What levels do you tutor?
I tutor for KS3, KS4 (GCSE) and college students (GCSE). I tutor a range of abilities; one-third of my students are in top sets, on track for Grades 7, 8 and 9. Students come from comprehensive, grammar and private schools.
(Please note that I do not tutor for 'Maths Challenge/Olympiad', as I do not believe students should be tutored for what is intended to be a fun maths competition.)
I take primary students very occasionally, but only if they are working at secondary level.
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Do I have to commit to a certain amount of lessons?
No. Although most of my students stay with me for the long term, there is no commitment beyond a week’s notice either side. There are no upfront fees, just a weekly payment.
How can I pay?
I accept payment by cash or bank transfer - payment to be made by the start of each session.
Can I pay in advance?
I do not accept payment in advance, even if parents want to give me thousands, as although I’m sure I’m worth it, it’s too complicated keeping track with sickness and holiday absences.
What happens if my child can’t make a session?
I request seven days’ notice of absence. Lessons cancelled within 24 hrs(unless for severe sickness or bereavement) will be charged at full rate.
Do you set homework?
Homework is an integral part of my tuition and completion is part of my Terms and Conditions. It will normally take 20-30 minutes. It is essential practice, tells me whether or not the content of the lesson has been assimilated, and is a demonstration of commitment, self-discipline and organisation. Homework must be given in at the start of the lesson (we review it together). If there have been any difficulties, I will still need to see that the student has tried hard. All workings must be brought, regardless of restarts, crossings-out etc.
Whose responsibility is it to ensure homework is completed and brought to the lesson?
Yours. Because, unlike school, I can’t give children detentions for not bringing their homework, so please do whatever’s necessary to ensure that homework is completed properly and not left until the last minute. Students who do not complete homework, or do it scrappily at the last minute, will lose their places.
Do you tutor in school holidays?
I do not usually tutor in school holidays, but sometimes make exceptions for Year 11s with exams coming up.
Can you guarantee better results?
I make no promises as to grades in tests. There are many factors outside private tuition that influence a student's success. The most important is:
How hard they are working at school (which is where they will be doing most of their maths).
If you have been told your child is not working hard at school, or you suspect that they are not, it would be best not to spend your money on tuition until you have addressed that issue and received favourable reports from the teacher as to improved effort/attitude. As, although 50 minutes' tuition will improve the maths of all students, significant progress will not be achieved if they are doing one centimetre of work a day at school and/or clowning about in lessons.
Natural ability is a factor. All students can do better with tutoring, but there are differences in ability…with maths it’s a combination of ‘nature and nurture’. AND, near to exam times, these factors:
1 Whether they are attending all school revision sessions (in and out of school time).
2 Whether they are doing additional revision of their own prior to exams.
3 Attitude/confidence.
4 Performance on the day of the exam.
I have often improved attitude and confidence (via my teaching, and knowledge of psychology), which has led to dramatic improvement in grades, and help via the practice paper questions with exam technique and other factors (eg care, reading the question!)
In general, it is fair to say that students who are with me for a year or more, who are working hard at school and with me, should achieve one to two grades higher than they would have without my tuition (this is based on years of GCSE results, looking at mocks/'working at' levels/grades supplied at start of tuition).
And of course the earlier they start, the bigger the improvement. (If you are putting your child on the waiting list, and you have a younger sibling, do please consider putting their name on my list as well.
The only thing I am prepared to promise you is that your child will be better at maths with my tuition, and do better in their exams than they would have done without it. I constantly find things that my students haven’t sufficiently understood in a large group at school, and are able to after explanation, and, most importantly, practice, with me.
Do you have availability?
I am often fully booked. However, if I am fully booked when you enquire, it’s usually worth putting your child’s name down on my waiting list. I will give you a realistic estimate of when a slot might become available. I may also be able to give you details of another tutor who can help.
Will I receive weekly feedback?
No. I spend time preparing all my lessons, and if I had to spend further time giving a report after each lesson I’d have to charge you more! Also, it’s not necessary. One of the advantages of tutoring teenagers is that they can usually tell you what they’ve been doing. And, progress should start to become apparent, gradually, over the months, via increased confidence at school and higher test scores relative to their set average. Many of my students move up maths sets. So, maths progress is easy to quantify, easy to see. If occasionally you’d like a report on what we’ve covered in a lesson I’d be happy to oblige, as I do keep detailed records. And if you’d simply like to know how you feel your child is doing, just drop me an e-mail and I’ll reply promptly. And, if there are ever ‘issues’, parents of students who have been with me for a while will tell you that I always react quickly and spend whatever time is necessary on the case!