Chris

Married with two grown up children, I currently lead a large and successful secondary school in Cambridge. My passion is seeing students gaining self confidence and achieving academic success through a relational approach to learning.

Tutoring Experience

I studied at Cambridge University (Degree - Homerton College and subsequent Masters - Sidney Sussex College). I entered the teaching profession in 1990.

I have taught for 34 years, covering the 11-16 science curriculum. In 1999, I was appointed as one of the first Advanced Skills Teachers in the UK and spent the following 5 years supporting the development of Primary science, authoring books and focussing on the science of learning: metacognition.

I progressed to a Deputy Principal role in a school on the outskirts of Cambridge before becoming a Principal in 2014. Due to the nature of my role, I don't teach in school but have maintained my contact through personal tuition (biology, physics and foundation maths) and through giving talks on revision techniques and how knowledge of our brain can inform successful learning.

Tutoring Approach

First and foremost, I believe that no learning can successfully take place without relationship. I seek to get to know my students and to keep my sessions enjoyable by linking to their interests. Equally, I seek to maintain open communication with parents and to ensure they are kept appraised of progress.

I can work to directly teach the contents of a given syllabus, alternatively to revise topics, prepare for examinations through use of past papers or support with the development of good learning techniques (such as mind-mapping).