Cody D
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
I attended an English School in Cyprus, called The American Academy, where I completed my IGCSEs and A-Levels. I studied IGCSEs in English (A*), English Literature (A*), Maths (A*), Biology (A*), Chemistry (A*), Physics (A*), History (A*), ICT (A*) and Greek (C). I also completed my As Levels in History (A), Politics (A), Biology (A) and Chemistry (B) before graduating with A-levels in History (A), Politics (A) and Biology (A).
I was accepted into St Andrews University where I studied a range of subjects including History, Ancient History, English and Philosophy. I was placed on the Dean’s List for academic excellence each year I attended St Andrews and achieved the highest mark in my student cohort in my third year of study. I graduated with a first-class honours degree in Modern History in 2018.
I also completed a Diploma in Writing and Producing Comedy at the National Film and Television School in 2021.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
I have a breadth of knowledge and experience teaching the following subjects for
GCSE: History, English, English Literature, Philosophy, Drama.
A-Levels: History, English Literature, Politics, Philosophy, Drama and Theatre Studies.
If required I would also be able to tutor for the common entrance exam.
SKILLS & INTERESTS
I’m a huge lover of the arts and spend a lot of my time watching theatre, seeing comedy shows and going to the cinema. I also write jokes and scripts for radio and television shows like Have I Got News For You and The News Quiz, which is a big part of my professional career as a comedy writer. I also love reading and am trying to write my own novel. My favourite part of the day is going for a run in the morning (come rain or shine) while listening to a podcast. I also love scuba diving!
WORK EXPERIENCE
I’ve worked in a number of roles that have turned me into a rounded individual with life skills that make me a good tutor. I spent 4 years working for the UK Government (Civil Service), in a range of roles that included being a speechwriter for a Secretary of State, acting as Private Secretary to members of the House of Lords, designing webpages for GOV.UK and advising ministers on educational policy. As a result I’ve got a range of skills that allow me to help students organise, manage and present information in a way that allows them to achieve high grades.
In 2023 I joined the BBC as their in-house comedy writer where I worked with producers and comedians to write and develop scripts, write gags and jokes for Radio 4 shows and develop pitches for new shows. This experience has allowed me to gain a strong understanding of creative writing, storytelling and structure that is transferable to many GCSE and A-Level subjects.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
My passion for teaching has stemmed from my own love of learning new things. I was always an enthusiastic and curious student who loved developing my knowledge of different subjects beyond the required level for simply passing an exam – and I’ve maintained this enthusiasm for learning new things and gaining new experiences into my adult life. The wonder and excitement of gaining new knowledge is what has drawn me to tutoring, as I love nothing more than helping a student realise their ability to use knowledge to unlock new interests and gain the skills to navigate the world around them more effectively.
Throughout my professional career I have occupied a wide variety of jobs at some of the UK’s most prestigious institutions (UK Civil Service, BBC). These roles have given me a broad range of life skills that allow me to turn students into well rounded and knowledgeable young people, who are better prepared to embark on their chosen educational or professional journey following their time with me. From working with senior government ministers on detailed policy as a civil servant, to writing scripts and jokes for the BBC’s most popular comedy shows like Have I Got News For You, my career has helped me develop brilliant communication and people skills that make me an effective tutor. I am not only able to teach students new information, but also help them develop their non-academic and professional skills that will allow them to flourish.
Alongside tutoring, I am currently working as a freelance comedy writer. This job involves working with some of the UK’s most exciting comedians and producers on scripts, sketches and jokes for a huge range of programmes across Radio 4 and BBC 1. This job means I am also uniquely placed to help students with their creative needs, whether that is writing a personal statement, developing a passion for scriptwriting or creative writing that could improve their skills in other subjects like English Literature or Drama, or to just support them in developing interests in subjects and disciplines they didn’t know they had.
I passionately believe that my ability to connect with students on a human level and understand their needs make me an adaptable and reliable tutor for your child. My strong academic record, coupled with my broad range of life experience means that I will be able to help your child become the best student they can be.