Micky

Head of Maths at Clifton College and erstwhile Head of Maths at University College School.

Expert in 11+ and 13+ Entrance Examinations, including Common Entrance and others, with unique insight into admissions.
Expert in GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics tuition across all exam boards.
Expert in A level Mathematics & A level Further Mathematics tuition across all exam boards.
Expert in AEA, MAT, TMUA and STEP, i.e. Oxford/Cambridge entrance exams and other extension awards or pre-undergraduate entrance papers.
Expert classroom teacher and in-person or remote learning tutor.

I have a deep understanding of what makes exams and examiners tick and how to analyse exam questions on the spot - and how to communicate all of this to students. Furthermore I have done considerable data- and skill-analysis of past paper materials and have developed an unmatched insight into high precision exam preparation.

Tutoring Experience

I have been a classroom teacher for 12 years since gaining QTS. For 4 years I was Head of Maths at University College School, a high-performing selective independent day school in Hampstead, London. Under my leadership the school enjoyed, in every one of those 4 years, their best ever results in Mathematics, and I helped place the school firmly among the top 30 schools in the UK in the league tables.

I know the GCSE/IGCSE courses inside out, as well as the A level Maths and Further Maths courses across all exam boards. I have tutored students working towards AEA, MAT, TMUA and STEP for many years, a great number of whom have made their offer to study Mathematics or other STEM subjects at Oxford, Cambridge and other excellent universities.

I have done a great deal of work with younger students, aged 10-14, to prepare them for entrance exams. I designed a number of these actual entrance papers myself, and marked thousands of candidate scripts, so I know exactly what skills and evidence schools are looking for in the child's work.

Before joining UCS, I taught at Forest School, Walthamstow, for 7 years. I also have a background in the IT Industry.

After 2 more years of study I gained an HE Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Bristol, and then returned to the classroom as Head of Maths at Clifton College. I also code - I design question generators for Dr Frost Maths.

Tutoring Approach

My tuition is extremely effective at widening and deepening a tutee's understanding of Mathematics, while equipping them swiftly with the skills to solve increasingly difficult problems independently.

I soon get to know a new student's mathematical strengths and find and tackle any gaps in their understanding. The learning and exploration I provide is always completely individualised. I have the experience and skill to be entirely flexible within a tutorial session, being able to respond to difficult mathematical questions with no warning, even at the challenging standard of Further Mathematics A level and preparation for university entrance papers such as STEP, MAT TMUA or AEA, and even Oxbridge interview practice.

In my remote lessons I use both a laptop and an iPad with stylus. This means you can see the mathematics that I am writing in real time, while also being able to see my face. If you have a tablet with a stylus you can write on the same shared whiteboard, but this extra tech is by no means essential - pen and paper is fine. I also make substantial use of dynamic geometry packages such as Desmos and GeoGebra, including apps I've written myself to optimise teaching and learning, to communicate mathematical concepts in the most efficient and effective ways. New to my tutorials is ExamDemon, a past paper question search engine I have built myself for exclusive use in my tutorials, for precision exam preparation.

My fees are independent of age or course (except STEP, AEA, TMUA, MAT and Oxbridge interview practice, which have a premium) and they reflect my experience, wisdom and skill and the unparalleled quality of your learning experience as my student.