I began my professional career, as a trainee Legal Executive, after completing my A-levels. I spent five years in private legal Practice, specialising in civil litigation, and completed the examinations of the Institute of Legal Executives (now the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives), including a Diploma in Civil Litigation.
Although I enjoyed many aspects of legal Practice, I became increasingly interested in the social factors underlying the problems that bought people into contact with a legal system. I wanted to understand not simply what it happened, but why. This led me to pursue my long-standing interest in sociology.
I subsequently studied sociology at the University of Bristol, graduating with a 2:1 honours degree. 25% of my degree was undertaken within the philosophy department. I remained at the university to complete a Master’s Degree, alongside a Diploma in Social Work.
Following my studies, I worked as a social worker in the children and families’ sector. This provided valuable experience of applying sociological theory to complex issues in practice and further strengthened by interest in sociology.
I subsequently completed a PGCE in post compulsory education and began teaching social sciences in both a Six Form and further education colleges. My formal teaching experience has included A-level sociology, psychology and law as well as teaching on the Access to Higher Education courses (social science pathway). I have also delivered professional training to social workers and other social care professionals.
Home education:
Following the birth of our son, I continued teaching for a further year. However, we had always intended to home educate him and I subsequently devoted the next eighteen years to his education.
During this time, he achieved ten GCSEs, including five taken a year early, all at grade 8 or 9. He subsequently achieved three A-levels, all grade A, and received five offers from Russell Group universities. He has since graduated from one of the UK’s leading universities with a first-class honours degree.
This experience has given me a unique perspective, combining formal teaching experience and academic expertise with many years of practical experience of home education.
My current work:
Now that my son is no longer dependent on me, I am delighted to be able to share my knowledge and experience more widely.
I am a passionate social scientist and advocate for SHAPE subjects. My academic interests are divrerse and include education, knowledge, religion, the environment and the criminal justice system. I maintain my engagement with current research, academic literature and sociological debate through my membership of the British Sociological Association. I am also a member of their School’s Strategy Working Group.
Although I am a theorist at heart, my professional expertise has always been grounded in practice. My background in law, sociology, social work, teaching and home education enables me to approach social science from both academic and practical perspectives.
When choosing a tutor, it is important to have confidence in their academic knowledge, teaching experience and professional credentials. My qualifications are detailed below, and I hold a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Academic Qualifications
