Olivia L.

Hello everyone! I'm Olivia, a dedicated maths and science specialist tutor currently pursuing a PhD in Sustainable Energy. 

Before returning to research, I spent several years running a successful full-time GCSE tuition business. I have personally mentored over 100 students across 10 different countries, helping them navigate the complexities of GCSE maths and sciences. Whether a student is aiming for a Grade 9 or is working hard to secure that pass first-time, I tailor my approach to meet them exactly where they are. I've had so many students in the past say to me: 'I'm just bad at maths' or 'I'm just rubbish at science', and watching their mindset shift over a few months is my favourite part of the job.

My background is rooted in engineering (I love a difficult problem!) and high-level academics:

- PhD Researcher in Sustainable Energy (Current - University of Sheffield)

- 1st Class (Hons) Undergraduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Queen Mary University of London (Russell Group)

- 9 A/A* grades at GCSE, and an A in A-Level maths

I've always genuinely enjoyed the learning process, and my goal is to instil some of that same confidence and curiosity in my students. I pride myself on a friendly, approachable style that helps even the most anxious students find their footing and reach their true potential. Please have a look at my wonderful reviews left by previous students and their parents to truly get a feel for my tutoring style and personality. 

Exam Board Expertise:

I have extensive experience with the following specifications:

- AQA: Maths, Further Maths, Separate & Combined Sciences

- Edexcel/Edexcel iGCSE: Maths, Triple & Combined Sciences

- OCR: Maths, Separate & Combined Sciences

- Cambridge iGCSE (CIE): Maths (0580) and Sciences (Physics/Chemistry)

 

I've found that students learn best when they feel heard and supported. Every session starts with a quick check-in chat to see how school is going, which helps build a rapport and lowers the pressure before we dive into academics. 

Flexibility & Resources: While I always come prepared with a structured lesson plan, I am entirely flexible. If a student has a surprise test coming up or struggled with a specific topic in class that day, we can switch focus. After years of full-time tutoring, I have built an extensive bank of bespoke resources to cover any GCSE topic on demand.

Confidence Building: I get students involved straight away. We work through questions together rather than them just listening to explanations (they do enough of that in school!). We move at a pace that challenges them without being overwhelming, ensuring they leave every session feeling more confident than when they joined.