A Level
Maths online course

I have always had a passion for Maths and the Physical Sciences. As a child, I pestered my parents for books about the moon, and my grandfather indulged my interests by getting me a telescope and a microscope. To this day, I have maintained a love of both Astronomy and Microscopy – both at opposite ends of the scale of the universe but equally enthralling.

I completed my degree in Chemistry in 1993 and began my PhD in Luminescent Solid-state Materials the following year. Whilst studying for my PhD, I began giving Chemistry and Mathematics tutorials at university and discovered a lifelong love of teaching.

Following the completion of my PhD, I continued to work in academic research in Physical and Materials Chemistry until I changed career to work in the automotive, chemical and oil industries for several years before returning to teaching. I have worked as Head of Mathematics in an international Sixth Form College, and I have also taught Chemistry and Physics.

For me, teaching is the most rewarding calling in the world. To pass on my love of the Sciences is a real joy. I believe in helping students to understand fully the concepts they need to learn; understanding how something works, or what causes something to happen, makes learning so much more interesting and is more readily remembered.

I am a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and am a Chartered Chemist. I have given numerous presentations on both Chemistry and quality and have published many papers on materials Chemistry. I also write book reviews for Intuition which is the magazine of the Society for Education and Training.

In my spare time, I coach cycling, kayaking and canoeing and play the classical guitar.

I am a self-confessed geek, with a liking for puzzles and popular science. I ran a cypher and puzzle club at my last school and love quizzes, cryptic crosswords and a variety of Science fiction and detective stories.

I was born while my father was on sabbatical in London. My first passport was issued when I was only six weeks old so that he could return to his role as a professor of Comparative Religion in Toronto. When I was four years old, we moved to Oxford, where I have lived, on and off, ever since.

I was always fascinated by Maths and Physics; they became my favourite subjects at school, and so it seemed natural that I should eventually study both for my undergraduate degree. Still wanting to go deeper down the rabbit hole I switched to Applied Maths for my Masters degree.

Looking around for a job, I almost fell (as so many at the time did) into working as a computer consultant. After several years there, working on some large multinational projects, I realised that what I really wanted to do was teach. So I retrained as a Maths teacher – a decision that I have never regretted.

I taught at a large, local comprehensive school before moving into tutoring of small groups and individuals. This has given me a broad experience of students from many backgrounds with differing needs; from students re-sitting foundation GCSE to undergraduates needing to brush up on Maths skills, and almost everything in between. I have taught Secondary Level, IGCSE and A level Maths extensively but also I have drawn on my experience to Tutor GCSE A Level Physics and A Level IT.

Once my daughter was born, I worked part time until she started school at which point I moved to a full time teaching position in a girls’ private school. This proved to be a challenging role; but also cemented my view that teaching is most effective when it is providing the right tools for each individual to learn. I have had a particular rapport with those students who have special needs and have worked closely with their learning support teams to understand and motivate them.

I look forward to sharing my passion for Maths with you and helping you to reach your potential.

Originally from Romania, where I completed an MSc in Civil Engineering (railways, roads and bridges) and worked for a decade as a Senior Project Manager, I have now lived in the UK for 29 years. Here, I have continued developing my life-long love for learning, completing a part-time MA in School Development at Canterbury Christ Church and a part-time Doctorate in Education at Cambridge University (where I also supervise undergraduates). I am also a Chartered Mathematics teacher and am TEFL certified.

I have over 20 years experience as a qualified Mathematics teacher, having held middle leadership roles, with whole school responsibilities, and Head of Mathematics positions in two Secondary schools in Kent. Currently, I am a part-time Mathematics teacher at an international 6th Form college. I am also an experienced Mathematics examiner for various examining boards. My practical knowledge of applications of Mathematics in everyday life helps my students better understand connections between the topics studied and how this relates to modelling the world around them.

