Cobham Tutors and Cobham Tuition

Personal Description:
If you choose me, your child will see a marked improvement in their results and confidence levels. I am a highly experience, professional and friendly tutor with advanced DBS clearance. My teaching experience includes GCSE, iGCSE and A level (Edexcel, AQA, OCR (A and B for Physics), WJEC), University level Maths and Physics (including Oxford entrance exams MAT and PAT) as well as assisting PhD students to improve their thesis writing skills.

I pride myself on making lessons fun and informative which I believe provides the right environment to get the best out of my students. (2022 results: 100 percent pass rate at GCSE and A-Level. 77 percent got A*/A or 7/8/9)

As well as being a tutor, I work in research and development where I lead programmes that use Physics to understand complex problems. This experience allows me to inspire young people who have a love for the subject. I am also a STEM ambassador and would happily come to your school (for free) to inspire children in both science and maths.

I was awarded a First Class Honours degree from University College London in 1997 and went on to study a PhD in Quantum Mechanics. On successful completion of my PhD in 2001 I started work at Thales Research and Technology (TRT) where I led projects on Adaptive Learning Systems and Information Management. I initiated the first programme to span the three TRT laboratories in France, Netherlands and UK in the area of Cognitive Systems research. I then went on to set up and lead a large collaborative team between TRT and University of Surrey to study remote collaboration technologies. I joined General Dynamics United Kingdom Limited in 2005, primarily to ensure exploitation of DIF DTC technologies into the UK Ministry of Defence Equipment Programme. I received my Chartered Physicist status in 2004 and am now a director.

Teaching Experience:
Several students have improved by more than 4 grades after just six months of tuition with me, and commonly students improve by at least one or two grades. Many of my students who previously had lost their passion for Maths and Physics, go on to take these subjects to a further level. Apart from the usual syllabuses I am experienced at teaching students the Maths section of the SATs and ACTs in order to get scholarships to American Universities.

Tutoring Approach:
My tuition method involves making Maths and Physics fun so that children and young adults will remember their lessons and overcome the "I can't do science" syndrome. So that you can assess whether or not I am the right tutor for your child I offer the first lesson for free.

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Personal Description:
I am an enthusiastic English tutor, taking a student-centred approach, assessing the needs of learners before targeting their weaknesses to help them achieve their goals. I have been described as "Reassuring. Gentle. Kind." and "Easy to talk to".

Teaching Experience:
I began teaching in colleges in 2002 and I have also worked in secondary schools. My roles have included lecturing in subjects that include GCSE English, Basic Skills, and Creative Writing. I also have experience of working in learning support.

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor I aim to be helpful and supportive, assisting students in building on existing learning, or beginning from the basics. I prefer an informal but quiet setting for my tuition.

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Personal Description:
Alan began exhibiting his photography back in 1995 and won various awards through the Australian photography industry bodies: the A.I.P.P. and A.C.M.P. In 1997, he was awarded the 'Nikon/Panorama Showcase Photographer of the Year' for his portfolio of ten images. The judges included the late David Moore. In 2006 he received two nominations in the international Black and White Spider Awards for fine art and sport. In 2008 Alan took part in a weeks long photo workshop in London, taught by two Magnum Agency photographers. He was one of 14 chosen from 130 photographers that supplied portfolios.

Teaching Experience:
Studio and location photography at Gallery Xposure to adult classes.

Tutoring Approach:
Very much a hands on approach to photography- we get out there are take photos and use the equipment. It' the best way to learn.

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Personal Description:
With over 10 years education experience, I have taught in a variety of schools up to and including A Level computer science. Based in Leeds, I have led multiple subject areas with highly successful student outcomes. Since April 2019, I have had the privilege of leading Secondary Computing Education for the National Centre for Computing, across England.

Since starting my teaching career in 2012, I have been Curriculum Leader of a mixture of subjects including Computer Science, ICT, Business and Health & Social Care. Under my leadership, GCSE Computing results in 2017 were among the highest performing in Leeds and in the top 8% of the UK (BCS / Roehampton Computing Report, 2018).

