Simon

You are welcome to ask more but I am a keen traveller and reader. I enjoy sliding and water sports, as well as walking in the hills, etc. I enjoy meeting people, and relate well to children. I enjoy teaching and learning, always keen to keep up to date with recent developments in many areas, as well as discovering better ways of teaching and helping others. I am able to build a good rapport with my students, and have often been able to detect hidden talents which hadn't been known at school, in several cases transforming them from being viewed as future failures to gaining the highest grades, and/or being moved from low ability groups to high ability groups. I have received many unsolicited testimonials for how much I have helped my students, many of whom are referred to me by word-of-mouth.

Tutoring Experience

Head of Maths and Science, C.E. 13+, Kenton Preparatory School, Nairobi, Kenya, two terms.
Mathematics teacher 11 to 18 years up to A level, Also some Mechanical Technology. Newhaven Tideway Comprehensive School, E. Sussex, 2 years.
Mathematics teacher 13 to 18 years, Southwood Comprehensive School, Corby, Northants, G.C.S.E., A level Pure Maths and Mechanics up to A Maths and Further Maths, 8 years.
Head of Mathematics department Park Barn School, Guildford, Surrey, 12 to 18 years, G.C.S.E. and A level, 3 years
Mathematics teacher, St. Catherine's School for Girls, Bramley, Guildford, G.C.S.E., Additional Maths, A level, 1 term covering maternity leave.
Guildford Adult Education Institute, G.C.S.E. Maths, 3 years
Godalming Adult Education Institute, A level Maths, 1 year.
Godalming Sixth Form College, Godalming, Surrey, A level Maths, 1 term covering maternity leave.
Private one to one (or two) tuition mostly in Mathematics for pupils aged 6 to 18, and occasionally adults. All examination boards covered, including S.A.T.S., Common Entrance, and U.S. S.A.T.S. for university entrance. Twenty years full-time.

Tutoring Approach

I aim to banish any stress or anxiety my students might feel, that I am there to help them, that I am sympathetic and that I am extremely patient, taking great care to ensure that every student understands the topics covered even if this requires many different methods of explaining them, or even leaving them for an appropriate period of time before trying again.
After many years I still discover or invent new approaches designed for particular individuals, develop shortcuts and tips which they are unlikely to have encountered, many of which save time in exams, and which I am happy to pass on.
Years of experience have taught me that explaining the principles behind a method results in greater understanding, both immediate and long-term, and increased confidence not just in the subject under study but in others as well. I usually offer my students the choice and all, bar two adults, of my hundreds of students have asked for the principles to be explained, to their advantage.
I also have the advantage of having been an exam marker at G.C.S.E. and A level, a moderator, and a question setter at G.C.S.E. level.