Andrew

Having recently retired after 35 years of teaching, I am enjoying the opportunity to explore and engage with activities my working life denied me. I enjoy hill walking, cycling, politics and reading (fiction and non-fiction). The intellectual challenge of A level teaching and the personal satisfaction of helping young people to achieve prompted me to tutor as soon as I retired and I continue to relish the challenges it provides.

Tutoring Experience

I am a recently retired Deputy Headteacher who taught for 35 years in the state sector. For most of those years I taught at least one A level Biology group, even when Deputy Head. I began as a teacher of Science/Biology in 1980 at John Smeaton High School, Leeds where I taught A level Environmental Science; in 1982 I moved to Boston Spa Comprehensive School where I taught A level Biology, including the production and delivery of Field Courses in the Lake District and Yorkshire coast; in 2001 I moved to Wortley High School, Leeds as Assistant Head and in 2005 to Hipperholme and Lightclifffe High School, Halifax as Deputy Head until I retired in 2015.

Tutoring Approach

When I take on an A level student, I begin by assessing their knowledge and understanding of the subject through questioning and brief written tasks - I place particular emphasis on the student's grasp of the basic principles that are needed to provide the solid foundation for success at this level. Once this is done, we can begin to build and address the more specific needs the student has. Essentially, the student sets the agenda. At this level, I find 90 minute sessions are far more productive than 1 hour. Appropriate tasks can be set for the student to complete in between session if required.