From 2017 - 2019 I led a school-centred teacher training programme for secondary computing teachers in Leeds, this involved training the next generation of computing teachers and supporting them throughout their teacher training year.

I joined the National Centre for Computing Education as the Secondary Education Lead in April 2019, leading secondary teacher training to upskill computing teachers across England, ensuring the next generation of students receive a world class computing education.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught in schools in Leeds since 2012, my first teaching role included the introduction and leadership of GCSE Computing, the first cohort to complete this GCSE were one of the highest performing cohorts in Leeds and within the top 8% of schools across the country (Source: BCS, Roehampton Computing Report, 2018). This role also included the delivery of OCR Cambridge Nationals in ICT and iMedia - 100% of students achieved a level 2 qualification.

My second school involved me expanding my leadership to lead computing, computer science, business and health and social care. Results in this school increased rapidly, upon my arrival only 8% of students studying towards the ICT CiDA qualification had achieved a grade A*-C on their examined unit, under my leadership this rose to 76% within 9 weeks and to 100% at the end of the qualification. Student progress measures showed students achieved +2.7 grades higher compared to similar students across the country (GCSE results, 2019). Likewise, significant improvements were made in computer science, results also rose from 36% grade 9-4 to 98% grade 9-4 within one year, student progress measures showed students performed +1.9 grades higher compared to similar students across the country (GCSE results, 2019).

Between 2017 & 2019, I led a school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programme for secondary computing teachers in Leeds, this involved training the next generation of computing teachers and supporting them throughout their teacher training year. This process also included running a subject knowledge enhancement programme and running several 'Computing Subject Days' to develop pedagogical understanding in the subject.

In April 2019, I joined the National Centre for Computing Education, a new initiative, funded by the Department For Education, introduced in 2019 to support teachers with subject knowledge and the confidence to teach computing. I currently lead the secondary computing education strategy, leading on secondary teacher training, Isaac Computer Science, quality assurance, teacher residentials and more.

I am currently Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Isaac Computer Science.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe in using a variety of teaching methods to suit the needs of the student to ensure each individual person can succeed. I believe that all students deserve to achieve and that is accomplished through a variety of styles alongside regular monitoring and assessment but also through a positive, professional manner.

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Personal Description:
I have a BA Honours Degree in English Studies from Aleppo University in Syria in 2000. I embarked on two Postgraduate Diplomas at Aleppo University one in Linguistics (2002); the other in Education and Qualification in 2003. In both of these Diplomas I was awarded a Distinction. In 2002, I was fortunate in gaining a scholarship to study in the UK and was nominated to study in the department of Language and Linguistics at the University of Essex. I found this course to be immensely useful to me as a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) professional as I was able to observe a range of different EAP (English for Academic Purposes)classrooms; make academic presentations and really developed my love of scholarship which fired me with the enthusiasm to read for a PhD degree. I finished my doctorate in TESOL at the University of Ulster entitled "EAP Teachers Approaches to Giving Written Feedback on Academic Writing in British and Syrian ELT Centres". . I am extremely interested in teaching the language skills (as my recent doctorate shows). I am extremely hard working and sociable. I have good comparative knowledge of Western and Islamic societies which I could share with students where pertinent. I also have two qualifications from Ulster University in Peer Mentoring and Counselling.

I have strong interpersonal, communication, and classroom management skills and self-motivator. Apart from being an interesting experience in itself, tutoring is an ideal opportunity for me at this stage of my career as the area of this job is interesting to me and I have got the enthusiasm and motivation and energy to do it well and to develop things.I would like consider offering online tutorials (email writing tutorials for students who can not attend some classes).

