Colin

I'm recently retired from full time teaching and am therefore available for on line lessons, home schooling as well as after hours. I have always enjoyed working with Tutees to help them succeed. I am married of 51 years to Carey. We have a daughter and a son who have given us five wonderful grandsons, three Australian and two English., and a new beautiful English granddaughter,

I enjoy travel, reading, fishing, playing drums and helping people of all ages get the most out of life through encouragement and coaching. My philosophy is 'problems are merely challenges that lead to opportunities'.
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Before teaching I worked for a major Chemical corporation in Research and Development and later went onto develop businesses before going to Australia to study Theology. On return to the UK in 2004 I decided to go into teaching to help young people achieve and develop. My one and only permanent teaching position was with Trinity Academy where I worked for 9 years including managing A Level Chemistry with good success.

Tutoring Experience

KS4 GCSE ALL SCIENCES, across all examining boards.

AS and A level Chemistry. With three years experience as Head of A level Chemistry at Trinity Academy before retiring.
For the last eight years have always had private students who have all achieved the desired result and better.

Tutoring Approach

I work in an open and friendly manner where firstly I like to discuss with the student and parents to find out exactly what the need is, which curriculum they are following and where they are in the syllabus. In particular we identify specific areas where the student needs help with either topics and / or techniques. We then move on into a teaching and learning session. Homework is set if parents require.

From thereon each session begins with a 5 minute test and recap on the previous session; Further support is then provided as appropriate, before moving onto the session topic. We have been known to support with practical on occasion which is a large contributory factor to a good GCSE grade.

Sometimes students may have a homework from school that they need help with so we may spend a few minutes thinking about the problem and prompting their solutions.

I use a variety of techniques - show and try, videos to exemplify, appropriate web sites, text books, and exam style questions and in the run up to exams, past papers. My students are kept fully active throughout the session to ensure learning is taking place, with frequent checking for progress so that learning objectives are met.

As the weeks progress I give an honest appraisal of the student attainment (to both student and parents) and advice on how parents can help and encourage, if needed.

In short we are looking for progress through widening knowledge and moreover understanding so that students can think their way through problems drawing on their knowledge, thus gaining confidence when exams come round to achieve a high level of 'personal best'.