Matthew

Experience

- 11 years tutoring experience with an accumulation of thousands of hours of teaching and an impeccable record of success

- Head of Maths Tuition at a London Secondary School

I have taught hundreds of students at:

- GCSE/IGCSE Maths

- 7+, 11+ and 13+ English and Maths

- AS Level Maths

- Primary

I have trained over 45 tutors:

- Learning techniques

- Topic strategies

- Behavioral problems

- Exam technique

Over the last year I have been tutoring in an inner city school. I have managed to increase the grades of all of my students at the school, consequently I have been given the position of Head of Maths Tuition. This job enables me to keep on the pulse on the exam system.

An example of one of my GCSE students is Otto. Otto is 15 years old and is studying for his GCSE Maths. His mother was concerned about him because he has problems retaining the information he is taught. He can pick things up fairly easily but will forget by the time it comes to a class test. I found that the reason for this is that he is in a big rush to get through things and so he never really develops a deeper understanding of why things work. So I began to push him to teach things to me. It meant that he was not able to rush through our classes and he had to really engage with the material. This approach combined with homework has improved his standing in his class.

An example of one of my 11 plus students is Ryan. He is the quickest student at arithmetic I have ever taught. However he seems to be attaining 60% grades in class tests. His strength and weakness is that he is so quick. He reads through word problems too fast and does not understand them. I have slowed him down by making him read out the problem, getting him to explain to me what it is asking and then coming up with a strategy to solve it. I think introducing a systematic approach to how he answers questions will help tremendously when he sits exams.

Biography

I was born and grew up in London. I went to Cooper’s Coborn and Company School; where, following my GCSE’s, I was able to pursue my love of Maths and Science by taking A Levels in Maths, Physics and Economics as well as an AS Level in Chemistry. I studied both Theoretical Astrophysics and Architecture and the University of Nottingham and attained a 2.1 Hons Degree.

Since University I have been working as a full-time tutor and in June 2014 I became the Head of Maths Tuition at a London Secondary School, where I have made a significant impact on the results of the students.

Personal Approach

It is a privilege to get to work with so many engaging and unique young people. It is my job to find an approach and structure to best facilitate each individual students growth. Sometimes a child needs a little help to catch up or at other times wants to drive on past their peers and excel. Perhaps there is a learning or behavioral problem, or perhaps there is no problem at all. I think the first thing to do is: respect the student, to take them in and to listen to them. Then it is a simple case of giving them what they need. Maybe maths needs to be more fun, maybe the student needs the space and time to understand, maybe they need practice or maybe they just need some structure.

I believe I am a good tutor because I have seen the impact I have had on results time and time again but I also believe I am a good tutor because I have developed into the kind of teacher that I would have liked to have.

What I do when I am not tutoring

I am a very down to earth guy whose passions, outside of tutoring, are: film, travelling and of course my family & friends. I am currently in the process of making a short film which I am writing and directing.

Testimonials

''Matt you are honestly one of the best teachers/mentors out there!! Thank you so much for everything'' (Genevieve GCSE Maths)

''I am delighted to recommend Matt Moorhouse as a maths tutor. In regular tuition sessions with Matt in the six months before she took her GCSE in maths, my daughter progressed from a position where she had scarce understanding of any of the topics on the exam syllabus, and even less confidence, to achieving a pass (C grade) in the exam last June. The maths teaching in her present and previous schools had been so inadequate – at least for her – that this achievement was entirely down to the way that Matt’s ability and personal qualities allowed my daughter to develop the potential that she has always had to make progress in maths even though this was never going to be her strongest suit. In short, Matt made a tremendous difference in a very short time. I am convinced that had he taught my daughter for longer, she would have got a higher pass grade.

Matt’s effectiveness as a tutor that I was able to observe stemmed from his patient, persevering and methodical approach, always ready to adapt and explore new ways of explaining and embedding understanding on the frequent occasions when difficulties and mental blocks loomed large. His equanimity is also an asset in dealing with teenagers with their ups and downs. His quiet, slightly reserved nature, proved just right for my daughter. She is the type of young person who needs steady reassurance and support; and as she got to know Matt and started to feel comfortable with him, she built up the confidence that had always been lacking before in her maths studies. While I can imagine that other children and young people might respond more readily to a tutor with a more extrovert personality than Matt, I reckon that his style and approach is a reliable way to get results in an important study project over a period of several months or more.'' (Eugenie GCSE Maths)

''Matt, I want to thank you most sincerely because without your input, I don't think she would have done that well'' (Rebecca - IGCSE Maths)

''Thank you Mat wouldn't have got an A without you!'' (Laszlo - IGCSE Maths)

''Matthew is an excellent maths tutor, very well versed in the topics that needed review for my 13-year old daughter. He is very pleasant to deal with and responds to the inevitable scheduling change very quickly. He was always on time and prepared, and my daughter made steady progress with him each week.'' (GCSE Maths equivalent in American system)