Teaching Experience:
In the Diploma of Education and Qualification, I have been trained how to teach and how to deliver lectures in Arabic and English and also how to prepare lesson plan. I have experience of teaching university students in Syria as I was a lecturer at Aleppo University from 2002 to 2013. I enjoy teaching and lecturing and love my profession as I am particularly interested in communicating with individuals and groups. My colleagues and supervisors all say that I am a natural communicator and this, coupled with my knowledge of the field, leads me to think that I would make a good teacher. My mother tongue language is Arabic, yet my knowledge of written and spoken English is very good as well. I am also interested in materials design and curriculum development in ELT and could make useful contributions in these areas. I have also specialized in ESP, Materials and Methods in ELT, Language Teachers in Classrooms and Vocabulary and would be interested in teaching international students. My job in Syria was delivering pre-sessional programmes in academic English language to Syrian postgraduate students. Those students have to attend some EAP and ESP courses and pass the final exam which will enable them to pursue their high studies in Syria or in some English speaking countries like UK, USA and Canada. My teaching experience gives me a deeper insight and understanding of actual teaching/learning contexts. When I did my MA degree at Essex University, I taught some international students as part of the "Teaching Practice" module. I have been trained how to write a lesson plan for international students and how to use the PowerPoint for delivering lectures. Furthermore, I am very au fait with technology in the classroom.

Tutoring Approach:
It is the application of an integrating approach for the development of communicative skills in the lesson, in which the four skills in the acquisition of knowledge of a foreign language can be taught in a coherent way, and practiced together, with a distinction of the importance of one upon the other. One image for teaching English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) is that of a tapestry. The tapestry is woven from many strands, such as the characteristics of the teacher, the learner, the setting, and the relevant languages (i.e., English and the native languages of the learners and the teacher). For the instructional loom to produce a large, strong, beautiful, colorful tapestry, all of these strands must be interwoven in positive ways. For example, the instructor's teaching style must address the learning style of the learner, the learner must be motivated, and the setting must provide resources and values that strongly support the teaching of the language. However, if the strands are not woven together effectively, the instructional loom is likely to produce something small, weak, ragged, and pale--not recognizable as a tapestry at all.

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Personal Description:
I am a qualified Teacher with an English degree from Turkey and I have a PGCE Certificate with QTS in Turkish from Middlesex University in London. As a native Turkish speaker I teach Turkish. I designed many courses for adults and children. All levels welcome.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching English and Turkish for almost 20 years. Designed and taught various Turkish courses for business people, and for people who learn Turkish for personal reasons.

Tutoring Approach:
I enjoy working with people and like seeing others improve with my help which are the reasons behind my desire to teach.

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Personal Description:
I have been teaching in Scotland for approximately 17 years now. I have been involved in a number of SQA and National Projects including tasks such as writing, marking and developing the course.

Teaching Experience:
In my current role, I have full responsibility of delivering the new qualifications from S1 BGE through to Advanced Higher Computing Science. I have made the changes to our course and continue to develop these and the changes have been seamless in ensuring a smooth transition into the National Qualifications. I have enhanced my knowledge at National 4 and 5 by not only delivering these courses from the outset but also attending understanding standards events, marking the assignments and also the exam from the 2017/2018 academic year to present. I am also now an item writer for the National 5 course. I have been delivering the higher computing science course explicitly for the last two academic years and the advanced higher computing science course for this year whilst implementing the changes at all of the appropriate levels. I am also an external verifier for SQA and I am leading the rollout of digital learning within my school. In previous posts, I have led the subject forward towards a full implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence Qualifications. I have provided clarification, support and direction whilst providing opportunities for other colleaues to develop and progress their own professional skills and abilities. I have pre-empted problem areas and suggested solutions to improve attainment results. I have sourced software and uploaded any existing materials onto GLOW. I work closely with Faculty Management, School Technicians, LA Colleagues and fellow CS teachers nationally. I work with working groups in school and LA to help with the transition from P7-S1 and also to help embed the our use of personal support and the house system.

I use effectively the restorative approach in my practice as a means of adopting a variety of approaches in meeting pupils needs. Through the demands over the last few academic years, I have shown that I am able to work under pressure and meet challenging deadlines particularly in the area of curriculum development.

Positive relationships are central in all I do whether that is with parents, carers, pupils, partners, fellow teachers and support staff alike. I am informed and keep up with current developments in education such as Curriculum for Excellence, Additional Support Needs, Child Protection and GIRFEC.

I have taught S1 - 3 ICT, Standard Grade Computing, Intermediate 1 and 2, Advanced Higher Computing along with PC Passport and MIE. I have developed and implemented the NPA Games Developement at Levels 4 and 5 and introduced two enrichment courses at S2/3 levels in Multimedia and Programming respectively.