Outside the classroom, when I am not socialising, travelling, reading or walking, I enjoy attending concerts, musicals (my daughter is a professional violinist) and plays (supporting my husband’s amateur dramatic pursuits).

I look forward to joining you on your learning journey.

I have been passionate about Maths for as long as I can remember. Growing up it was always my favourite subject closely followed by Science. I love the satisfying feeling of solving a problem. As I progressed through school I realised that I wanted Maths to be a part of my future.

After my children were born I decided to put my enthusiasm for the subject to good use and become a teacher. I finished my Mathematics degree in 2014 and went straight on to gaining qualified teacher status the following year. I have taught in three Secondary schools since I qualified and have worked with students in years 7-13. I currently teach part-time in an independent school teaching A level Maths, Further Maths and IB Maths. I have spent many years tutoring students one on one. This has been a wonderful experience and I have loved building relationships with students and watching them succeed in their studies.

This year I have been studying from home myself to gain a certificate in Physics through the Open University. I plan to continue studying for pleasure for many years to come. Studying myself gives me a great understanding of the pressures that come with juggling learning and life. I think this enables me to be a compassionate and understanding teacher.

I have two children, and family time is very important to me. We love the great outdoors and keeping active. One of our favourite activities is bike riding. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and am a regular visitor to the local library.

I look forward to working with you and helping you build your Maths journey.

My favourite childhood game was “schools”; as soon as my little sister could walk and talk I converted our playroom into a classroom. I cannot imagine what this toddler made of her big sister’s “lessons”, but my decision many years later to become a teacher came as no surprise to my family.

At school I immersed myself in Mathematics. I would find myself constantly searching for patterns in numbers and shapes around me, and loved using a combination of Maths and Logic to solve problems. In fact I enjoyed the subject so much that I decided to pursue a degree in Mathematics at the University of Birmingham, which included studying equations to explain why tigers have stripes but leopards have spots!

I then completed a PGCE, and with these qualifications I started my career teaching Key Stage 3, GCSE and A Level Maths at a school in Birmingham. For the past twenty years I have worked as a private Maths Tutor, juggling my love of teaching Maths with the joy of bringing up three boys! I have enjoyed tutoring a wide range of ages and abilities, and I quickly develop a close rapport with my students as we work together to achieve their goals: nothing gives me greater pleasure than when all the hard work pays off.

Through my sons I have rediscovered the simple pleasures in life: hunting for ladybirds; feeding the ducks; running through a pile of leaves; dancing in the pouring rain; and rolling down a hill to name but a few. I have also developed a creative side, and love making special birthday cakes, from hedgehog to chess-set shaped. Only last week I had to create a marsupial costume for one of my sons, and spent hours turning a hat (shaped originally as a cat’s face) into a half convincing koala!

In my spare time I enjoy playing the piano. I love musicals and watch them as often as I can. This isn’t as frequently as it used to be, so I make up for it by singing around the house. Fortunately, as a distance learner, you won’t be able to hear me! I am really looking forward to sharing my enthusiasm for Maths and supporting you during this course.

After graduating in Engineering from university in Bratislava, I did not want to settle down. So I decided to go to Siena to study the Italian language and culture. I had a wonderful time, not only learning the language, but also about Art, History, Music and above all food! The course opened my eyes and gave me a taste of living abroad and the experience of different cultures. Returning from Italy, I had the opportunity to translate a contemplative book from Italian which has been my biggest achievement so far.

Teaching was not a career I had considered when finishing high school. But as the mother of three children, I became involved in school life and realised how much I enjoyed it!

I started tutoring about ten years ago, working with people of different ages and abilities. I also work as a maths teacher at a local Secondary school. The two roles give me a real sense of achievement and satisfaction and I have come to see how different “learning” is from “schooling”.

It’s through my work experience that I see the value of a good education in Maths. Maths is not just numbers. It is a way of thinking and problem solving. Although I spent a great deal of time searching for those exciting Maths questions and fascinating facts (by the way, do you know when we started using negative numbers?), I have many other interests. One of them is Art: I love drawing and I draw all my 3D shapes for the classroom. History is my other pursuit together with travelling, hiking and spending money on books!

