Vicky W

I’ve been a full-time Geography teacher since 2013, working in high-achieving schools in North Yorkshire. I have consistently taught GCSE Geography, often taking multiple classes each year due to my track record of strong results. Since the introduction of the current AQA specification, all of my classes have achieved a positive Progress 8 score, with a significant proportion of students attaining grades 8-9.

My teaching philosophy has always been to balance a passion for the discipline of Geography with a strong focus on the skills and writing techniques required for success in written examinations. I have also been an examiner for AQA since the current specification was first examined. The insight and expertise I have developed in this role enable me to support students in interpreting questions effectively and producing high-quality exam responses.

I am currently Assistant Headteacher for Teaching and Learning at Stokesley School. Alongside teaching GCSE Geography, I lead on whole-school staff development. I have a strong academic background in education, with an MA and I am currently completing a part-time EdD, which underpins my approach to professional learning. This has enabled me to develop high-quality teaching not only within my own classroom but across the wider school and sixth form.

From the next academic year, I will be working part-time to pursue a more flexible way of working, and I am keen to develop online tutoring as a new and rewarding focus.

Geography has always been a genuine passion of mine, both professionally and personally. While my experience as a classroom teacher and my undergraduate degree underpins my subject knowledge, it is my curiosity about the world that continually drives my interest in the subject.

Alongside this, I have a strong passion for research and academia, I completed a MA in education at Durham in 2015 and I'm currently completing a doctorate in education at Teesside University. I see my doctoral study as an opportunity to engage critically with educational research at a deeper level. I am particularly interested in how evidence-informed approaches can be used not only to refine my own classroom practice, but to drive meaningful improvements in teaching and learning across a whole school. My EdD reflects a commitment to continual professional growth and a belief that high-quality academic research should play a central role in shaping effective, thoughtful educational practice.

Outside of school, I enjoy gardening and growing my own crops, which gives me a practical connection to many of the environmental themes within Geography, particularly around sustainability and human interaction with natural systems. I find that these experiences enrich my understanding of the subject and bring an added depth to how I think about geographical processes.

I have always enjoyed travelling and immersing myself in different cultures, and this has been a key influence on my interest in Geography. I am particularly interested in how people interact with their environments in different parts of the world, as well as how cultural and social differences shape places. Alongside this, I have a long-standing fascination with landscapes and how they have formed; when travelling, I often find myself observing physical features and trying to interpret them before researching further to test my understanding. This curiosity is rooted in my academic background, having studied Geology at A-level and taken geological options during my Geography degree at the University of Edinburgh. I have also had the opportunity to lead overseas expeditions with KS4 and KS5 students to Costa Rica, experiences which have reinforced my passion for fieldwork and experiential learning, and I am currently planning a further expedition to Kenya in 2027.

Through tutoring, I hope to share this enthusiasm for Geography, encouraging students not only to succeed in their exams but to develop a deeper and more lasting understanding of the world around them.