maths tuition in york and harrogate | advice on university entrance
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Matthew Handy
- Leeds, York and Harrogate
- United Kingdom
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Matthew Handy
Matthew Handy, MA BSc DipMaths
I'm Matthew Handy and I run dotmaths tuition. I am passionate about mathematics and love teaching it. While I understand that students and their parents are usually looking for a tutor to improve their grades (and my students do get high grades and get into top universities) I also believe it's important to concentrate on understanding as well as learning. Exam success is greatly helped by understanding where the mathematics comes from and how it is used. My style is to make the subject as simple and as enjoyable as possible.
Academic history
I was a Kitchener Scholar at the University of Cambridge, where I read Law at Trinity College (you can see my degree certificate here) and where I was awarded an entrance prize and the Philpott Prize. I took a second degree with the Open University, where I read Mathematics and Physics and won the Leslie Walshaw award for being the highest scoring student in Yorkshire, with an average examination score of 100%. I was also awarded the Diploma in Mathematics and I am currently working towards the Diploma in Statistics.
Teaching career
I have been teaching for 17 years, at top-ranking schools in both the UK and USA, including Charterhouse in Surrey and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. As well as my private tuition, I am an associate lecturer for the Open University, and a tutor for the Further Mathematics Support Programme. I have been an examiner for all of the major examining bodies. I have an Enhanced Disclosure certificate obtained by the Open University, which means that I have been checked by the Criminal Records Bureau. You can see it here. I was formerly a governor of a top-performing specialist Maths and Computing comprehensive school in York, where I set up and ran the maths club.
Private tuition
I provide one-to-one and small group tuition in A-level Maths and Further Maths (including AEA and STEP) and help with undergraduate courses with mathematical content and advice on UCAS (including Oxbridge). I teach in my offices in Leeds, York and Harrogate. Full details are available here.
Professional development
I'm a passionate believer in lifelong learning, I teach adults in my role as an associate lecturer with the Open University, where I continue to study mathematics and its learning, and I was recently a student in the physics department at the University of York. I am also committed to continuous professional development and in the last year have attended the Goldsmith Company's astrophysics course; the UK Mathematics Foundation's course for heads of mathematics departments, held in Cambridge; and the M500 Society's course on the applications of probability, held at Aston University.
Professional associations
I am a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and a member of the Mathematical Association, the Association of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics. I am registered with the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics; Young, Gifted and Talented; and with the Further Mathematics Support Programme.
Publications (see photos below)
I have had letters published in The Times, the Times Educational Supplement (here and here), Times Higher Education (here) and the York Press (here), where I was also featured (here and here) for my work in setting up and running Don't Skateboard, a project to widen participation in top universities by less advantaged students.
Business experience
I have worked for a number of law firms in the City of London, including Linklaters, and for the accountancy firm Ernst & Young. I founded Ivory Tower magazine at Cambridge and I launcedMXpress, a newspaper for young people, after I graduated. I was an Enterprise Fellow at the Business School of York St John University and have been a member of the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
Comments and recommendations
You can read comments on my teaching from my students, their parents and my peers on my Comment Wall in the box below My Photos.
Matthew Handy's Photos
Credentials
Added September 17, 2009 at 1:27pm
Business cards
Added September 15, 2009 at 5:04pm
Press
Added September 3, 2009 at 12:32pm
Profile Information
- I am a . . .
- Tutor
dotmaths tuition
I provide one-to-one
and small group tuition in A-level Maths and Further Maths (including AEA and STEP) and help with undergraduate courses with mathematical content and advice on UCAS (including Oxbridge).
I teach in my offices in York and Harrogate.
For more information
or to book a maths lesson:
Call or text me, Matthew, on 07704 677 400,
or send an e-mail to
matthew@dotmaths.com
© 2010 Created by Matthew Handy
Comment Wall (4 comments)
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"I have learned to follow what gives me passion to go on. I am loving my time (trying to) learn in another country. I honestly think I only found that courage to make the decision to move through your informed and balanced discussions with me." Ben
“As you know I am an experienced teacher myself and as such I know good work when I see it. When I say that you have been the best tutor I have had in six years with the OU, I mean no flattery, it is simply a fact.”
“I went to a boarding school, and I've been to college and university full time and with all my experience of teachers and lecturers and tutors I can honestly say you have been the best tutor: with patience, knowledge and a natural ability to explain things to a multitude of different levels of ability.”
"I feel you have been my best Open University tutor so far. I am very impressed with your lively emails; you have a great sense of humour, which makes me smile, and in my honest opinion you are a first class tutor as you inspire me to keep on going."
"Thanks so much. I think the A grade in Further Maths is one of the things I'm most proud of achieving in my life thus far. I owe my further maths a level entirely to Matthew, without whom there isn't a chance I would've achieved my A. Not only did his tuition vastly improve my A level grades, he also offered invaluable advice in selecting university courses and preparing for Oxbridge. Strongly recommended." Simon, student
"I owe you a box of chocolates . . . I got an A grade and only dropped two marks in the exam." Sarah, student
"Thanks for your help. I would have failed without it." M, student
"She got an A in the maths and she's off to Oxford. We’re really grateful for all that you did for her. You were absolutely right for her at the right time and did absolutely what was necessary. The biggest plus of course was that she really liked you." Mrs T, parent
"Thank you for your effort and support. He wouldn't have done it without you." Mrs W, parent
"I owe my university life to Matthew. His tuition was not just tuition, it was more like life tuition and helped me get through some sticky situations, offering invaluable life and academic advice; helping me make the right decisions. Extremely recommended." Emraz, student
"After having a few Maths tutors I have to say Matthew was beyond the best. He helped me through my final year of A level Maths. He was very clear and I never felt pressured around him, especially if I got something wrong, which I often did. I highly recommend Matthew if you are searching for a fun, helpful maths tutor." Abigail, student
"Thanks to the excellent tuition and support I received from Matthew, I was able to gain an A grade in my Further Mathematics A Level. The tuition was challenging, engaging and perfectly tailored to suit. A must for anyone seeking higher level maths tuition." Emma, student
One observer noted that my “poise and enthusiasm for teaching were immediately evident.” Another thought my students were “getting a product of the highest quality.” One wrote that my class was “characterized by some of the best student discussions I have heard in a maths classroom.” Another, “Matthew’s easy going demeanour makes him highly approachable and students respond positively to his efforts to get them actively involved in their own learning. I thoroughly enjoyed the tone of his classes; students respond positively to his good-humoured approach. Matthew thoroughly enjoys discussing his teaching and has excellent insights about his students.”
Of my pastoral work, “I can confidently say that Matthew is as fine a house tutor as I have worked with in my seven years at this school. He has distinguished himself as a professional, as a reliable confidante for me, and as a trustworthy and respected tutor for the students. No tutor has a better sense of the pulse of the house than Matthew. The reason for this is that he spends the most time with the kids.”