Linda

Wolverhampton (Albrighton) Teacher of A Level Maths, A Level Further Maths and grades I to VIII Theory of Music. BSc Hons First Class Maths (with Music) Open University 1995
BMus Hons Class II Music (with Maths) University of Birmingham 1984
ARCM Associate of the Royal College of Music (Violin) 1983
PGCE Maths/ Music University of Birmingham (Merit) 1985
My name is Linda. I have very extensive experience having taught Key Stage 3, GCSE Maths and A Level Maths and A Level Further Maths for thirty five years and I was Head of UCAS for eight years in an independent sixth form college in Birmingham. I have also taught O Level Music and A2 Music but have focussed completely on Maths for the last 20 years. I
currently teach A Level Maths part time in a large secondary school in Birmingham. I was an examiner for Edexcel A Level Pure Mathematics for two years. I studied both Maths and Music at university. I enjoy playing the piano and violin and I still teach ABRSM Music Theory grades 1 to 8. I hold a BSc First Class Honours in Maths with Music subsidiary from the Open University and also have a BMus in Music with Maths subsidiary from the University of Birmingham and an ARCM ( Associate of the Royal College of Music) Diploma in Violin Teaching. I have a PGCE (Merit) from the University of Birmingham. I gained AABB at A Level in 1981 in Maths, Music, Physics, Chemistry and I have 10 As and 3 Bs at O Level: As in Maths, Additional Maths (Pure/Applied), Additional Maths (Pure/ Statistics), Music, English Literature, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, German and Computer Studies; Bs in French, English Language and General Studies. My hobbies are music(orchestral playing) and astronomy! I also volunteer as a Room Guide with The National Trust. I have ABRSM grade 8 Distinctions in Violin and Theory and grade 8 Merit on piano. I have an up to date DBS check.

Tutoring Experience

I have 35 years' teaching experience: 18 years in state secondary schools in the West Midlands and 17 years in independent sixth form colleges in Birmingham. I currently teach A Level Maths part time as an Intervention Tutor in a large secondary school in Birmingham. I have taught all modules ( including all modules for the new specifications from September 2017) in Pure, Statistics, Mechanics and Decision Maths for both A Level Maths and A Level Further Maths. I was Head of UCAS for eight years at an independent sixth form college in Birmingham and therefore have extensive experience in advising both students in relation to personal statements and staff writing references. I taught GCSE Mathematics at all levels, A Level Mathematics, A Level Further Mathematics, some Additional Further Mathematics A Level (M3 and M4). I have extensive experience of teaching all branches of A2 Maths and Further Maths including Pure Maths, Mechanics, Statistics and Decision for Edexcel, MEI OCR and AQA. I have a proven track record of helping students obtain A and A* grades for A2 Maths and Further Maths and in one year group 100% of students obtained A* grades for both Maths and Further Maths A2. I was also an examiner for Edexcel A Level Pure Mathematics for two years. There is nothing more rewarding than enabling students to apply difficult mathematical concepts with confidence to obtain the best grades possible and seeing those students progress to competitive university courses of their choice.
The most recent student I taught last year through First Tutors achieved A* in A Level Mathematics and the two students I taught the previous year obtained A* A in A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics and A in A Level Mathematics respectively.
Modules I have taught include: C1, C2, C3, C4, M1, M2, M3, M4, S1, S2, S3, D1, FP1, FP2, FP3, new Pure Paper 1, new Pure Paper 2, new Statistics and Mechanics, new Further Pure Core 1 and Core 2, new Further Pure 1, new Further Pure 2, new Decision 1 and new Further Mechanics 1. I can also teach the new Further Statistics 1 and Further Mechanics 2. I have also taught GCSE Music and A Level Music ( traditional harmony and counterpoint, history of music and analysis), piano to grade 6, violin to grade 8 and Theory of Music to grade 8.

Tutoring Approach

I always take proof of my qualifications to first lessons. I provide fully comprehensive course notes that I have written myself as PDF files and printouts and always have done as I do not believe that note taking in class is an efficient use of time unless students are working through problems or mathematical proofs. Students are always appreciative of good notes and I pride myself that my notes are comprehensive, carefully structured, sequential according to difficulty and very easy to follow. I have also written a structured manual for students to enable easy usage of the Casio 991 calculator as normal distribution tables are no longer provided.
I always illustrate concepts with fully worked examples then provide past paper practice to enable students to gain exam technique and consolidate it. I set work judiciously and selectively from past papers and textbooks to cover the work comprehensively so all techniques are covered. I have the advantage that very young tutors do not have of years of experience teaching Pure, Statistics, Mechanics and Decision Maths at both A Level and Further Maths A Level and have a very high level of insight into the types of questions that are examined.