IGCSE™ Co-ordinated Science online course

I aspire to teach Computing to children because of my passion for the subject, it’s creative nature and the potential for new developments for future generations. I am mostly guided by my own experience with over two decades of professional work history.

As the focus of British education has been shifting towards STEM-based subjects, I have been researching an aspect of Computing that is fast becoming prevalent in our everyday lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has uses in various industries from gaming, journalism/media to finance and state-of-the-art research fields such as robotics, medical diagnosis, and Quantum science. This research has allowed me to better understand core languages like R and Python, which are instrumental for school children to build their knowledge of basic programming, hence greatly benefitting my students.

In my penultimate position as a Computing Lead, I created a Coding Club explicitly aimed at bridging students’ skill gaps in AS/ A Levels and GCSE for their projects in Visual Basic and Python in accordance with the national curriculum. I intend to continue bridging this skill gap by drawing on my determination and experience responsibly and earnestly, making Computer Science an enjoyable and interesting subject for my students.

Computer Science is central to my work and also happens to be my hobby – I am a full member of the British Computer Society and contribute and attend the AI focus chapter in my free time. I am also a keen follower of the Quantum Computing Space and keep up with current developments, specifically IBM’s QISKIT, among other Python-based Quantum programming tools.

After some time working in the IT industry, including a spell practically being the IT department for a small business, I discovered a love of – and I like to think a knack for – guiding and supporting the learning of others, initially through training and then through teaching.

I have been combining IT and teaching professionally for over seven years now as a college Tutor. I have more recently also moved into private tuition, and find this very rewarding – being able to devote more time to each student only serves to increase yet further the feeling of satisfaction in seeing them succeed, and the determination to help them do so.

My first exposure to computers was through the classic 1980s console, the Commodore 64. I played games on it, (I was a teenager once!), but I  also loved to use it for tinkering with Basic programming – Basic by name and, usually, basic by nature. The sense of achievement in getting a program to work was worth all the effort of hunting for the reason it hadn’t been working before (usually a missing semi-colon somewhere).

Then, at some point in the 90s, I discovered the joys of the PC. What began as a hobby soon became the basis of university study, taking the  plunge as a 30-ish mature student and eventually a career.

Away from teaching and computers, I am a music buff, though this is sadly confined to appreciating the efforts of others rather than creating my own. Some fairly painful attempts at the piano when I was about 12 years old were enough to show that musical stardom was, regrettably, not for me. When time permits, I also love to travel (whether abroad or just within the UK), discover new places and meet new people.

I am a firm believer that successful learning depends on four main factors – commitment, willingness, determination, and self-belief. Often learners have plenty of the first three, but may lack a little of the latter. On this course, as well as being there to support and guide you, I will always encourage you to have confidence in your ability. Believe that you CAN succeed, and it becomes much more likely that you WILL.

I am a fully qualified teacher with over 30 years’ experience of teaching Lower Secondary and GCSE Science. I’m eager to share this experience with you. I have worked in Secondary schools, both in the UK and also in Madrid, and I’m presently Head of Science in a Secondary school in Somerset.

I have taught Physics, Chemistry and Biology and I have a comprehensive knowledge of the current Science curricula and syllabi. I am still passionate about Science education and how it is key to an understanding of the world around us. I have always strived to make Science engaging for my students, so they can be inspired by the amazing world we live in!

Science is a process of discovery that allows us to develop new technologies to improve lives and deal with all sorts of problems. Science is continually refining and expanding our knowledge of the universe, and as it does, it leads to new questions for future investigation.

I have a keen interest in sport, particularly cricket and rugby. I still play cricket for my local club and am a supporter of the Gloucester rugby team. I also love to get out and about walking our two dogs.

Science will never be “finished.” This is what has sustained my love for Science, and why I hope to continue to inspire scientists of the future.

I am a qualified secondary teacher of Computer Science, Business Studies and Economics, with around 20 years of teaching experience. Prior to teaching, in 1998, I graduated from Oxford Brookes University and then worked in the IT industry in London for five years, initially for a fine art auction house and later in the IT European Projects team at a recruitment company.