I am not new to studying at home as I completed my GCSE English online! Having come to this country with no English I readily understand learners’ needs, struggles and aspirations. And I can assure you that studying at home does not equal being alone. The positive aspect is that you can decide when and what you want to study. I look forward to helping you on your Maths journey.

I have loved Maths since a wonderful teacher taught me, aged 7, how much fun it was; learning binary as a two-toed alien, making circles out of string and a drawing pin to discover what pi is! I love to pass on my enthusiasm, and believe that when students truly understand, it leads to confidence and enjoyment. Once they start to enjoy themselves, they will achieve at Maths.

I have worked as a specialist Maths Tutor for over ten years since retraining as a teacher after gaining a First Class Hons degree. I have taught in various types of school at all Secondary Levels but I enjoy individual work now. It is delightful when a student ‘sees’ the Maths and has a ‘lightbulb’ moment or says, ‘I really love algebra now’!

I also work as an examiner for IGCSE Additional Maths and will soon be examining A Level. So I have experience in what is needed to achieve good results.

I am a bit of an advert for distance learning; I enjoyed my Open University degree so much that I have recently completed a Masters in Astrophysics with distinction. This involved using a robotic telescope in La Palma, which led to discovering an unusual eclipsing binary star system. It was all so fascinating. I didn’t want the course to come to an end! So I can empathise with students organising their workload and staying motivated to achieve their goals. I enjoy using Maths to calculate things about our universe, sizes and distance of stars, galaxies or other cosmological items.

Along the way, I have written a visual Maths book explaining the formulas needed for GCSE and A Level Maths very simply using diagrams and minimal algebra, and I am working on a couple more aimed at making Maths understandable.

I have quite a few pastimes and can be found working in my cottage garden, going for long country walks, riding my Welsh horse ‘Ffagan’ with my son, playing the piano or looking up at the night sky with binoculars or telescope. I am thrilled to be a part of the homeschooling experience of Wolsey Hall Oxford.

Being fortunate to travel with my teaching qualifications, I have gained experience in both the pastoral and academic fields in Hong Kong, Prague and Dubai following my first teaching post in Sussex, UK. This has allowed me to gain a bounty of knowledge about a huge variety of nationalities, cultures and learning styles. I have led Mathematics Departments in Prague and in Dubai and held the post of Assistant Head, Academics before taking a career break to focus on my children, leaving expatriate life behind. This has given me the most wonderful opportunity to focus solely on the other side of the fence where I can enjoy the privileges of being a full-time mum supporting my children on their learning journey.

Of course, I especially love to see their progression in Mathematics particularly because both of my children have struggled to grasp this subject with the ease that I did. The blessing in this is that I have had first-hand experience with my own children of the frustrations that learning Maths can bring. And this has developed my ability to empathise and made me a better teacher/ Tutor.

I love being able to help students learn. I also love to make learning more interesting. But most importantly I love the moment when a learner completely gets it!

Attitude is everything and you must be prepared to step out of your comfort zone to grow. Recently, I decided to enter a Strictly Come Dancing competition to raise money for charity. It was a fabulous life-enhancing experience and I was petrified. But I did it and survived to tell the tale! I do love a challenge and have been known to throw myself out of aeroplanes for fun… although I am happier with both feet firmly on the ground when I am walking and hill climbing anywhere green! I am a musician too, piano being my main instrument and regularly play the church organ at my local church. I love period dramas but am quite taken with “Suits” at the moment although there’s nothing quite like a good book and a cuppa when I get the time.

Teaching is my vocation. I am compassionate, flexible and student-centred and I am very much looking forward to helping you do the very best that you possibly can.

