About Me
I’m a highly experienced maths specialist with 40 years teaching in both State and Independent schools, and 20 years tutoring students privately from Primary through to A-Level. I have a Maths degree from Cambridge University and have extensive experience in teaching the entire maths curriculum from age 5 to 18.
In my spare time I enjoy exploring the outdoors and walking with my wife and our two dogs.
My Skills
As a teacher, I’m skilled in developing better ways of teaching maths. As a tutor, I’ve had much success in preparing students for Nat 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams, and also for the Common Entrance exam for the Independent sector.
My strengths are both in supporting pupils who find maths difficult, and in stretching pupils who want to aim high. Many of my pupils have stayed with me for years. I’m passionate about helping students understand the fundamental concepts of maths (the ‘why’ behind maths) rather than just learning rules. This helps students to tackle any problem with confidence. Whether your child is struggling and is feeling that they’re no good at maths, or is wanting to be stretched and challenged beyond what is offered in the school curriculum, I can help.
My Teaching Journey
After obtaining a BA Mathematics (Honours) degree from Cambridge University, I decided to explore teaching as a career and trained at Moray House in Edinburgh.
I worked initially in a primary school in Juniper Green and then gained overseas experience in Bangladesh, where I taught in a secondary school, and was also involved in training local teachers. Returning to the U.K, I taught in schools in both Pilton and Leith before switching to specialist Maths and IT teaching with a further move to Dolphin School in Berkshire. It was here that I developed the Dolphin System, a popular IT skills training programme for children.
After returning to Edinburgh to take up another promoted specialist Maths and IT post, I spent eight years developing a consultancy business, visiting a whole variety of schools across the U.K. to work with pupils and run training sessions for teachers, while gaining a reputation in my own school as a maths enthusiast and innovator. I’ve also written articles for the Scottish Mathematical Association magazine.
For the last 18 years, I’ve been Deputy Head with responsibility for learning and teaching in another large Edinburgh school, where I’ve led the development of the Maths curriculum, introducing new approaches to teaching, and running workshops for teachers and parents. In my spare time, I created Maths Investigations, an engaging learning programme much loved by pupils, teachers and parents alike, and I’ve developed a whole range of other Maths resources to help children with their learning which are now available on my new website Maths Without Limits – the links at the bottom of this page will take you to a selection of these. If you sign up for tuition you’ll have access to all of them.
Through all of this time, my greatest passion has been bringing Mathematics alive for pupils of all ages and abilities, and encouraging them to explore and discover the fascination and wonder of it.
What can you do with 200 metre sticks? (One of my articles for teachers)
The Counting Caterpillar (an effective way to start memorising your tables facts)
Success with Fractions (a handy guide for parents)
Maths without Limits (My entire website full of my own unique maths resources which you will have free access to if you sign your child up for tuition)