Rob

Rob is an experienced Head of Politics at a top independent school. He is also an examiner and lecturer who specialises in A Level Politics, undergraduate support, and Oxbridge preparation. He has over two decades of experience teaching the subject to students of varying abilities.

Rob teaches: AS/A Level Politics, Undergraduate & Graduate Academic writing, Undergraduate & Graduate Politics, Oxbridge Preparation

''I have just gained a place to study Politics at uni – and that is because of him.''

Year 13 student

About Rob:

Experience
Biography
Approach to Tutoring
When not tutoring

Experience

- A Level Politics

- Undergraduate Politics

- Oxbridge Preparation

With over two decades of experience teaching A Level Politics, I bring both depth of expertise and a proven track record of student success. For the past 22 years I have been Head of Politics at one of the UK’s largest and most successful Politics (A Level) departments, now with over 130 students across Years 12 and 13. This leadership role has not only sharpened my teaching practice but also given me an unrivalled insight into how to help students achieve top results in one of the most demanding A Level subjects.

Alongside my classroom teaching, I have spent 17 years working as an examiner, including two years as a Senior Examiner – examining both UK Government and US Government exam papers. This experience is invaluable when it comes to guiding students: I know what examiners are looking for, how essays are marked, and what makes the difference between one grade and the next. I also have a very good sense of how I can help each student move towards the very best grades. My students benefit directly from this insider knowledge, gaining the confidence and clarity needed to excel under exam conditions.

Beyond school teaching, I have extensive experience in higher education. Since 2004 I have taught at Oxford (and for the Stanford University (BING) programme in Oxford), including five years interviewing PPE applicants. More recently, I have worked as a Study Skills Lecturer at Pembroke College, Oxford, helping undergraduates develop the academic techniques that underpin long-term success. I was employed full-time in Oxford for three years – and so I have a good sense of Oxbridge applications and the wider interview process from both the teacher and interview side of things.

I am also a published author, having co-written a widely used undergraduate textbook on US politics, with a new edition forthcoming (Palgrave, 2014 Government and Politics of the United States, Nigel Bowles and Rob McMahon; new edition due Summer 2026). This breadth of teaching, examining, and academic writing makes me uniquely placed to support ambitious A Level Politics students.

Biography

I taught for the first time in 1996, when I became a Stipendiary Lecturer at Balliol College, Oxford. In the same week that I gave my first tutorial I also began teaching for Boston University on their Oxford Programme – teaching Politics to BU students. I went from non-teacher to teacher rather rapidly. Between 1996 and 1999 (when I was working on my D.Phil at Nuffield College, Oxford) I held three stipendiary lectureships: Balliol; St. Anne’s College and Keble College, Oxford. I taught US Government, Political Sociology and the first-year ‘prelims’ Politics paper.

Having been at Oxford for eight years straight I left (I read PPE and the M.Phil in Politics at New College, Oxford before heading to Nuffield College) and become a faststream Treasury official. After two years I left because I gained a job back in Oxford – this time at the university level – Lecturer in Politics. I then became the Tutor in Politics, St John's College, Oxford - 2002 – 2004.

At that point I really became an actual teacher and have been Head of Politics at Radley College from 2004 to present. When I took over the Department, we had 12 boys in Year 12 and 13 in year 13. We now have 134 boys across these two years which, I believe, makes it the biggest politics department in the country. Along the way I have been an Associate Professor - Stanford BING overseas programme - Oxford - 2005 – 2019. A Visiting Fellow at the Rothermere American Institute (Oxford) from 2010 to 2011. I wrote my first book in 2006 and co-authored an undergraduate textbook in 2014 (with Prof Nigel Bowles): Government and Politics of the United States (Palgrave). I am currently working on the new edition.

Approach to Tutoring

I have now taught over 1,100 students for the A Level in Politics. I have taught over 500 undergraduates at Oxford. Along the way I have given a great deal of advice about applying to Oxbridge and I have read a large number of personal statements. But if I reflect on my career I would suggest:

- There is no single magic formula for good teaching - but the desire always to be as good as you can be seems a good approach to adopt.

- Students need to know that we can listen as well (or better) than we talk

- Students need to know that they can ask questions and can direct the tutor to those areas (intellectual or educational or focus) where we can be the most useful.

- Being organised and well-resourced is absolutely critical - but we must also be able to relate, and be relatable - professional relations are crucial to a successful teaching partnership.

When not tutoring

What do I do when not tutoring? That is a good question and best explained by giving just a little bit of context: I have four children and one fox-red labrador - and one very supportive wife. My children are 22, 20, 19 and 16 - the oldest two are reading Politics at university (funny that) and so I help them to be as good academically as I can be. So, my spare time is not always in great supply, but I try to spend time with the children as much as I can.

I am working on the next edition of my US textbook which most of the time really does feel like a hobby. When it goes well one gets “flow” and that is a relaxing and yet focused state of mind: I like that.

I swim quite a bit, I run a bit, and we go on holiday when we can.

What clients say about Rob:

“Dr M has a huge amount of energy – he seems really to like teaching – and it is fun with him. You learn a lot but you enjoy his lessons.”

Year 12 Student

“Rob helped me with online teaching across my entire final term of 6:2: I had been taught quite well but there was stuff I just didn’t get. He manages to explain things in a way I could understand – and he lets you guide where to go, and he can follow and then make sure we end-up in the right place. I got my grade in large part thanks to him. And it was fun.”

Year 13 Student

“Dr M taught me for two years – I knew nothing about Politics and thought I would drop the subject (it was my fourth A Level) but he made even the UK Constitution really interesting. He clearly knows his stuff, but he can teach it in a way that lets us get involved and in a way that he makes easy – you can just follow it. I have just gained a place to study Politics at uni – and that is because of him.”

Year 13 Student

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