Kiran Arora, Maths Tutor in Maidenhead, Berkshire

INTRODUCTION

Hi, I’m Kiran.

I’ve been tutoring Maths for a few years, and am now a qualified Maths teacher – I obviously can’t get enough of Maths, both inside and outside the classroom!

MATHS BACKGROUND

I studied Mathematics with Statistics at University of Nottingham, graduating in 2009. After a year out, I did a Maths PGCE at Reading University and am now employed as a Mathematics teacher in a secondary school in Buckinghamshire.

I enjoy teaching, and really enjoy the buzz of seeing a student having that light bulb moment when they understand a piece of Maths. It’s also nice to see kids getting good grades in their exams!

OUTSIDE OF MATHS

Without sounding cliche, I have a number of interests outside of Maths and school. I play football, cricket, squash (and golf in the summer!). I also like to pick up the occasional eccentric hobby, including performing stand-up comedy (I was in the final of a comedy festival competition in 2009), writing (I wrote “Let’s Take This Outside. Teaching Mathematics Away From the Classroom”), and learning photography.

You can contact me using the form below!

Adrian Beckett,
Maths Tutor in London

Introduction

Hi, I’m Adrian Beckett!

I’ve been teaching/tutoring Maths for 5 years now and I’ve just started studying an MA in Maths Education at the Institute of Education. I specialise in tutoring children for Key Stage 2, 11+, 13+ , GCSE and adults for the QTS Skills Test. I’m the guy who supports young children, teenagers and adults gain confidence in learning the nuts and bolts of Maths; the stuff that will ensure they love Maths, love learning Maths and feel good about it. I’m hoping to carry out research into the positive effects that feeling confident about Maths can have on people’s general well-being; an area I find fascinating and inspiring. You can check out my testimonials to see what my students say about succeeding in Maths. I also tutor some gifted and talented children at primary age, supporting them with problem solving and extending their mathematical thinking (they teach me a few things along the way too!), but I’m also a specialist in helping students with dyscalculia.

Maths Background

I’m studying for an MA in Maths Education at Institute of Education. My first degree was in Economics (with tons of Maths, of course), and I got an A in both Maths and Further Maths at A-level.

I’m also pretty awesome at mental maths (I bet I can give the other tutors a run for their money!) [You're on! - Colin]

My approach

I adapt to my student. Some children learn well using traditional methods of teaching; rote and repetition, while others might need plenty of chat (why they’ve fallen out with their best friend), self-directed learning, problem solving or songs and dance – I do my best to match my student’s needs. I love the fact that each student is different. Each has their own quirky personality. I’ve met all sorts of students so far. From bubbly to shy, from funny to quiet. I have a strong bond with many of them. I try to nurture each student and I take their wellbeing very seriously.

Outside of Maths

I read lots on home education and teaching maths to young learners, I tweet, I write blogs and I chat to Colin. That’s work so that doesn’t really count, right? I’m married to a beautiful Colombian and together we watch films, read, bug each other and try to get out of London every opportunity we can (so hardly ever). I enjoy reading, cycling and baking.

CONTACTING ADRIAN

To get in touch with me, please fill out the contact form below.

Mairi McRobbie Jimenez,
Maths Tutor in West Fife

Introduction

Hi, I’m Mairi!

I have been tutoring maths and physics since 2000. I currently work at West Lothian College and a Maths and Core Skills Lecturer, and have worked at institutions around Scotland.

I also spent 3 years living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. If you look at a map you will see why I chose to go there! I studied for a CELTA (teaching English qualification) then taught English and Science. I worked in two secondary schools, a language academy and a training for work college. I met my husband in Mexico, that’s why I have two last names and one is difficult to pronounce.

Maths background

I studied for a M.Sci (Hons) in Maths and Theoretical Physics at St Andrews (I graduated in 2000 with a 2.1). Then I decided to stay in St Andrews when I research leading to an M.Phil in Magnetospheric Waves. I started tutoring at University and I realised that this was much more up my street than research.

Since then I have tutored students in Standard Grades, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher in Maths and Physics. I am very patient and can help students achieve the grades they need to get into university. I can go over work that you are stuck on at school improve your confidence in tackling exam questions.

Outside of maths

My main interest at the moment is keeping fit, this keeps me quite busy! I like to do the occasional triathlon, duathlon or coal carrying race! This is when you have to carry a bag of coal through the streets. I do this every year and it never gets any easier! I am also training with Highlanders Gym, they do Muay Thai and Ju-Jitsu but I try to avoid getting punched and kicked so I just go along to the circuit training and ladies’ sessions.

Contacting Mairi

To get in touch with Mairi, please fill out the contact form below.

Barney Toy, maths tutor in
Berkshire and London

Introduction

Hi, I’m Barney.

I’m slightly different to the others tutors on this site for two reasons. Firstly, I don’t play the guitar, mandolin, nor any other musical instrument for that matter. Secondly, I don’t have a PhD or even a degree (yet!). I’m a student of Mathematics at Kings College London about to go into my third year of study.

