines, dissects, and tests the beliefs that so many people hold as truth. More than this, it explores the beautiful (and ofttimes dangerous) consequences of allowing these beliefs to influence one's behaviours and decisions.

As an academic subject, however, Religious Studies is frequently misunderstood or even mismanaged. Some education establishments treat it more as an opportunity for indoctrination, whilst others neglect even to recognise the value in allocating it a qualified RS practitioner.

On top of this, Religious Studies happens to be a subject where many students lose marks, not because they do not know the material, but because nobody has shown them how to build an argument. (Extended answer questions are a craft- once a student sees the structure, the grades follow quickly!)

So, why do I love teaching Religious Studies?

  • Because it gives young people something worth thinking about.
  • Because it fosters essential qualities such as empathy and curiosity.
  • And because, when it is taught well, it is a subject where students can accumulate very high grades.

Any one of these alone would be enough to boost a young person's sense of identity. All three together contribute to a subject which is a privilege and immense pleasure to teach!

How I think about learning

My Educational Philosophy

The biggest (and most damaging) myth in education is that people are naturally either good or bad at subjects. I believe that this is a cop-out; sometimes on the part of the teacher and sometimes on the part of the student. It is far easier to assume that a student is 'just limited', than to question: if they have been taught well or taught poorly, whether they feel safe or not, whether their learning/ communication needs (known or unknown) are being met, and if their study/ leisure habits serve them well or hinder their progress. Change any one of these, and the picture very swiftly changes.

So my job is rarely just explaining content. It is working out what has been/ is currently in the way of the student reaching their potential, removing it, and rebuilding their learning path with them.

Why online

Why I Moved to Tutoring Online

School teaching is a wonderful thing, but it is done at scale:

  • 1 lesson.
  • 1 pace.
  • 20-30 students, each with their own unique needs, challenges, and goals.
  • 1 teacher to meet all of these needs, on top of delivering the course.

Teaching (and learning in) a room-full of students at once, comes with many advantages; but one universal disadvantage is that it will always, to some extent, dilute the quality and personalised attention that each individual student requires (and deserves!)

For some time now, I have seen firsthand that the most significant progress my students experience- in their understanding, in their grades, and in their personal development- is following our one-to-one tutoring sessions. I am able to identify what each particular student needs, and give them exactly that!

Conducting these sessions online offers my students and their families flexibility- we can work around their other commitments. It also means that we can identify and select a time when their learning will not just be feasible, but meaningful. Some people learn best first thing in the morning, others later in the day, and others still just after a meal or a workout. Whatever the reason, if the time works for you, then so will I!

Finally, holding our sessions online means that students can be in their own chosen space! An anxious learner might require the safety of their bedroom in order to feel comfortable contributing. A distractable learner may find relief in being taught in a room with no foot-traffic/ background conversations. A reluctant learner might secretly appreciate being taught in a location where their parent(s)/ guardian(s) can monitor and thus hold them to account. Whatever the 'type' of learner, and whatever their reasons; location can make all the difference. So why not bring the lesson to the learner, rather than the other way around?

Who it is for

Who I Work With

  • GCSE students
  • Students who have lost confidence
  • Students with mild to moderate learning needs
  • High achieving students aiming for top grades
  • Home educated learners
  • Students moving between stages: primary into secondary, KS3 into GCSE, GCSE into A Level
  • Students exploring a subject beyond their school syllabus
  • Students preparing for essay competitions

What Others Say

"Miss Prentice is honestly the best teacher I have had. I hadn't done much RS or Philosophy at my previous school, but she has taught me so much! She will work tirelessly until you understand- for example, before our end of year exams, she spent each lesson introducing different revision techniques, so we each found a way to revise that worked for us. She is one of the kindest and most patient people. I can't recommend her enough and you will get effective and long-term learning for anything!"

Clemmie, student

"Thank you for being an amazing and supportive RS tutor. You were incredibly helpful and you always brought a positive energy to our sessions. I don't think I have ever met a teacher who has encouraged me to expand beyond the curriculum as much as you did. I am also endlessly thankful for your support in helping me get my exam access arrangements, without which I am sure I would not have been able to survive the exam season. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me."

Giselle, student

"Her lessons were always a real highlight. She is fun, engaging and encourages her pupils to really think for themselves. Alongside her deep subject knowledge and expertise, Miss Prentice spends a lot of time looking at study skills and how to revise effectively, covering a range of techniques to find the right one for each individual learner. Our daughter has learnt some really valuable lessons in how to organise and structure her independent learning and study across the curriculum. Miss Prentice is a passionate, engaging and fun teacher. We cannot recommend her highly enough."

KP, parent

"What a glorious, serene, gentle presence you have. Your students are so lucky to have someone so committed and selfless to champion them."

Candice, colleague

"I've genuinely loved our sessions. Your enthusiasm in them has made this my favourite subject, and you my favourite teacher!"

Helen, student

"A huge 'thank you' for all the care and support you have provided 'L' this past year. We are so very proud of the confident, sensible, and hardworking young lady that she is becoming. That development is a tribute to the support you have provided- thank you!"

Kevin, parent

"Your wonderful teaching and support of our learning support students has been hugely impactful."

Naomi, colleague

"Thank you so much for all that you do for me. You make our lessons so fun and engaging and, with that, you have helped me so much with exams."

Noor, student

"Thank you so much for being such a lovely teacher. I always look forward to our sessions, and being taught by you has made me love RS even more!"

Faatihah, student

"Your joy in being with the students, and making their learning and leisure as fun as possible, is something I will always remember."

Philippa, colleague

"Thank you so much for our Friday sessions. They are really helping. I appreciate how patient and friendly you are with me, and that you listen to how I feel I learn best."

Ayesha, student

"Your enthusiasm and positive approach are so appreciated by everyone."

Michelle, colleague

"Never a kinder or more gracious or considerate colleague."

Alasdair, colleague

"Thank you for being such a friendly tutor and supporting me and my decisions. It is so comforting to know that you will always help, all of the time, no matter how hopeless it feels!"

Evie, student

Not sure where to start?

The first conversation is free and there is no obligation at all. We talk about what is going on and I tell you honestly whether I can help.

Book an initial consultation