Mike

After many years of teaching in schools I realise that schools are not always the best places for many students to learn. So I left school and have spent the last ten years working as a home tutor for families who want a personalized education for their children. I know not everyone can afford a full time private tutor but I think a little bit of extra tuition with a tutor who can focus in on a student's specific requirements is time well spent. So my approach is not always subject based but student based. Although my background is in sciences, I have taught more and more Mathematics, English Language and literature. I have written short stories and poetry for my diploma in Creative Writing from UEA as well as writing school books for a living, in technology and science subjects. I have private students who learn maths and science and others whom I help with English and literature.

Tutoring Experience

I am a qualified teacher and have taught in state and private schools for about 25 years. I have spent the last 12 years working almost exclusively as a private home tutor for families all over the world. I have worked for families in Bermuda, Jersey, Italy, Spain, the UK and Jordan (for the Royal family there). I spent a large part of lockdown in Switzerland teaching two boys with ADHD and specific learning differences. I have become a more generalist tutor covering the core subjects, Maths, Sciences, English and Study Skills. So now I specialize in getting high grades for students who want to do A levels or go to university or for under-performing students. I offer all the core subjects, sciences, maths and English (lanuauge and lit), which very few tutors can do. Until then I worked in an Ofsted 'Outsanding' grammar school teaching Science and technology as well as being a Head of house looking after student welfare. Before that I worked in a sixth form college as a biology and chemistry teacher. In 2012 I qualified to teach English as a foreign language and love to teach English Language and literature too. Since qualifying I have taught English for Academic Purposes at INTO at the University of East Anglia as well as doing private tuition.

Tutoring Approach

I don't teach all students in the same way. I use methods that suit the way you work. I work out the best methods for you and your particular learning style. Which ever methods I choose, it's the student who will be active. When a teacher is talking, the student isn't learning! I ask a lot of questions. A lot of the stuff you need to learn you will have already met in class or done it for homework; you just haven't yet stored into your long term memory. I will teach you by asking endless questions and prompting you to access the bits of your brain you have put all those facts and formulas and bullet points so you can pull them up when you need them in an exam. I use what you already know to build detail. I'll teach tricks to pick up easy marks in exams that many students don't know how to access. If organisation is a problem I can show you how to organize your time and how to study more effectively using study skill techniques. Many of my students get A* and many achieve higher than their school teachers' predictions. You will work hard in our lessons and the time will pass quickly because you will be engaged. You will get over your phobias for particular subjects and the mental blocks you have put in the way of learning. You will no longer be one of those people who "Doesn't do maths or doesn't do English". Hopefully you will develop more interest in the subjects and be encouraged by the improvements you make. With a bit of luck you will enjoy the lessons and like the subjects you are struggling with a bit more.