Kiran

Hi, I’m Kiran, I studied history at Mansfield College, Oxford and graduated in 2024. I attended a state school in North London where for A Levels I took English Literature, History and Geography, achieving 2 A*s and an A. Alongside my A Levels I also undertook an archiving project at Statewatch, an NGO focused on monitoring civil liberties within the European Union. I was involved in researching and archiving the organisation’s unique collection of primary sources, which included first edition copies of Rosa Luxemburg’s ‘Social Reform or Revolution’ amongst others.

I’ve been tutoring for over 3 years with students of different abilities and backgrounds. I’ve worked with students from the UK’s top independent schools on their Oxbridge applications for History, assisting with their personal statements, entrance examinations, interviews and written work submissions. I’ve also helped students who are on the other end of the scale and struggling to pass their GCSEs, helping them with essay and exam techniques. After graduating from Oxford, I first worked at Skinner’s Academy, a state school in a deprived area of North London, where I worked as a specialist English Language and Literature coach for students. I created revision resources and lessons plans which were catered to the individual needs of pupils. I taught students from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds, many of whom were SEN (Special Educational Needs) and ESL (English as a Second Language). I also ran the school’s Oxbridge admissions club, where we were successful in getting the school’s first ever student admitted into Cambridge University.

Tutoring should be an interactive and mutually beneficial experience. I believe I also have something to learn from every student I teach. My tutoring style reflects this, focusing on equipping my students with a range of skills that go beyond just the set curriculum and empowering students to take ownership of what they are studying. History and English are both subjects which encourage creativity alongside critical thinking and thus students should be able to express themselves and their opinions freely. I believe no evidence-based interpretation is “wrong” and strive to foster a learning environment which allows students to develop their independent skills. My experience tutoring has only increased my enthusiasm for teaching and I can’t wait to support students on their academic journeys!

At Oxford I was involved with various student societies and organisations including working for Oxford Class Act, where I undertook research for a pioneering report into intra-college inequality. I was also active in student journalism, being a Junior Global Affairs editor for the Oxford Blue, a student-ran paper. Alongside my studies, I played college football and rowed. My academic focus was on 20th century political history, with a particular focus on the Global South and decolonisation. I took a diverse range of courses including African and Indian history, alongside medieval European and British studies. Studying African history, in particular, was an eye-opening experience as there are little to no primary sources which are not colonial in nature. This helped me develop my critical thinking and contextualisation skills, both of which are vital for unpacking complex historical ideas. My undergraduate thesis focused on the role of social housing in the post-war welfare state in Britain and its impact on the built environment.