Private Tuition & Classroom Teaching
I’m the kind of teacher who doesn’t just want you to pass your exams, but to really understand the ideas behind what you’re studying. I have a genuine love for mathematics and I’ll do my best to pass on a little bit of that to you.
I have availability to undertake mathematics teaching in various contexts. Please see About Tom for details of my qualifications and experience and then look under the relevant headings below for details of services offered. I am also able to teach aspects of astronomy and computer science if specific topics are required.
Private Tuition
Frequently Asked Questions
Booking
How do I book?
Please contact me, making sure to include the following:
- The level you’re working at/ towards (e.g. GCSE, A-Level)
- What you’re hoping to achieve through our sessions (a better understanding of specific topics? Raising your predicted grade? Improving your mathematical confidence?)
- Your location (only if you want me to come to you)
- Whether you’re looking for a one-off masterclass on a specific topic or a longer-term series of sessions (you do not need to commit to anything, it’s just helpful to know)
- Any dates and times that would work particularly well for you (or need to be avoided)
- Anything else you think I might need to know!
How many sessions must I commit to?
There is no minimum commitment.
Can I book a one-off session?
Yes: If you have a particular topic that you’d like to brush up on please get in touch and let me know.
Can I book a regular series of sessions?
Most students book a weekly or fortnightly slot and I ‘pencil’ these in to my calendar as a recurring meeting. This does not represent a commitment to attend any but the next booking, but if too many are skipped I reserve the right to open up the slot for other students.
Can I cancel or rearrange booked sessions?
I am happy to discuss rearranging individual sessions (things happen, after all!) or changing the weekday or regularity of a regular series, but please be aware that my schedule can be very busy which might mean we may have to skip a session instead.
I am happy to cancel individual sessions, or a series of sessions, or to skip sessions in a regular series, but appreciate as much notice as possible so that I can offer the space to another student.
In most cases I do not charge for rearranged or cancelled sessions, but I reserve the right to charge for cancelled sessions where I am given less than 24 hours notice.
Sessions
Where does online tuition take place?
When we confirm a booking I will create and invite you to a calendar event. This will include a link to a Google Meet meeting.
If you’d rather set up an online meeting elsewhere and invite me as a guest, I am fine with that.
Where does offline tuition take place?
At a location arranged by you. This may be your home or another appropriate location.
Please note that offline tuition sessions will be subject to travel expenses in addition to the session fee.
What does a session involve?
Sessions are tailored to the needs of individual students, but in general we will work through topics and problems identified by the student.
Do you set homework?
No.
Independent, self-directed study is of much more benefit than any homework I can set, so I encourage this rather than setting homework, and I am happy to provide tips for developing this most important of all learning skills.
If, despite this advice, you still want me to set and mark homework this can be discussed as an add-on to tuition sessions, charged at the same hourly rate.
Do you provide notes?
Most sessions are conducted using Microsoft OneNote as an online whiteboard. Each student has their own notebook and I share this with them, including full editing access so that they can not only look at what we did in previous sessions but add their own notes, or upload resources (such as questions they’ve struggled with) for use in future sessions.
I encourage students to make their own notes during sessions (but I do not enforce this).
Fees & Pricing
How much do tuition sessions cost?
Individual sessions
– KS2 to GCSE: £48 per hour
– A-Level: £63 per hour
Group Sessions
– KS2 to GCSE: £38 per student, per hour
– A-Level: £53 per student, per hour
Please note
These are the total fees for online sessions. Offline sessions are charged at the same rate but expenses may be charged additionally.
Are there any extra fees I should know about?
Travel expenses
For offline visits any extra costs associated with traveling to the venue will be added to the final invoice. These may include but are not limited to:
- Travel expenses (45p per mile if travelling by car; as incurred for public transport)
- Parking charges or other tolls (as incurred)
- Travel time, additional to session time and charged at the same rate
Homework
I do not set or mark homework as standard (please see the relevant FAQ under “sessions” for more info), but can add this as an extra service charged at the same hourly rate.
Other expenses
If any other expenditure is necessary in order to accommodate any special requests they will be agreed in advance and added to the final invoice as incurred.
Is there a discount if I book multiple sessions or pay in advance?
I’m afraid not, sorry!
How and when do I pay?
Most students pay for each session shortly after it is completed, via bank transfer. Other payment options may be considered but where this involves extra fees or charges for me these will be added to the final bill.
I am happy to discuss other payment arrangements on the understanding that any charges incurred will be added to the final invoice.
How do I get a refund?
Payments made are non-refundable except in the case that I have taken payment in advance of a session and then was unable to deliver the session and the session could not be rearranged.
If you have paid in advance for a session and then cancel the session for whatever reason I reserve the right not to offer a refund.
After an initial consultation to identify any particular topics that you’re struggling with we’ll work to improve your understanding in these areas.
If you just want to “turn the handle” and get the right answers out then I’m definitely not the tutor for you: we’ll work on understanding the underlying mathematics at a pace that suits you:
It’s not about getting the right answer; it’s about the journey we take to get there.
My Private Tuition Vision
I only work with students who genuinely want to develop themselves further in mathematics – whatever level they are currently working at, and wherever they want to get to – and that means taking responsibility for their own learning.
In most cases private tuition is sought as support for work towards a formal mathematics qualification such as a GCSE or A-level. An essential component of success in such as a course is self-directed independent study, and it is this that must inform the content of our sessions together.
A day or two before every session, my most successful students send me an update about what they have been covering in school, what they have been working on independently, and what they want to focus on in our next session. Earlier in a course, this will usually include specific topics or sub-topics that they have found difficult along with examples of class work (including topic and progress tests) or independent study questions that they have struggled with. Later in the course, students often include screenshots of questions from exam past-papers.
Armed with this information I can help them to understand specific topics more deeply and to identify where understanding of one area of mathematics may help to support development in others.
My focus is always on understanding why something works rather than just remembering what to do.
Availability for either on- or offline private tuition sessions is currently very limited.
Part-time Teaching & Supply
I am available for part-time temporary and supply teaching positions in mathematics (if a specialist is preferred or planning required), Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry or Biology (if lesson planning and resources are provided beforehand) or other subjects (if no specialism or preparation is required).
I am comfortable teaching online (anywhere) or on-site (location dependent).
Availability for classroom teaching and supply work is currently very limited.
- Please contact me with specific offers (no agencies).
- A CV can be supplied on request.
- I would usually expect to be paid at UPS3.