Helen

Before starting my teaching career I spent 8 years working as an Operational Researcher for the UK Department of Work and Pensions. I am the mother of four wonderful, interesting and slightly mad young people who is never happier than when I'm feeding family and friends with the cakes and puddings I've baked or the chutneys I've made. But I also love to curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book, and when the sun shines hike across the hills near my home.

Tutoring Experience

Schools: I have 11 years experience teaching high school mathematics up to GCSE from 2013 - 2023. I have taught children of all abilities from 11 to 16, covering low ability through to grade 9 students. I have been trained to deliver mastery lessons using Shanghai methods, which put teaching for understanding at the forefront. I have written many teaching resources including curriculums, exam papers, revision guides, department lessons and retrieval starters. I have marked exam papers, delivered the whole syllabuses, tutored a form (for 11 years), organised school trips, run STEM clubs, attended parents evenings, run revision sessions every week and I was even in the school play!

Tutoring: I have been tutoring for over 6 years. I teach students 1-1, improving their understanding, learning new topics, filling gaps in knowledge or understanding, helping with exam technique and promoting confidence in this wonderful topic. My students all come from word-of-mouth recommendations. I have also taught adults helping them pass the maths segments of higher education courses.

Tutoring Approach

I love teaching. I adore that lightbulb moment when someone just gets it and I know I've helped them achieve that. A lot of what I do is to create confidence and I have an excellent record of building relationships with young people and adults.
I teach for understanding. If a student understands why they are doing something, they are going to remember it. I use a variety of methods, including; modelling, bar modelling, pictures, white boards and activities. I have been known to have students measure the room or a tennis court to explain scale factors or create a mini Olympics to create data to analyse!