In 2003 I progressed to teacher training and moved from London to Exeter. I graduated with a PGCE as a specialist ICT teacher and embarked on my teaching career at a comprehensive school on the South Coast of England in Dorset. More recently, I received a Secondary computer science teaching certification from the British Computing society. I taught ICT and Business studies and gained Qualified Teacher Status(QTS) in 2004. Since then, my family and I have lived in the UK, USA, Ascension Island, Sweden and Romania. I have experience of working in many school settings both in the UK and abroad; these include a high-performance comprehensive, an independent boarding school, and various international schools.

I have experience teaching Computer science from primary school to upper secondary, Economics and Business Studies in various school settings, and have promoted creative enterprise in schools through various initiatives. Along with diverse teaching and tutoring experience, I am also an assessment specialist with Cambridge international examinations.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing and listening to classical and contemporary music, reading and studying, rowing and boats.

My diverse experience has helped me to become a versatile educator, aiming to bring out the best in my students. I strive to approach tutoring with patience and kindness and firmly believe in the opportunities Wolsey Hall blended learning and home-schooling offers students worldwide. Children from various backgrounds and situations can receive a high-quality education here, and I look forward to helping Wolsey Hall students to fulfil their potential.

Hello there. My name is Denise Symons. I would like to take a couple of minutes to introduce myself and share my qualifications, teaching experience and teaching philosophy.

I have a Physics degree from the University of York, and my PGCE (Secondary Science 11-18) was gained from the University of Kingston upon Thames in London. Since qualifying as a teacher over 25 years ago, I have taught in various schools, ranging from a single-sex grammar school to large mixed comprehensives in the UK state school system. More recently, I have been working in a mixed independent boarding school and tutoring small groups and individuals online.

I have always been fascinated by the teaching and learning process, so what makes teachers teach better and students learn better. I became a Leader of Teaching and Learning in one of my previous schools, and part of my role was to help and mentor other teachers to help them and their students make improved progress.

As well as striving for all students to achieve the best that they can, I also am very aware that having the right environment, building confidence, and asking the right questions are also vital to maximising student attainment and enjoyment of a subject.

I have helped many students make excellent progress, whether they find Physics and Chemistry tricky or love them, and strive to excel.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy playing golf, walking, cycling, going to the gym, and travelling when the opportunities arise.

I look forward to sharing my passion for the sciences and my love of learning with you.

I am a fully qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching Biology, Chemistry and Physics as both a classroom teacher and Head of Science. I have taught in various educational settings, including large secondaries, the private sector, middle school, hospital education, pupil referral units, home tuition and online.

I have taught Lower Secondary and IGCSE Science and Biology at A Level and collaborated to develop and deliver the Science curriculum in a range of schools. I am familiar with many different types of Science curricula and qualifications and have helped many students access Science and complete their exams through alternative routes.

Science is a fascinating subject helping us question everything and understand the world around us. Science can be enjoyed within any environment, whether out and about, in a lab or at home.

I am a caring and empathetic person with a passionate and creative approach to teaching. I adore animals and have five horses at home in the Cotswolds. When I’m not teaching, I love nothing more than getting out and exploring the beautiful countryside with them.

I look forward to sharing my love of Science and learning with you.

I’ve always wondered how things work, from rocket ships to the human body. Why do we sneeze? Is there life on Mars? What causes disease? Science aims to provide the answers; it is the subject of discovery. I love it and I’m sure you will too.

I grew up in Wales surrounded by stunning scenery and beautiful beaches. My love of my surroundings and my desire to explore, understand and conserve them led me to do a degree in Marine Biology at Swansea University. There I spent my time studying the animals and plants (flora and fauna) of the sea and beaches.

I then worked as a Coastal Ranger and Heathland Warden on Gower, the first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK. There I had the privilege of sharing my passion for nature with school groups, youth associations and ramblers as well as carrying out biodiversity studies.

