Margaret

I am a highly experienced, enthusiastic, and successful fully qualified teacher of Physics and Mathematics. I have taught all ages and standards from primary school through university, in schools and out. Since lockdown I have offered Zoom lessons and have found that my students learn very well online, no matter where they are.

I have helped students to prepare for all English and Scottish Physics and Maths qualifications as well as Oxbridge STEM entrance exams, GMAT and MCAT, and US entrance exams such as SAT, ACT, and AP. My students (and my own children!) have been successful at gaining places at Oxbridge, Ivy League and top Scottish universities.

Tutoring Experience

I have been tutoring privately since 2008 and have helped over two hundred people achieve their academic goals. Many of my students come to me by word of mouth, and since 2012 I have been reaching students through FirstTutors. I have been pleased to teach several of sets of siblings throughout their school careers. I have taught students from as far away as China and Brazil.

I enjoyed teaching Physics and Mathematics at the University of St Andrews. I have also taught in Scottish secondary schools and have helped local students with their exam preparation. I taught at MIT and Stanford University in the US and at primary and secondary schools in England.

I have experience tutoring home schooled children as well as pupils in state and top independent schools including Eton and Harrow. I can advise students on their Personal Statements and help to prepare them for Oxbridge interviews if that is their ambition.

Tutoring Approach

I help my students to become more confident in their subject by showing them how different subjects work together. For example, using Physics concepts to teach Mathematics leads to a deeper understanding in both areas. We will look into how discoveries were made to help understand the importance of various ideas.

I meet my students where they are and get them where they want to be. If they want to work hard and get top marks in their exams I can help them and motivate them to succeed. My students have a very high rate of acceptance to their chosen universities. The earlier we start the better of course, but it's never too late to make a difference.

I want my students to enjoy their lessons and I love to see them become successful at school. My favourite thing is when a student who started coming to me because they were struggling at GCSE and planned to quit after the exams changes their mind and decides to take Further Maths at A level. I get so excited when a student tells me they went up to the board and answered a question in front of the class for the first time!

I enjoy teaching adult learners and have helped many people making a career change to prepare for necessary maths exams, including a gameskeeper helping to stop poaching in Kenya! I love to see a person who has always thought they were just "bad at maths" discover an interest in the subject and be surprised to find they actually enjoy it.