Simon - Leeds tutor





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Information About Simon:


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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Qualifications:

  • Computing and Secondary Education (BA HONS)
  • A Level Computing
  • A Level History
  • A Level Art & Design

Further Information:

Availability:  Weekdays (all times)
Types of Tutoring:   Travels to you / From their home / Online
References Supplied?   Yes
Current DBS/CRB Check?   Yes