With a Marine Biology degree and conservation experience under my belt I was able to spend a year volunteering with Marine Conservation Organisations on Maui, Hawaii. This was an experience of a lifetime, where I was able to educate the public about humpback whales, dolphins, turtles, reef fish, and the environmental issues that they face.

These educational roles made me realise that my passion was not just Biology itself, but the desire to teach it. I completed a Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Swansea University, and then went on to teach Science, specialising in Biology, at Dwr-y-felin Comprehensive School in Neath. I taught there for seven years and thrived on watching my pupils blossom and succeed.

Following a move to Oxford in 2011, so that my husband could carry out further study, I became a Tutor with Wolsey Hall. Oxford is a wonderful, historical city that I enjoyed exploring. I now live in Dartmouth surrounded by stunning countryside and beautiful beaches where I can surf, paddle board and walk my dogs, Breeze and Beau.

I have three children who love nothing more than asking ‘Why?’ and I get great pleasure from helping them find the answers. As your Tutor I’m here to support you and answer your questions. Learning may not always be easy but it should always be enjoyable. Remember there’s no question too small, so please don’t hesitate to contact me when you need help.

My passion for computing began when I received my first computer (Sinclair ZX81) and was transfixed with creating coding solutions to problems. I continued my passion through my education and graduated from Kingston University with BSc (Hons) in Computer Science.

Prior to teaching, I worked in the IT industry. During this time, in addition to working in the “real” IT world, I gained significant experience in a variety of IT specialist skills, including Programming, Systems Analysis and Design and Databases. Using this experience, I have been able to make lessons more realistic by illustrating with real life examples.

I currently work as Subject Lead for Computer Science & IT for a school in the South East of England. I have shared my passion for Computer Science with my students for the past 16 years. I believe they build the future, and the skills they develop studying Computer Science & IT provide a good foundation in all occupations.

In addition to teaching in school, I contract for several exam boards as an examiner and moderator for BTEC, GCSE and A Level. These roles support my teaching as they provide me with a good insight into how to achieve higher grades in exam papers and programming projects.

In my spare time, I run the school ski club, Geek Club, and I am a verifier for the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. I enjoy spending time with my family and our dogs.

I am very excited to be part of the Wolsey Hall Oxford Team; a positive learning experience is the foundation of a happy, successful life, and I am extremely privileged to be able to help guide their journey. I pride myself on giving my full care, attention and enthusiasm to my students.

I gained my degree with joint honours in Computer Networking and Business IT, and started my career as a Data Analyst. I then moved into an Information Technology Analyst role for a few years. In 2010 I travelled to Kenya, where I spent five years working with an entrepreneur and created a successful business. It was in Kenya, where I helped young people with computer skills that I realised my love for teaching. I returned to England, enrolled myself into a teaching programme with Warwick University and graduated with a PGCE.

As a Computer Science teacher for five years, I have trained a variety of students to achieve academic excellence and confidence in their computer and programming skills. I teach many programming languages, including Python, VB.net and Javascript. The current subject content within computing is challenging and interesting, and when taught well gives students problem solving skills that can be applied to any field of academic study.

As a part of my role as a Computer Science teacher, I also train and support other teachers in the subject. To help develop the programme, I have created and shared many resources online. I focus on the curriculum, developing ways of helping my students to flourish, and many of my lessons draw on my previous industrial experience. Having this experience allows me to relate to ‘market’ requirements and enables me to design relevant lessons. My lessons are planned to ensure that I deploy a range of teaching strategies and include a variety of activities. I provide my students with constructive feedback so they can improve and aim high.

In my spare time, I run an after-school hockey club, a cyber-discovery club (students learn cyber programming techniques), and I assist in the duke of Edinburgh award scheme. I enjoy hiking, cycling and travelling.

I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with my students.

I have always been curious about the living world and observing its wonders. I can vividly remember being six years old and sneaking downstairs every Saturday morning at 6am to watch the latest instalment of National Geographic. Over time this grew into a passion for Sciences. For me, they were the only disciplines that could offer explanations for the world around us. I continue to be fascinated by their complexities.

