Subjects

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Personal Message

I love mathematics, and I hope that some of my enthusiasm will rub off on you. The more you enjoy the subject the better you’ll do, and so the more you’ll enjoy it, and so on.

Interview

Which subject(s) do you teach?
I teach Mathematics, including the full range of A level (AS and A2) topics such as mechanics and statistics.

Tell me about your qualifications.
I have a First in my undergraduate degree, a distinction in Part III, now called Master of Mathematics, and a PhD, all in mathematics from Cambridge University.

What kind of experience do you have?
As a PhD student I tutored undergraduates, and in my career as a civil servant I did a variety of teaching and coaching, in both technical and non-technical subjects. For many years I have taught a session at the Royal Institution Maths Master Classes in Cheltanham on a Saturday morning (see http://www.mathglos.org). Now that I have retired, I am tutoring school students, which I am enjoying enormously.

How much do you charge?
£30 an hour, a bit more if I have to travel more than about 5 miles from my home.

Where do you teach?
Generally in the student’s home. I live in Prestbury on the North-East corner of Cheltenham, and am happy to work within about 10 miles of my house, which of course includes all of Cheltenham, as well as Bishops Cleeve and Churchdown.

When are you available?
As I am retired, I am available any day of the week and pretty much any time of day. However, as at November 2011, my books are full, and I am accepting no more students.

Which ages and levels do you teach?
I mainly teach A level students, but I can also handle most first year undergraduate maths courses. I can also provide coaching for STEP papers for year 13 students aiming at the top universities.

Do you have an up-to-date CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) disclosure certificate?
Yes.

Do you belong to any professional organisations?
Yes. I am a member of the Mathematical Association (see http://www.m-a.org.uk/jsp/index.jsp). I am also a member of the Mathematical Association of America, but I don’t think that counts as a professional organisation in the UK.

Where and with whom did you train?
I do not have any formal teaching qualifications, but I have been married to a teacher for 37 years, so I get some informal training! Meanwhile, over my career in the civil service I have had a range of training for coaching and similar skills, and from a whole range of training providers, including the National School of Government.

Tell me about some of your current students.
This year, two of last year's year 12 students are staying with me for year 13. One did so much better in his AS exams than he, or his school, had expected, that he decided to do maths A2 having thought he was going to give maths up. I also have new students, a mixture of years 12 and 13, from St Edwards, Newent College, Balcarras, Chosen Hill and St Peters High. Over the Christmas vacation, I gave some lessons to a second year student at Sheffield university who is reading mathematics.