Dale

I was a Teacher of Mathematics for over twenty years until my health deteriorated about 10 years ago, and as a result of this, I regrettably had to retire from classroom teaching in 2016. For 2-3 years, I was an examination assessor of GCSE maths and A-level Core Maths for both Pearson (Edexcel) and OCR, in addition to assessing Additional Maths and O-level for CIE (2015-2017).

Around this time, I joined First Tutors, subsequently successfully helping students through face-to-face, one-to-one tuition since that time. Alongside tuition, I have recently rekindled my love of learning, finding the time to squeeze in Masters-level study with the Open University, and finally in July 2023, I completed my Master of Science in Mathematics with Distinction. Hence, I have great sympathy and empathy for those somewhat younger than me who are embarking on their public exams for the first time.

I am also an enthusiastic pianist and would welcome the opportunity to share my passion for music (classical upbringing, although anything goes if requested) by offering musical theory and piano tuition. I could have gone on to study at diploma or degree level, but I stopped at grade 8, although part of my Open University Bachelor's degree did contain some studies of music. I can realistically only offer this tuition to adult/casual learners during school hours, at the tutee's home, although there might be slots available in the evenings, but I tend to reserve these for maths tuition.

After 11th June 2025, my availability improves somewhat, as most of my tutees are in year 11 and will be moving on to pastures anew. However, I am not intending to take on my usual number of new students from September as I have crazily decided to study two more Masters modules myself, in quantum mechanics and fractal geometry, to complete another Masters degree next June. I will already be continuing tuition with three current year 10 students into the next academic year, and due to other commitments, I will only be able to offer the following tuition slots from September (as it stands, subject to other tutees' commitments):

Mondays between 4.00pm and 5.45pm on a weekly basis;
Wednesdays between 4.00pm and 5.45pm and after 7.30pm on a weekly basis;
Thursdays between 4.00pm and 5.45pm on a weekly basis, and
Fridays between 4.00pm and 6.00pm on a weekly basis.

In the last year, I have also been able to offer support for students being privately home-schooled, and I can offer this again from September between 11.00am and 12.30pm and also between 2.00pm and 3.30pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and depending on the provision required, rates are negotiable on request.

Please note that I do not usually tutor a student during their mock exam periods unless requested; this is to enable them adequate revision time for all their subjects. However, exclusively for my year 11 tutees. I do offer tuition during the Easter holiday period and the half-term break at the end of May (which usually occurs between GCSE papers 1 and 2).

I tend to get several requests for tuition from people far outside the travel limit of THREE miles from my home. However, I prefer to tutor solely within Braintree, Great Notley, Black Notley, Bocking and Rayne. Under certain circumstances, I may consider requests from parents from further afield, but I will have to add £1 per mile for each mile in excess of 3 miles away.

Tutoring Experience

After training in 1994, I started teaching as a Teacher of Mathematics and Science for a couple of years before being promoted to Key Stage 3 Coordinator in Mathematics at an 11-16 school in Norfolk, where I also wrote music and conducted the school choir over a couple of very busy years. In 1998, I then moved to Braintree, and took on a role as a full-time Teacher of Mathematics at a school in Witham.

In 2001, I then took on a broader role at a large 11-18 comprehensive in Colchester (Philip Morant School). From 2005 until my early retirement in March 2016, I was Key Stage 5 (post-16) Coordinator in Mathematics at this school, and I developed resources and teaching strategies across the faculty, as well as creating new courses for post-16 students (including for those that did not want to study traditional A-levels in Mathematics).

I have considerable experience in preparing students for assessments (working as an examiner for the exam boards has helped to this end), and I can support learning across the ability range. I am especially experienced in delivering the Mathematics curriculum at Higher GCSE level, including GCSE Statistics and GCSE Further Maths, and I am confident with the delivery of all elements of the CORE (pure) content of A-level Maths.

Tutoring Approach

I am very flexible in terms of what style of tutoring is required. If you merely want a short-term boost prior to exams, or a longer period of tuition to support and complement the learning that takes place at school, I can help to improve your child's (your) skill base and boost your child's (your) confidence in Mathematics.

Despite my recent experience of assessing Core Maths at A-level, I have decided not to tutor beyond GCSE. Indeed, I now really prefer tutoring students in years 10 and 11, preparing them for GCSE or iGCSE, although I do tutor students somewhat younger than this on occasion. Regardless of what your needs may be, I always try to ensure that students enjoy learning Mathematics, and I try to instil my enthusiasm and passion for the subject in any discussion that takes place, in the hope that some of it will inspire the students in my care to embrace Mathematics.

Deep down, my true love is music though, and I would truly welcome the opportunity to share my joy of music with a casual (or an even more committed) learner. I've only had a couple of tutees for singing and piano tuition, but I would love to rekindle and share my enthusiasm for piano playing at any level up to around grade 6, and Theory of Music up to grade 7/8.

Incidentally, EVEN THOUGH THE FIGURES QUOTED ARE PER HOUR, I TEND TO THINK OF THE SESSIONS AS 2-HOUR BLOCKS INCLUDING GETTING TO AND FROM THE TUTEE, AND I INVARIABLY OFFER ABOUT 70-80 MINUTES' ACTUAL ONE-TO-ONE CONTACT FOR THE PRICE OF 60!!