Our tutors - Joe Clarke

Joe - History, University of Oxford

Hi! I’m Joe, and I graduated with a First Class BA in History from Merton College, Oxford. During my time at university, I have earned 10 academic prizes/scholarships. These include prizes for my exam results (placing 4th in my year), college scholarships, and four separate essay prizes. Outside of my academic commitments, I took on further positions of responsibility in my college’s student executive committee and boat club. In my free time, I kept myself occupied working as a radio producer.

Before heading to university, I was educated at a state sixth-form college in Cambridge, where I attained A-levels in History (A*), Politics (A*), and Spanish (A*). I also secured full marks in my coursework on European witch-hunting and top grades across all 10 GCSEs. Beyond the curriculum, I enjoyed success in Oxbridge essay competitions, including St. Hugh’s prestigious Julia Wood Prize. At the same time, I enjoyed running my school’s History and Philosophy societies outside of school hours.

I have been tutoring for several years now in History, Politics and Spanish up to A-level as well as university admissions, I have worked as an English teacher in two state schools, and I currently work as an ESL teacher with the British Council in Spain. For the last three years I have also been involved in overseeing an Oxbridge access and outreach organisation I founded independently, producing freely accessible guides, running interactive workshops, and delivering talks to local state schools. 

My experience in the classroom brings a unique edge to my tutorial approach. I prioritise active participation, translating the fast-paced dynamic of in-school teaching to my online lessons. In my private tutoring, I always pair this interactive approach with an emphasis on academic excellence. In my university admissions tutoring, for instance, I have witnessed multiple offer-securing candidates thrive working with my pop-up interviews, hot-seat debates, and writing peer reviews. The success I have seen in my approach is a testament to the benefits of short-activity based teaching. 

Curiously, when studying at sixth-form I had no desire to apply to university. The journey I have embarked on since should serve as an encouraging reminder to all prospective clients that it is never late to consider aiming high. I currently welcome students interested in tuition in History and Spanish, from beginners right up to university admissions.