There’s nothing quite like a ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student suddenly says “Oh! That’s easy!” and we both know they understand.

INTRODUCTION

Hi! I’m Colin.

I’ve been a maths tutor on and off since I was in high school – originally for family and friends, then more formally at university and as a researcher. When I left academia in 2008, it was an obvious way to make ends meet while I looked for a ‘proper job’ – but I soon found that teaching maths was far more enjoyable than real work.

My approach to maths tutoring

If you want to learn maths, I’ll help you.

It’s fine to forget stuff, it’s fine to ask questions – even if you forget how to count, I’ll still help you. As long as you put the work in, you’ll do well.

One of the benefits of one-to-one maths tutoring is that I can take the time to find the root cause of an issue and help to put it right – and sometimes that means going back to the basics. There’s no shame in that – if something needs fixing, we should fix it.

These days, I teach mainly:

• University-level maths, and maths for scientists
• A-level maths, and the mathematical parts of other subjects
• Adult numeracy and QTS test preparation

I’m afraid I have very limited availability for GCSE students, and unfortunately I can’t currently take on students below Year 11.

One-to-one lessons at my classroom in Parkstone start at £35 per hour in the daytime, and £40 per hour from 5pm. I also offer individual maths classes over Skype using an online whiteboard.

To book a lesson, please call me on 07796 430 862 or email colin@flyingcoloursmaths.co.uk with your details, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Mathematical Writing

My first published book, Basic Maths For Dummies, came out in August 2011, and is in bookstores across the country and online. I’m also the author of several other maths books in the For Dummies series and a number of e-books aimed at simplifying A-level maths. To learn more about my maths books, click here.

Maths Services

When your kitchen floods, you call a plumber.

When your Large Hadron Collider breaks, you call a quantum mechanic.

And when you have a mathematical crisis, you call me on 07796 430 862.

If it’s something I can help with, I’ll move heaven and earth to get it put right. If it’s something I cannot help with, chances are that I can put you in touch with someone who can.

Media and schools

I’m delighted to talk to media outlets from school newspapers to worldwide conglomerates about any aspect of maths. Give me a call on 07796 430 862 and we’ll figure something out.

If you’d like me to write you an article, just email me on colin@flyingcoloursmaths.co.uk.

And if you’d like me to give a talk, that can also be arranged (depending on my schedule).

MATHS BACKGROUND

I studied Maths with French at the University of St Andrews (I graduated with a 2:1 in 2000) and went on to do a PhD there, which I finished in 2003. I then spent four years as a physics researcher at Montana State University – I studied the structure of magnetic fields around the Sun and how they might store energy for release in solar flares. My main contribution to science was a simple equation that about six people worldwide will ever have a use for, but I can at least say I have an equation named after me.

That was one of the reasons I left – what I was doing wasn’t really helping anyone apart from me and my boss. As a maths tutor, I feel like I’m making a genuine, positive difference to students’ lives. There’s nothing quite like a ‘lightbulb moment’ when a student suddenly says “Oh! That’s easy!” and we both know they understand.

It’s also nice to be my own boss.

OUTSIDE OF MATHS

When I’m not teaching, I play a lot of music – I’m a keen singer/songwriter and am currently trying to learn to play the mandolin. I’m also supposed to be in training for a half-marathon, but I keep getting injured. And I mess about on the computer a lot, mainly programming and putting together websites like this one.