Since then I have gained experience in the old Higher and Advanced Higher Computing courses along with the same qualifications in Information Systems. Currently, I have introduced S1, S2 and S3 Computing Science to our list of courses along with National 4 and National 5 Computing Science, New Higher Computing Science, Young Enterprise. Various Business course have been taught since I qualified. I have taught various courses in the Computing Science disciplines at different levels as well as other Business courses. These have all been taught with the correct amount of preparation and correction. To achieve successful learning and teaching I have made use of existing materials and have supplemented these with presentations and my own resources and activities. Providing new and exciting opportunities, differentiating lessons to suit the individual pupils allow me to fully engage with all of the pupils, making my lessons fully inclusive. I am currently running a pilot in the effective use of Pupil Profiles to help pupils evaluate their skills in specific curriculum projects.

Cooperative skills, team contributions, personal organisation, reflective practice, building confidence and sharing best practice, Learning and Teaching and Behaviour Management. I undertake the organisation and running of extra curricular clubs i.e. coding clubs, sports clubs and revisional study sessions. I regularly undertake curriculum and personal development.
I am currently looking at working with the IT co-ordinator to introduce the Barefoot Computing initiative into FIFE to give my primary colleagues the required skills to deliver some of the Computing Science Outcomes and Experiences. I am also looking to bring in the BBC Microbits ( a brand new product developed by BBC to aid coding) into part of our curriculum to add value and excitment into our junior courses. I am also discussing with the University of Abertay, Dundee ways of bridging the gaps between school curriculums and Further Education.

I am currently implementing the NPA structure and offering training to Local Authority staff on the course.

I find tutoring very satisfying due to see the pupils progress in their development and coming out after the exam having made huge improvements in their subject knowledge.

Tutoring Approach:
Flexible and Reliable adapting my practice to meet the needs of your child.

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Personal Description:
I'm a photographer based in the North West and my work investigates our common experiences as people, exploring themes like nostalgia and distance. I have been involved in photography since my A- Levels 15 years ago and for the last five years I have taught photography, design and publishing at a college in Manchester, England.

I also run an independent photography publishing label which I established with the intent of helping emerging photographers work reach wider audiences

Teaching Experience:
Carmel College - Teacher of Photography (placement)
Priestley College - Teacher of Photography (placement)
UTC Media City - Teacher of Photography and Design

Tutoring Approach:
Described as knowledgable, friendly and humorous according to lesson feedback from students and colleagues; I work to create a comfortable and purposeful creative environment with an approach that makes just as much room for learner input as it does for my own.

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Personal Description:
I am a professional, friendly and enthusiastic tutor. My focus is providing engaging and informative lessons to individuals and small groups. In my spare time I'm a sports fanatic; I play hockey and hold a black belt in Jujitsu.

Teaching Experience:
I graduated the University of Cambridge this year with a BA in Economics. My final year modules included microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, public economics and my dissertation, which statistically assessed the effectiveness of covid lockdown measures in the US and achieved a first class mark (placing me in the top third of my cohort). During my studies I tutored part time, teaching maths and economics.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching approach is problem and discussion based. This involves collaboratively working through problems and questioning students throughout their lessons to confirm and deepen their understanding. In essence, students get the experience of a Cambridge style supervision.

For example, several questions I often ask students to improve their writing are:
1) Would you say it out loud?
2) Would your teacher say it out loud?
3) Would someone a couple of years younger than you/without specialised subject knowledge be able to understand your argument?

For maths, my teaching heavily emphasises learning concepts from first principles to avoid unnecessary memorisation and confusion. We then cover a broad range of past exam questions to test all aspects understanding.

Lessons are conducted on zoom, where we can share our screens to work through problems together as a team. We also use bitpaper, a premium online interactive whiteboard.

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Personal Description:
I'm currently in my second year of college studying A-level economics, A-level maths and A-level business.
I went from failing all my subjects to getting predicted Bs, this has led me to wanting to help others fall in love with the subjects they're struggling in and achieve great results. I will be studying economics at university therefore economics is the subject that I'm most confident at and can help first year students only, as for help regarding GCSE maths I'm open to tutoring students in year 8 and year 9.