Teaching is my passion. I have been teaching Maths for as long as I can remember, to anyone who will listen – as a child, one of my first projects was to teach my brother, who was four years old at the time, all of the square numbers! My love for Maths grew throughout my time at school, and I was lucky to have so many brilliant teachers who encouraged and challenged me along the way.

After completing my A levels, it was a natural progression for me to study Maths at The University of Warwick. Whilst at university, I spent some time teaching in South Africa, and it was at that point that I knew teaching was the career for me. I loved (and love to this day) the chance to make a difference, be creative, overcome challenges, get to know students, and watch their confidence and enjoyment in Maths grow.

Upon finishing my degree, I completed a PGCE and spent the next four years teaching in Secondary schools. During this time, I taught a wide variety of students aged 11-18. Alongside this, I was in charge of organising STEM activities for students, and I ran the Duke of Edinburgh programme. I was able to share my love of adventure and the outdoors with students whilst giving them the opportunity to learn so many life skills.

For the last six years, since having my two children, I have worked as a private Maths Tutor. This has given me the flexibility to be at home with my children whilst allowing me to continue teaching.

When I am not teaching, my children certainly keep me busy! We love being outdoors – walking, cycling, camping and spending as much time as we can on the beach.

I love Maths! I find it fascinating that such a wide variety of physical situations can be modelled using a small number of often very similar-looking equations – anything from the sounds made by a musical instrument to predicting the weather.

Maths didn’t always come easily, but things suddenly started clicking into place during my GCSE years. With the encouragement of some excellent teachers, I was very successful at A Level, went on to study Maths at university and gained a First Class degree.

On completing my degree, I went on to train to teach Maths, gaining a PGCE, and then taught for five years, some of that time as a second in department. I love teaching – having been lucky to have had excellent teachers at a critical time, I understand how vital these relationships are in fostering a love of a subject.

I then returned to university to study for my PhD as a mature student. The desire to learn new things is not something that has ever left me. I also taught (part-time!) at the university while studying.

Since then, I have become very heavily involved in examining A Level Maths and Further Maths and have tutored privately while bringing up my children. Tutoring privately is great as it allows me to build strong working relationships, creating an environment in which students feel sufficiently comfortable and confident to ask the questions they need to and let me know when there is something they don’t understand.

When I am not working, you will find me in my garden, out walking or playing my clarinet.

I am very much looking forward to working with you and supporting you in your learning.

I’ve always loved Science, ever since I received a video of “how it works” for Christmas as a child. Unfortunately, I only had the second volume in a set, so I spent years wondering how things work that didn’t begin with letters F-M! Happily for me, it’s now possible to get detailed explanations on any subject with a few clicks, so I can (and do!) indulge my curiosity on all topics, and am cultivating that same curiosity in my children.

Physics became a real passion for me at A level, where I was lucky to have a couple of excellent teachers who absolutely loved their subject. I can remember many conversations with them excitedly explaining that they didn’t know the answer to my questions because nobody knew yet- the science was still being done! At about the same time, I borrowed a telescope with a good enough lens to see the rings of Saturn, and remember how mind-blowing it was to realise how small we are in the universe.

This joy in Physics led me to study Engineering at Cambridge, and I then moved through a range of jobs, including a brief spell as a Police Constable, before coming to teaching international students at a Foundation College. There I taught Maths, Physics and Engineering. There is something enormously satisfying about helping a student grapple with a concept they find challenging, and seeing them get to an “aha!” moment. I try to emulate my A Level Physics teachers and let my enthusiasm for my subjects shine through to inspire my students.

I’ve also worked for eight years as an examiner and supervisor for Cambridge Assessment on an international AS Physics paper. This has proven useful in my tutoring, as I know the way examiners think and what sorts of things they are looking for.

When I’m not working, I spend time chasing around after my children and dog in the countryside near my house, or playing and creating games for the PC using the Unity engine. I’ve now been teaching for nine years and it’s still something that genuinely brings me joy every day. I’m looking forward to showing you how amazing Science and Maths is. Remember, Physics is Phun!