Ava W

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

University College London, English Literature

QUALIFICATIONS

Wycombe Abbey - A Level

English Literature (A*)

History (A)

Government and Politics (A)

AS Level

History of Art (A)

GCSEs

English Literature (A*)

English Language (A*)

History (A*)

Religious Studies (A*)

Latin (A*)

Biology (A*)

Physics (A*)

Maths (A)

Chemistry (A)

Spanish (A)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Love Learning Tutors: English Literature, English Language, History, Government and Politics, History of Art, Verbal Reasoning, Geography, Biology, Theatre Studies, Admissions, Interview Prep. Common Entrance: English, Science GCSE: English Literature, English Language, History, Geography, Biology, Religious Studies A Level: English Literature, English Language, History, Government and Politics, History of Art, Theatre Studies, Classics I have a lot of experience in running workshops for young people on theatre and arts journalism — I’ve worked with the National Theatre, Almeida Theatre, University of Sheffield, and many others to help teenagers become more engaged in the arts. In these sessions, I focus on fun and creativity to make theatre more accessible to young people.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Freelance arts journalist. I write a number of features and reviews every month for a variety of different publications, including The Independent, The i, gal-dem, Kinfolk, Girls on Tops, London Theatre, Exeunt Magazine, and The Stage.

Screenwriter and playwright. I am currently under commission to the BBC and DNA Films to write my first television series. In terms of theatre, I have had commissions from LAMDA, Audible, Oxford Playhouse, the Young Vic, and 45North. I have been part of prestigious writing groups at the Royal Court Theatre, the Bush Theatre, and Soho Theatre. My play “scum” was shortlisted for the Verity Bargate and Tony Craze awards.

Workshop leader. I run workshops for institutions like the National Youth Theatre and Almeida, wherein I help young people get more interested in theatre and arts journalism.

Interim features editor at A Younger Theatre. I worked with young, aspiring theatre critics at one of the UK’s largest theatre reviewing sites, editing their work and mentoring them.

SKILLS AND INTERESTS

I’m a freelance arts journalist and writer for television and theatre. As a journalist, I write arts criticism regularly for The Independent, The i, gal-dem magazine, and Kinfolk, focusing mainly on theatre but with an eye on film, books, design, and music too. I am a huge cinema fan, and my favourite filmmakers are Paul Thomas Anderson and Wong Kar-wai — although I do have a soft spot for 90s action films like Michael Mann’s Heat. I read extensively too — mainly contemporary literary fiction like Sally Rooney and Daisy Johnson, though my favourite novel is still Jane Eyre, after reading it for A Level. I have loved the theatre since I studied Journey’s End at GCSE, and as a theatre critic, I tend to see around 2 or 3 plays a week. I have a particular interest in the downtown New York playwriting scene: writers like Clare Barron and Annie Baker are my particular favourites, although I also have a penchant for European auteurs like Milo Rau and Ivo van Hove. As a writer for television and theatre, I have a TV show in development with the BBC at the moment, and a play in development at the Royal Court Theatre. In my spare time, I love to go wild swimming — though I am based in West London, I try to go to the Hampstead ponds a few times a month throughout the year.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I know firsthand how a good teacher can completely change a child’s life. When studying RC Sherriff’s play ‘Journey’s End’ for GCSE, I found that I was hugely drawn to the theatrical medium. My English teacher at the time saw that I took a keen interest in the play, and began encouraging me to read other playwrights, and when I eventually wrote my own play at the age of 16, she was kind enough to talk to me about it and give me notes. Had she not been perceptive enough to spot my burgeoning passion for theatre, I doubt I would be in the position I am in now, as a professional arts critic and playwright. She went the extra mile — not only spotting that interest, but actively helping to develop it further. On the flip side, I also know how detrimental a bad tutor can be to a child’s development and confidence. I was always stronger in the humanities than I was in maths and science, and when my parents saw that I needed help, I was tutored heavily in maths and science from the ages of 9 until 16. Some of my tutors were excellent: kind and encouraging. I found with a few of them, however, that the shame and guilt I felt at not being naturally gifted at those subjects was exacerbated by teachers who were more concerned with me achieving good results than enjoying my studies. This is why tutoring appeals to me so much: cultivating genuine enthusiasm and confidence in a student who might lack self-belief is so important. If a child can be encouraged and taught to enjoy and use the skills they already have within them, then success will come naturally. I started to develop a taste for tutoring through my role as a freelance workshop leader. I work with a number of venerable institutions, such as the National Youth Theatre and Almeida Theatre, to craft workshops for young people that make theatre and arts journalism more accessible. Through this work, I have discovered what is most important to my own teaching practice: trying to instil a sense of fun and creativity into everything. I find that if I ask the students to start off with a silly exercise, then they’re more likely to open up to me and be less self-conscious, which leads to a much better relationship in the long term. The one-on-one aspect of tutoring allows for me to personalise every session and be flexible to each student’s individual needs — something you can’t get with a class of thirty. As I have said previously, I had extensive tutoring as a child and so can really empathise with my students. I think I’m able to bring a particular kind of sensitivity and care to our sessions. I believe I’m a kind, patient tutor who will endeavour to make learning stimulating and enjoyable for tutees, while also keeping an eye on active educational progress too, whether that’s working towards exams or a specific project. I’m more than happy to work with tutees who are struggling with comprehension exercises at 11+ as I am with those who want to discuss university applications and personal statements. II never want to make a student feel ashamed or upset for finding a particular subject difficult — instead, I want to make sure that they feel understood and supported by me, and that we build on the positive experiences that we create in the room together. I am as happy to do a couple of sessions with a student on exam skills as I am with a much longer term tutoring situation wherein we slowly build a relationship together. It’s important to me that I take the time to figure out a tutee’s needs, which in turn will help them realise their potential. I’m not interested in spoon feeding, but rather in equipping students with the tools they need to enjoy and excel at their studies — tools that they will be able to carry with them throughout the rest of their lives.