Jon

I have 18 years teaching experience, which has included 8 years as Head of Department. I have taught students of all abilities and attitudes on a range of qualifications at all levels up to and including A level, and even briefly at degree level.
Apart from the necessary one to one learning that takes place in whole class teaching and giving tutorials to individuals, I also spent some time as learning support tutor, when I specialised in supporting individuals with learning difficulties on a one to one basis or in small groups.
My approach is to be flexible. Put simply, it is to develop tutees skills, knowledge and understanding in ways that suit them. A tutee may know exactly what they want to learn and how they learn best or their need may be that they just know they want help to pass an exam. Whatever the case, an individual’s needs and requirements can be discussed and / or agreed at the outset and I will adjust my approach accordingly. I can simply support with homework, offer specific support for exam papers, or assess areas of strength and weaknesses at the beginning and plan and deliver a programme of learning accordingly. In any case progress will be monitored and reported on throughout.

People learn in many different ways, and I hope to be able to exploit individual preferences in order to enhance progress. Explanations will be clear and resources could include ICT-based ones, games and puzzles, practical activities or simply worksheet exercises and past exam papers – whatever suits the individual.

It would be nice to think that I could inspire all my tutees to come to enjoy maths: many like working and manipulating numbers or number sequences, being creative with symbolic logic, appreciating the beauty of a mathematical proof or just using maths to solve either mathematical or real life problems. However, I’m experienced enough to know that for many this is neither a necessary, desirable nor realistic objective: some just want to gain a qualification so they can then forget it and move on to the next stage in their education! Whatever the situation, I’ll simply endeavour to use my knowledge, expertise and experience to help the tutee in any way I can.

As for me, I have always enjoyed the outdoor life, being a keen camper and walker, and also try to read a lot. I have two teenage sons and, although I share their interest in sports, I have mixed feelings about them now getting better, fitter and more supple than me!

Availability: Most days and evenings, unless otherwise booked.

Tutees can visit me for sessions or I can travel to them. I can also offer on-line sessions.

Willing to travel: 20 miles

Experience: I have been a successful private tutor, having helped tutees through common entrance and scholarship exams, GCSEs and A levels over the last 5 years.

DBS Check: Yes