Our tutors - Basil Bowdler

Basil - History, University of Oxford

Hi, my name is Basil! I previously studied History at the University of Oxford, where I secured a scholarship after my first-year examinations and graduated with a First. I then went on to study for an MPhil in Early Modern History at the University of Cambridge and am now a PhD student at the University of St Andrews. I won my school’s history prize for two consecutive years in sixth form. I’ve always been lucky to have been taught by inspiring teachers who instilled a passion for learning an inquisitive spirit into me, and I hope to pass this onto my students.

I have been working as a tutor for almost seven years and in that time I have taught over 400 lessons to students in Britain, China, Singapore and South Korea. I specialise in Secondary School-level History and English tuition, all the way up to Oxbridge applications. I have also taught History at university level, and so can provide an insight from the perspective of both students and educators at leading universities.

Each student is unique and tailoring my lessons to the particular goals and needs of my students is a top priority for me, whether students are aiming to pass their GCSEs or to apply for leading universities. My lessons tend to be highly conversational, which I hope makes them engaging for my students and builds their skills of analysis and confidence in articulating themselves. I also have extensive professional experience supporting students and young people from infancy to university level and pride myself on treating all of my students with empathy and respect.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy cooking, running and listening to music. I’m also a keen traveller, having travelled from Moscow to Shanghai by train and taught English in Beijing before.