I am an experienced teacher of 15 years. I have a BSc in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology and a Post Graduate certificate in Educational Management. I currently teach Biology and Psychology through to A level and IGCSE Chemistry in the independent sector.

I have very much enjoyed teaching the IGCSE course for the last four years, which is a fantastic preparation for further study of the Sciences. I also work as a principal examiner for CIE and examine Psychology A Level for AQA.

I grew up in New York State in a very rural community. In my third year of University, I had the opportunity to study abroad in the UK. I absolutely loved my time in England! After completing my degree, I relocated here. Fifteen years later, I am still loving it. I have taught in a variety of schools, from state comprehensives to grammar schools in Salisbury to a highly academic independent school in Ascot. My young family and I relocated more recently to the beautiful Norfolk countryside.

I would like to wish you all the best as you embark on your course. I hope you find the material stimulating and the challenges ahead rewarding. If you have any queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I promise to never judge and always be friendly and supportive. There is no greater enjoyment in my job than the sharing that ‘lightbulb’ moment with a pupil and a poorly understood topic makes perfect sense.

I was once told by an esteemed colleague; ‘A true teacher has three loves; love of learning, love of learners and the love of introducing the first two loves together’. I hope that I can help you find your love of understanding the fascinating complexities of the science of life. I look forward to helping you to achieve many successes along the way in your studies.

Growing up I had a keen interest in Computing; always excited by the opportunities new technology would bring. I gained a vocational qualification in computing and went on to study Creative Computer Games Design at university. During my studies, I volunteered in Secondary schools and worked on summer schemes with young adults, and this is where I found my second great passion for education.

I completed my degree, and due to my enthusiasm to teach, I promptly moved on to a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Since qualifying, I have taught for ten years, covering a range of levels from GCSE to Higher National Diploma. As well as teaching, I work with a number of awarding bodies, as an examiner and as a team leader for standards verification. I have also written for published textbooks for Pearson qualifications.

My passion for multimedia and gaming is still with me. My core subjects taught include web development, 3D computer modelling and games development, as well as the more technical subjects including computer programming and web server side scripting. I recently worked with both the Royal Society of the Arts and the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching on a project to see if gaming can help improve literacy and numeracy skills in teens. I have also recently returned to education myself and am about to complete my MSc in Computer Science.

When not teaching, or gaming, I enjoy reading. I am also a keen cyclist, having recently ridden from London to Paris in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

I look forward to sharing my passion for Computing with you.

Do you have questions about the ‘Why’? Science can often help us find the answers and if it doesn’t give us a complete answer, it may show us the path to the solution! I feel that the more we know, the more questions we have so this is one of the reasons that I love Science, and I am sure you will too!

I am passionate about learning and the journey students make to achieve their goals. Science is a fascinating, thought-provoking subject that can be enjoyed in any environment. Unlocking the content in a way that it can be recalled is a passion of mine. I believe in a learning journey that suits individual needs, not just rote learning.

I have been teaching Science (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) for over 20 years and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure you progress. I started teaching for Newcastle Football Club as part of their Maths and Science outreach project. Since then, I have been a successful science teacher, Head of Department and an Assistant Headteacher in charge of teaching and learning. I understand what underpins successful learning and how to make it personal to each student I teach. I have had the best results for my department in secondary school, tutored online during the pandemic, am an examiner for GCSE Science, and am currently tutoring A Level Biology.

Outside of teaching, I am a mum of two teenage children, two dogs and a cat! I am a caring and thoughtful person who puts everybody else first. If those around me are successful, so am I. I love being outdoors, on dog walks, exploring mountains, coasts, and woodland. And if the weather is not playing kind, I keep myself busy with DIY projects.

I look forward to sharing the learning journey with you.

Having over 15 years of experience teaching Computing/Computer Science, I have a good understanding of what makes for exam success, largely supported by my exam board role. I enjoy overcoming programming obstacles while curious about new languages (such as Swift), which complements my teaching of Python, VB.NET and C# (while not forgetting scripting languages HTML/CSS/JS).

