Gavin

Hi, I am Gavin.

At an early age, I became interested in mathematics because it allowed me to experience real thrills from solving difficult problems and I was able to utilise it e.g. working out my own rankings of Pro Evolution Soccer teams.

​Furthermore, as I got older my interest increased because mathematics produced beautiful results through the introduction of new bizarre concepts such as imaginary numbers and Taylor series, which provide a way to evaluate a function with any possible input teaching us to be imaginative.

Meanwhile, I was inspired by one of my teachers to teach mathematics. He gave up his own time to teach the Further Maths IGCSE and discussed advanced mathematics with me and encouraged students to explore mathematics e.g. by getting students to plot how matrices transformed coordinates rather than quoting rules - I would like to ensure that other students get the same experience, encouraging more students to continue studying mathematics.

​I left school in 2013 with 11A*s and 5As, achieving 295/300 for Maths and 174/175 for Further Maths awarding me an A* with Distinction, a grade higher than an A*. After leaving school, I went to college to study Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Geography.

During college, I became so fascinated by Mathematics that I decided to self-study A Level Further Mathematics(Additional), which allowed me to study all the possible modules offered at the time by Edexcel and enlightened me to the applications of mathematics to physics through using differential equations to model freefall, rocket launches and raindrops falling through the clouds.

Therefore, I decided that rather than just studying mathematics at Durham University, I would study mathematics and physics combined as part of the Natural Sciences Programme.

Tutoring Experience

I left college in 2015 with 3A*s and 1A in A Level Mathematics(598/600), Further Mathematics(587/600), Further Mathematics(Additional)(526/600) and Physics(551/600) and an A in AS Geography(172/200).

In Summer 2019, I left Durham University with a First Class MSci Integrated Masters Natural Sciences degree, averaging 76.87%(80.11% in Mathematics, 73.38% in Physics).

Therefore, I have strong subject knowledge and experience in both Mathematics and Physics because I have studied them up to Masters level.

Since then, I have worked with 27 different students with different needs delivering 500 hours of tutoring, from several countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Turkey etc., tutoring from KS3 to Degree Level making me an experienced private tutor. My reviews show what an excellent tutor I have been to many students. I am mainly focusing on tutoring mathematics but I am also tutoring physics, considering physics to be a branch of mathematics.

Currently, I am looking to tutor students to give me experience in teaching to help prepare me for a teacher training course next year.

Tutoring Approach

My tutoring style is to base lessons around the concepts/problems that students are struggling with and this allows me to tailor my lessons to your needs. Also, I will set and mark homework.
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I aim to help my students to gain a deep conceptual understanding of mathematics, rather than simply knowing techniques that they have rote learned or memorised:
Allowing them to understand and enjoy learning the subject
.Preventing them from becoming stuck, when studying in later years, due to not understanding a prerequisite concept e.g. learning Algebra requires a strong understanding of arithmetic
.Preventing poor exam performance due to unconventional exam questions being asked like Hannah's Sweets.