Experience Teaching:
I have over twenty years’ experience as a teacher, ten of which as a Maths Teacher. I have taught KS3, GCSE and A Level Mathematics. Most recently I have been teaching at Varndean College, Brighton, specialising in GCSE resits and A level Maths. Previously I taught in a Private British Secondary School in Yangon, Myanmar. Before that I taught at Worthing College and I was Head of Key Stage 4 Maths at The Hastings Academy. Eight years experience within an SEN environment has developed my skills at a successful learner-based approach. I have an enhanced DBS check.
Qualifications:
● BSc (Honours), Physics and Philosophy, University of York
● PGCE Secondary Maths, Sussex University
Experience Tutoring:
I have provided Maths tuition ever since completing my PGCE in Secondary Maths at Sussex University. I am highly adaptable, having tutored children from yr 4 to yr 13 and adults with GCSE retakes, professional skills tests and undergraduate level help with maths. Each student I have taught has benefitted from an individual approach, within a positive environment and has been very happy with the experience. They have increased in confidence, ability and enthusiasm for Mathematics. I enable students to succeed to the best of their ability by utilising and tailoring the variety of learning styles I’ve developed over my extensive experience teaching different ages and abilities. I find out what each student needs and will then set realistic goals for them to get to where they need to be, by carefully monitoring their progress and providing a detailed learning and revision plan. A good example of this is a strong visual learner I taught who benefitted from my help in organising her notes and revision using mind maps and lots of colour. She has grown in confidence and succeeded in algebra through using bar modelling (whereas several of her peers found bar modelling very challenging, as they could not ‘see’ it) and through setting out problems in a systematic, logical way.
Keeping abreast of change:
I am fully up to date with the UK Maths curriculum. After the introduction of the new 9-1 GCSE (2017), A-level Mathematics also changed (2019) with both exams becoming more challenging - the added content at the top end causing greater expectations on young people. I have taught and planned for the implementation and delivery of both courses to students and staff. I also mark exam papers at GCSE and A-level for the exam boards EdExcel and AQA. Since 2016 primary schools are also dealing with a new grading system for SATs, leading to greater expectations and pressure on children at an ever younger age.
I understand the anxieties this can lead to for both children and their parents. I am passionate about giving children tools and strategies to learn, to alleviate stress and foster confidence in their own abilities.
During the COVID-19 school closures:
I taught KS3, 4 and 5 classes online during the pandemic. This has enabled me to master the technology and techniques needed to make online sessions run smoothly, with full engagement. As a father of three young children, I understand the change and difficulties encountered by young people during this time and have been able to tutor my own children, aged 9, 11 and 13 alongside their peers online during this time. I recognise the advantages to online tuition and now provide a full-time online tutoring service.