Since qualifying as a teacher, I have acquired further teaching-related certifications, such as the Google IT Support Specialisation qualifications and NCCE specialisms. This has also led to an interest in localising how networking and IoT can be used in the household. I also value my continuing academic journey. My latest MBA certification is my proudest achievement, with a thoughtful research project assessing how SME capacity challenges can overcome digital marketing strategic shortfalls.

As much as I love teaching and learning, I value a good work-life balance. Family is my biggest gift, and we always welcome any opportunity to go skiing or snowboarding. We love viewing the countryside’s surroundings from the top of hills or mountains while giving our four-legged friends. Fitness is important to me, and I enjoy the odd spin class or forestry pursuit!

I look forward to supporting Wolsey Hall Oxford students and helping them to fulfil their potential.

Science is awesome! I grew up on the coast of Kenya, and was introduced to science early. My father was doing his PhD in Tuna Fish Migration – he’s a big game fisherman, which meant I got to spend my formative years elbow deep in shark guts. One of my favourite birthday presents was a little microscope, so I could look at onion skins, spider webs and dust while my dad sat next to me mounting slices of tuna liver on slides. After he came home from fishing, my job from around age five was also to help clean the engines, or help make lures using an ancient lathe.

As a teenager I loved school, and had excellent teachers for most of my subjects, but I particularly respected my Science teachers. My class nearly revolted when our beloved chemistry teacher left just before our final year! I studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology at A level, and my favourite topics were Genetics, Inorganic Chemistry and Astrophysics. I was also incredibly lucky to get a holiday job with a snorkelling tour company, spotting dolphins so regularly that I was able to recognise most of them by the shape of their fins. I used to spend my free time writing notes on their behaviour and movements. It was from this point on that my path was set in stone.

My mum is a teacher, and I spent most of my high school post-exam periods sitting with her class of ten year olds and helping them with their studies, and realised very early on that I wanted to be involved in education as well. I went on to study Biology at the University of York. For the first time I was completely surrounded by people just as passionate about the subject as I was! I was able to get involved in projects that got me into a classroom as well, such as tutoring and mentoring.

After my degree I went straight into an Oxford Brookes University graduate teacher programme, teaching in Banbury. Classroom teaching was an amazing experience, full of superlative ups and downs. One of my favourite memories is of a 12 year old boy who came up to me every lesson with a diagram of a new idea for a perpetual motion machine. Every day I’d praise the things he’d got right and explain why this particular one could never work – we got into some really complex physics, which makes me wonder if I’ll one day see his name in New Scientist, having finally got his machine to work.

I left the classroom in 2010 to have a family, but couldn’t bring myself to stop teaching. I’ve been tutoring constantly since then, and look forward to every lesson. I love the fact that the courses are evolving too, especially the introduction of more quantum physics in the A Levels – I’m excited to be going on a course on quantum and particle physics in November! So please, if you have any questions or need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me.

I started my career in industry, working for a company that built bespoke computers for clients as it was cheaper to build computers than buy them at that particular stage in time. I was interested in education and therefore decided to apply for a Graduate Training Programme. Since then, I have been teaching for over 13 years and have seen the subject of ICT/Computing evolve.

I taught in my first training school for ten years and became Second in Department after a successful appointment. I thoroughly enjoyed the transition and was passionate about progressing my understanding/knowledge of the journey from within education. After a year in post, I had the opportunity to move abroad and teach in Dubai. This was a wonderful experience, and as I had my 3-year-old daughter with me, she was also able to experience education abroad in the scorching sun. I taught KS4 & 5 Computing at a GEMS foundation school that ran the British Curriculum. A year later, I returned to the UK and re-integrated into the UK education system.

I am currently working as Curriculum Lead for Technology and IT within a school in the North of England and love what I do, with the varying number of subjects I manage. I teach KS3 Computing & Technology, KS4 Computer Science, and have also taught KS4 Business Studies. I really enjoy learning about the diverse cultures our various students are from, many from the local area and others from the rest of the world. Managing a variety of subjects gives me the chance to be in touch with my creative flair as well as my main focus of Computing.

