David

Both my parents were teachers and you could say that I come from a mathematical background because my brother studied Maths at Oxford, whilst my uncle (mother`s side of family) was Professor of Maths, Physics and Chemistry, at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne university.

I studied Maths in my second year at university and achieved grade A in: Maths, Further Maths and Statistics A-Level (the A* grade didn`t exist when I sat these exams!). I have a current CRB check with Enhanced Disclosure, and have helped student from 14 to 45 years-of-age.

At A-Level, those I`ve helped usually achieved grades A or B, when their initial, predicted grade, was C or lower. In 2018, two tutees I helped, got `A, B` for Maths and Further Maths. One had previously engaged the help of three tutors, before me! Both tutees were then able to attend universities of their first choice as a result of their grades. I`ve had many other successes, and this even included a student advised to give up studying Statistics, and only study maths to AS-level. Not only did they end up getting the grade they needed at A-level after my help, but they developed a liking for Statistics to the extent that they ended up holding seminars at university for students who (as they had) were struggling with it. According to one of their parents, they very nearly opted to change course with a view to taking up a teaching position at the school that had put them down!

A typical tutorial involves going through past-paper exam questions. Any difficulties or evidence of poor technique, are then dealt with, before moving on. If necessary, free handouts are provided, and exercise questions set for homework.

Many students are good at IT and it is perhaps a travesty that some schools fail to exploit this in the application of graphical calculators to A-Level Maths. Most students I`ve helped were amazed when made aware of the way modern-day technology can help in the exam! Trig. equations can often be entered and solved, as presented, and tables for statistical distributions, dispensed with. The difference `with or without` can be worth at least a grade (possibly two!). Worth considering is that certain, independent, private schools, actually put students through a course in how to use these calculators to best advantage!

Teaching of Maths has changed considerably over the last few decades, and students` mastery of the subject sometimes reflects this for the worst! Methods, now seldom taught, can provide a valuable shortcut. I always make students aware of these, whenever the situation arises. At the same time, however, I never encourage students to apply techniques they don`t fully understand or are not happy with.

Some students struggle with A-level Maths, and I never loose patients with them. Though I believe in encouragement, I always avoid giving `false` praise! Very occasionally there may be a personality clash (we all have our preferences!). If, in the unlikely event, a tutee feels, at the end of the first tutorial, that they`d rather go elsewhere, then that`s fine by me and I`ll even provide a 50% refund!

I travel to the tutee`s home. There is no extra fee charged for travelling, if the one-way distance is within 10 miles. Beyond 10 miles, tuition will be subject to 45p per additional mile. For those living within a 5-mile radius, I`m willing to give a first tutorial, of 45 minutes, for a flat fee of £10, to help them decide, but this will be subject to adequate notice and other commitments.

Availability: Most days available apart from Saturdays.

Willing to travel: 30 miles

Experience: I have formal tutoring experience dating back to 1996 and a comprehensive understanding of the current (post 2018) A-Level Maths syllabus, by all three, popular exam boards: AQQ, Edexcel and OCR. Previously at A-Level, I`ve covered units: C1-4, M1-2, S1-2 and have helped with certain topics in S3, FP1 and FP3. With Edexcel, I"ve also provided help with the new, linear, exam format, post-2018. In 2019, a tutee of mine taking the new, revised exam, got the grade they needed to get into medical school; the first time in 10 years, the school they`d attended achieved this!

DBS Check: Yes