Nick L - Tutors - Keystone Tutors
Nick
Nick is an experienced A Level/GCSE Computer Science teacher and former Head of Department at a top private school. As an Examiner, he knows exactly what examiners look for. Formerly a programmer, he brings real-world industry insight to his engaging, student-focused teaching.
“I wanted to say a huge thank you for being such an amazing and supportive teacher! You have really made me love this subject and coding.”
- GCSE Computer Science
- A Level Computer Science
During my 14 years as a teacher, I have taught students across all age groups from Year 5 to Year 13. The vast majority of my pupils consistently achieved strong value-added results at both IGCSE/GCSE and A Level. Throughout my career, Computer Science was consistently one of the top three subjects for value-added performance in every school where I taught.
I also work as an Assistant Examiner for OCR’s second GCSE Computer Science paper (Algorithms and Programming). This insight into exam standards and mark schemes has proved invaluable in helping students prepare effectively and with confidence.
Many of my former students have gone on to study Computer Science at university, and hearing about their continued success after graduation remains one of the most rewarding aspects of my teaching career.
I was born and raised in Somerset, where I attended the local comprehensive school. My interest in computing began in Year 9 when I bought a Sinclair Spectrum and taught myself programming. From that moment, I was hooked — and after university, I went on to spend 22 years working as a software developer for a range of companies in retail, vehicle leasing, and insurance. It was a fast-moving, creative, and rewarding career.
In 2011, I decided to follow in the footsteps of my father and sister and move into teaching — something I never expected to love quite as much as I did. Over the past 14 years, I’ve taught students from Year 7 to Year 13, helping them develop not only strong technical and problem-solving skills but also genuine confidence in their ability to think logically and independently.
My lessons are calm, structured, and engaging, with a strong focus on clarity and understanding. I enjoy helping students of all abilities — whether they need to strengthen the basics, prepare for exams, or deepen their enthusiasm for Computer Science.
“Thank you so much for everything you have done for me over the past 4 years. I honestly could not have done it without you. I have thoroughly enjoyed our lessons and learning more about Computer Science.”
“Taking Computer Science A-Level was honestly one of the best decisions I made. At uni, many projects involved coding and I always ended up as the coding person in the group thanks to the strong foundation you gave me. Since coding basics weren’t really taught well at university, having that knowledge beforehand gave me a huge head start. Your teaching has had a genuine impact on where I am today.”
Every child learns differently, and I make it a priority to identify the most effective learning style for each tutee within the first few lessons. I use regular, low-stakes assessments to check understanding and ensure that topics are fully mastered before moving on.
Computer Science can sometimes seem abstract or ‘dry’, so I aim to make lessons engaging and enjoyable by incorporating quizzes, games, and interactive challenges — for example, CISCO’s Binary Game, which never fails to get students hooked!
Drawing on my many years as a professional programmer, I break down programming into clear, achievable steps, helping students build confidence and genuine fluency in writing and understanding code.
I’m married with three daughters, and spending time with my family is one of the greatest joys in my life. Outside of teaching, I’m a keen club cyclist and enjoy challenging rides and tours with friends. This summer I cycled to Spain from Watford. 750 miles over 10 days with 5 of my cycling buddies. It was epic!
I also volunteer at a local allotment community project, mainly doing construction. It’s physically demanding, but very rewarding!
My wife and I have a passion for travel. Last year my wife and I visited Kenya, Madeira, Cyprus, and enjoyed a two-week cruise around the Greek and Italian islands. This January (2026) I spent a month in India, and later this year we are off to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan for 5 weeks
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