My spare time is usually spent with my daughter, who is now eight years old and is highly creative, just like her mum. We enjoy various activities, such as painting, drawing, string art, and stitching/sewing. We love to hike and enjoy the views, which developed a passion for photography and capturing the scenes and moments and learning to use a DSLR Camera I purchased. I love to read all sorts of books; however, my favourite would be anything Sci-fi, fantasy or magic related.

I am looking forward to meeting new students and parents from different parts of the world and exploring the IT infrastructure that we live in.

Physics laboratory experience of first-year students. I did this through re-writing the lab manual for all the experiments. I believe the way to learn is to get involved, get hands-on, see the effects of Science, as Science is everywhere, all of the time!

After completing my degree, I taught in Australia for 18 months before moving to the UK in 2002. During my 18 years of high school teaching, I have taught Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology to GCSE Level, and Chemistry and Physics to A Level. I am passionate about Science education and always strive to make it engaging for all students so that they can be inspired by it too! I love working with individuals to focus on their strengths and identify where the areas of growth and development lie.

I have many interests apart from Science teaching. I am a keen runner, having completed the London Marathon twice for charity. I also have two children, so we love getting out and about; exploring our local woods or playing on the beach.

I have always enjoyed Science and finding out how something works. I knew throughout my school years that I wanted to have a career in Science, and after working in industry, I have successfully taught Science for many years. I have a wealth of teaching and tutoring experience across all three sciences but particularly in Chemistry. As a teacher, my results have consistently exceeded national averages for the top grades. Currently, my main focus is online tutoring and homeschooling – which I enjoy very much and find highly rewarding.

I am an enthusiastic teacher and believe that all students can obtain their academic goals with practice, clear communication, and timely help. I enjoy teaching students about the wonders of Science and understanding the key concepts that underpin how or why something happens. I seek to ensure students develop their own confident understanding of Science and become independent learners.

I obtained my Science degree from London University and my PGCE teaching qualification from the Open University, which I took part-time whilst working. I experienced first hand the challenges and rewards of combining home study and receiving guidance from my tutors via email and the early internet.

I am married with two grown-up sons. When I’m not teaching or tutoring, I am a keen yachtsman, competing in international races, including the Fastnet race. I play the bass guitar, and when time allows, I can be found repairing my 300-year-old thatched cottage.

I look forward to working with you on your chosen Wolsey Hall Oxford course and sharing my enthusiasm for Science and learning.

I am a qualified and experienced Computer Science teacher, having taught in South London and Oxfordshire as Head of a Successful Computer Science department. I have also led Computer Science for a trust of 50 schools at Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 (Secondary Level) as well as leading outreach work with Primary students.

Outside of teaching, I have collaborated on some of the most popular GCSE and A level computing textbooks. I have also consulted and delivered training for AQA, Hodder, Dubai College, the British Computer Society, Philip Allan, ZigZag, to name but a few.

I am also conducting research into the use of Virtual Reality with the Open University. Amongst other projects, I have presented at several conferences and was recently contracted to write a book on VR in Education for Routledge.

I am passionate about Computer Science, and I love sharing that passion with learners. I believe the skills we develop studying Computer Science, problem solving and decomposition, can help us in all subjects and all walks of life. I have supported students to progress to some of the top universities and computing related courses, and on to computing related careers. Their success has been a fantastic reward.

Outside of education, I still enjoy problem solving and programming for enjoyment. I cycle regularly and hike in the Lake District. I enjoy reading, with a particular penchant for Terry Pratchett and Tom Sharpe. I enjoy the occasional play on Elite Dangerous (in VR, obviously) and spending time with my young family.

I have over ten years of experience teaching Computing, Computer Science and Information Technology in high schools in my native South Africa. I was also the foundation teacher at two different schools, meaning that I started the department in those schools. I have also been a driver of digital transformation in schools, being the first to be a Google Certified Educator and assisting the staff in gaining their certifications.