Teaching Experience:
I've previously helped helped younger family members with their homework, classmates and friends.

Tutoring Approach:
I personally prefer that the student brings a question(s) that they need help on and I can assist them. However I believe that the same technique might not work for some students and therefore I'd ask whether they'd prefer to get support on specific topics or a specific style of question.

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Personal Description:
I specialise in helping students achieve Grades 8-9 in GCSE Chinese through structured, exam-focused training.

TCSOL-qualified Mandarin teacher with over 20 years of experience, specialising in GCSE, IGCSE and A-Level exam preparation. I am also a certified HSK examiner and GCSE Speaking Examiner, with a clear understanding of exam requirements and marking criteria.

Teaching Experience:
Many of my students have achieved strong GCSE results, including those who initially struggled or lacked confidence.

I have developed a structured GCSE Chinese programme, supported by my own teaching materials, to help students improve efficiently and master key exam skills.

I focus on delivering targeted, high-impact teaching, while maintaining a supportive and engaging learning environment where students are challenged but not overwhelmed.

Alongside 1:1 tuition, I run multiple local GCSE Chinese group classes, allowing me to identify patterns in student performance and deliver highly targeted, exam-focused teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are fully personalised and focused on achieving measurable results.

For exam preparation (GCSE / IGCSE / A-Level, including AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE), lessons focus on:
- Speaking fluency and exam performance
- Writing structure and accuracy based on mark schemes
- Listening skills and exam techniques
- Targeted improvement on weak areas

Lessons are designed to be effective and focused, using proven teaching methods to maximise progress.

After each lesson, students receive targeted homework and lesson notes to reinforce learning and support independent revision.

️️ Limited availability - most students stay long-term.

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Personal Description:
I'm an art & craft design tutor with a passion for keeping traditional techniques alive while blending them with contemporary creativity. With 9 years of experience in textiles and craftsmanship, I specialize in Indian handwork such as chikankari, zardosi, aari embroidery, kalamkari, bobbin lace, carpets, and rugs.

As a tutor, my goal is to share skills, inspire creativity, and encourage hands-on learning. Whether it's teaching intricate stitches, design concepts, or craft-based storytelling, I love guiding learners of all levels to explore their artistic potential.

For me, art and craft are not just skills - they're a journey of patience, culture, and self-expression.

Teaching Experience:
Over the years, I have had the privilege of teaching art, craft, and textile design to learners from different age groups and backgrounds. With 9 years of professional experience in textiles and craftsmanship, I bring both practical industry knowledge and hands-on artisan skills into my teaching.

I have conducted workshops, training sessions, and one-on-one mentorships that focus on:
• Traditional Indian crafts like chikankari, zardosi, aari work, kalamkari, and bobbin lace
• Textile techniques including carpet weaving and rug design
• Creative design development, material exploration, and storytelling through craft

My teaching style is interactive, patient, and process-oriented. I believe every student should not only learn a technique but also understand its cultural heritage, design value, and potential for innovation.

What excites me most about teaching is watching learners gain confidence, skill, and creative freedom while connecting deeply with handmade traditions.

Tutoring Approach:
As a tutor, my focus is on creating a balanced learning experience that combines technical skill, creative freedom, and cultural understanding.

✨ Hands-on learning - I believe the best way to learn crafts and design is by doing. Every session includes practical exploration with materials, tools, and techniques.

✨ Personalized guidance - Each learner has a unique pace and style. I adapt my teaching to individual strengths, encouraging both beginners and advanced learners to grow with confidence.

✨ Connecting tradition & innovation - I emphasize the heritage of crafts like chikankari, zardosi, aari, kalamkari, and weaving, while also showing how these techniques can be reimagined for modern design.

✨ Process over perfection - Craft is a journey of patience and practice. I guide students to enjoy the process, experiment fearlessly, and develop their own artistic voice.

✨ Creative mindset - Beyond skills, I nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and storytelling through design - helping learners see craft as both an art form and a career path.

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