Laurence

Please Note: As of October 2024 (until further notice) my only available slot is now Wednesdays 7:30-8:30pm

Hello! My original degree (2004) was in maths from St. Andrews University and more recently I obtained a PGCE in secondary mathematics education. I don't currently work as a teacher, I am a performance analyst so I do get to use some maths and statistics, which is good for me as I love maths, have done since I was the student. That is what I hope to share with students I tutor; that maths is nothing to fear. I think some students talk themselves into a fear of maths which can become a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you tell yourself often enough that you can't do something then you will eventually believe it! But I don't think there is anything in GCSE maths that any student can't do if they think about the topic calmly and have it explained in a way they understand. So that is what we shall do!
About me personally, I am 41, married with 2 children and when time allows I enjoy reading, Halo, Star Trek, playing chess and trying to keep in shape! St. Andrews University was a fantastic place to study and I love to go back there when I can or elsewhere in Scotland for some hillwalking in the Highlands.

DBS check is available on request.

Tutoring Experience

I started my PGCE in 2016 and in 2016 into 2017 I taught as part of my PGCE year at schools in Biggleswade (lower and upper schools, teaching KS3, GCSE and A-level). After completing my PGCE I then taught maths (GCSE and A-level) at an international school in Cambridge. In 2018 however, I decided that being a full time teacher was not for me, and left teaching for my current role. I have been tutoring maths since January 2022 and enjoy being able to continue sharing my love of maths with students.

PRICING NOTE: I am keeping my rates at £30/hour (all ages) but this is for walkable distance students in Biggleswade - I can usually get to non-Biggleswade students (up to a distance of around 6 miles) but I ask for £35/hour in such situations to allow for the additional time and expense involved in using our car. Thank you

Tutoring Approach

I enjoy maths, I like problem solving - every maths problem is like a puzzle or game, that's how I think of it. We're learning skills to complete games and to understand the universe better - in that sense mathematics is a language, a problem solving language. So my approach will be to facilitate the development of this sort of toolbox for solving problems and for the student to feel confident with maths, rather than afraid of it. We can start from anywhere the student wants to, though it usually makes sense for us to follow what they have recently been covering in school and make sure they are comfortable with all topics as they go, or to revisit particular problem areas they have. Long-term we can bring it all together for some exam preparation if required.