As well as teaching in schools, I have consulted for Pearson Education, creating a training manual for them and running a course as a Master Trainer in a Train-The-Trainer workshop. I have also worked in industry as a Systems Engineer.

The most exciting thing about computers is the way they allow you to combine logical thinking with creativity to solve problems. This is particularly true when creating computer games, which I enjoy as a hobby.

These days coding is the new literacy, and everyone deserves to be fluent. Not everyone understands everything quickly or even on the first try but I have helped many students to understand, practise and improve their results, and I will help you too.

My wife and I recently came to live in the UK where she has a position with the NHS. When I am not helping students or creating computer games, I enjoy cycling and spending time with the family.

I have always been fascinated about the world, discovering new locations and learning about the constantly changing human interactions with the natural environment. Throughout my school career, Geography was my favourite subject, and it was an easy decision to go on and study it at university.

I gained my BSc in Geography in 2003 and completed my PGCE the following year, both from the University of Exeter. While at university, I embraced the wonderful natural environment of Devon, by canoe, walking on Dartmoor and surfing on the beaches. Following my PGCE, I started my teaching career in Gloucestershire, where I taught for six years. The opportunity to inspire others about Geography and lead field trips to a variety of locations was extremely rewarding. Iceland was a favourite of mine and is on my list of places to revisit.

Following a career break to bring up my two young children, I worked as a Learning Support teacher In Devon. This gave me invaluable experience of working with small groups and one-to-one, providing specific programmes for individual’s needs. More recently, I have moved to rural Suffolk and have been working as a part-time Geography teacher. Throughout this time, I have been a GCSE examiner.

While I am not working, I still enjoy being outdoors and exploring different places with my family. We have a camper-van and love the freedom this brings.

I look forward to being able to share my passion for Geography and supporting you through your course. It is a real privilege to be able to help, and as your Tutor, I will be readily available to answer your questions.

I have always been fascinated by the power of Science and how it affects every aspect of our lives. This led to me pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering at Imperial College in London and a career as a Project Engineer in the petrochemical industry.

Following this, I was inspired by my love of craft and books and a desire to make a positive difference, to study fine bookbinding and book conservation. I worked for a while as a paper and book conservator in London – it was fascinating!

Eventually, I discovered my passion for teaching and completed my PGCE. I have taught KS3 and GCSE Sciences in a range of Secondary schools for the past 15 years, and I am also an examiner. I have always been keen to encourage students’ enthusiasm, using practical activities and working outside whenever possible.

I believe in the importance of everyone becoming Science literate regardless of whether they want to pursue a STEM career or not. Science affects us all, and we need sound understanding to make sense of the world and help us make important decisions in our lives.

I live in Chester, and in my spare time, I love cooking, dabbling in art, craft and dressmaking, and walking in and around my beautiful city.

I am really looking forward to working with you – remember, never be afraid to ask questions and that we are all different. If one strategy doesn’t seem to work, ask for help… there is always a way!

Welcome to Wolsey Hall Oxford! I look forward to helping you in your chosen Science.

I am passionate about science and education and believe with practice, guidance and effective communication that all students can achieve their academic goals.

I have taught Science for over seventeen years and have a wealth of experience in both teaching and tutoring across the three Sciences. I have taught Science at several schools in the UK and New Zealand, most recently at Christchurch Boys’ High School. In addition to classroom teaching, I also tutor Science and Maths online. Currently, I am focusing on providing online tuition as I enjoy being able to help on a one to one basis and like having the time to be able to give detailed feedback on assessments.

I was born and raised in the deep south of New Zealand where I spent my youth playing cricket in the summer and Rugby in the winter, along with the occasional spot of skiing. I studied at the University of Otago before moving up to the University of Canterbury to undertake a Masters. During this time, I was given the opportunity to play rugby overseas where I met my wife. We now have two boys, Jake and Lucas, aged nine and six.

Outside of the areas of Science and education, I enjoy anything that involves getting active in the outdoors. Family trips and taking my boys to the beach are among my favourite past times.

I look forward to working with you on your chosen course in the near future.