I’ve been tutoring for nearly 5 years with a variety of tutees ranging in age from 9 to 63. Many parents comment on my ability to build a solid rapport with my tutees, and I’m in the unique position of having taken the exams I’m tutoring for within the last 5-6 years – so I know exactly what type of questions to look for and what the examiners give credit for.

I am available to tutor both in central London and the Reading area

Maths background

I’ve had a passion for Maths right from my earliest school days. I took Maths and Further Maths at A-level and so the only natural progression to me seemed to be to go onto university to study it further, which I am now doing, and I absolutely love it!

Since I started tutoring, I have developed a love of teaching. I’m currently in the process of writing a textbook aimed at GCSE and A-level pupils, which covers every aspect of trigonometry that could come up in their exams and I hope to publish it within the next few months.

Outside of maths

Outside of academia, I am an avid golfer, fisherman and shooter. I’m also very interested in cars and spend a fair amount of time buying and selling them. Lastly, I tend to spend a fair amount of time in the gym counterbalancing my other great passion, food!

Contacting Barney

To get in touch with Barney, please fill out the contact form below.

Hannah Coutts,
Maths Tutor in St Andrews and Fife

INTRODUCTION

Hi, I’m Hannah!

They say that maths and music go together, well I’m either a musical mathematician or a mathematical musician, depending on the day of the week. I live in sunny St Andrews and can travel around Fife and to Dundee to tutor students from age 7 up to university level.

I always loved maths at school because of the definite ‘rightness’ and ‘wrongness’ of the answers, and the fact that once you got the hang of the method, you could solve every problem correctly. I found it hard to choose my subjects at A level but ended up with an unusual combination of languages, music and maths. Then I discovered pure maths at University and found that maths can be really creative as well as logical.

MATHS BACKGROUND

I have a first class MSci degree and a PhD in maths, both from the University of St Andrews. My speciality is group theory, which is the study of symmetries. It gets very interesting when you look beyond 3 dimensional shapes to the symmetries of objects in billions of dimensions.

I worked as a maths lecturer at the University of Dundee and have tutored students from a wide range of backgrounds. I’m experienced in tutoring students who find maths very difficult and students who need maths for other subjects, like physics and engineering. I believe that everyone can get the hang of maths as long as it’s presented in the right way!

OUTSIDE OF MATHS

I love to play the fiddle (or violin) and sing. I play traditional music from the British Isles, North America, France, Germany, Sweden, Spain,…  I play ceilidhs and concerts as well as weekly music sessions in my local pub. As well as folk music I like most forms of rock music and I go to gigs and festivals whenever I can. My dream is to one day play the fiddle in a heavy metal band! I also love horseriding and mediaeval re-enactment (maybe I should take up jousting).

CONTACTING HANNAH

To get in touch with me, please fill out the contact form below.

Sorry – I’m not taking on new students at the moment, but leave me a message and I’ll get in touch with you when I have any open classes.

Colin Beveridge
Maths tutor and author in Poole and Dorset

INTRODUCTION

Hi! I’m Colin.

I’ve been tutoring maths on and off since I was in high school – originally family friends, then more formally at university and as a researcher. When I left academia in 2008, it was an obvious way to make ends meet while I looked for a ‘proper job’ – but I soon found that teaching maths was far more enjoyable than real work.

My first book, Basic Maths For Dummies, came out in August 2011, and is in bookstores across the country and online. My second, Numeracy Tests For Dummies, is slated for release around New Year 2012.

MATHS BACKGROUND

I studied Maths with French at the University of St Andrews (I graduated with a 2:1 in 2000) and went on to do a PhD there, which I finished in 2003. I then spent four years as a physics researcher at Montana State University – I studied the structure of magnetic fields around the Sun and how they might store energy for release in solar flares. My main contribution to science was a simple equation that about six people worldwide will ever have a use for, but I can at least say I have an equation named after me.

That was one of the reasons I left – what I was doing wasn’t really helping anyone apart from me and my boss. As a tutor, I feel like I’m making a genuine, positive difference to students’ lives. There’s nothing quite like a ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student suddenly says “Oh! That’s easy!” and we both know they understand.

It’s also nice to be my own boss.

MY APPROACH

If you want to learn maths, I’ll help you.

It’s fine to forget stuff, it’s fine to ask questions – if you forget how to count, I’ll still help you. As long as you put the work in, you’ll do well.

One of the benefits of one-to-one tutoring is that I can take the time to find the root cause of an issue and help to put it right – and sometimes that means going back to the basics. There’s no shame in that – if something needs fixing, we should fix it.

OUTSIDE OF MATHS

When I’m not teaching, I play a lot of music – I’m a keen singer/songwriter and am currently trying to learn to play the mandolin. I’m also supposed to be in training for a half-marathon, but I keep getting injured. And I mess about on the computer a lot, mainly programming and putting together websites like this one.

CONTACTING COLIN

To get in touch with Colin, please fill out the contact form below.

I am currently only accepting new students for A-level, university and adult learning. Send me a message and I’ll either let you know when I have openings, or put you in touch with someone who may be able to help.