Organised and interesting lessons, teaching me about both geography general knowledge which I need help to do and the stuff teacher teaches me.
IGCSE Geography Student
Tim's biography
Tim has taught Geography in major Public Schools in the UK since 1986. He studied for his first degree at Loughborough University gaining a 2:1 in Geography and Physical Education. He then continued at Loughborough and was awarded a PhD in Geography (specifically water resources and environmental issues) in 1986.
From here he went on to begin a very successful geography teaching career in Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood. Then to Edinburgh Academy where he ran the Geography Department ( a team of 3), and then in 1999 to Shrewsbury School to head up one of the largest Public School Geography Faculties in the Country, where he has been until last July, when he took early retirement, and then went to work in a small German School (Rossleben Klosterschule) for half a term as a tutor. He then went to work at Charterhouse School and honed his online skills here during the lockdown.
In the course of this career he has been a geography examiner for the Oxford Examination Board, has marked Common Entrance 13+ for 19 years, has prepared students for Oxbridge entrance ( 2 years ago 2 out of the 2 students he was helping gained places), and has set and marked entrance and scholarship exams at all levels for Shrewsbury School, and has worked as a tutor for Gabitas and Thring.
Tim was a keen sportsman, being British High Jump record holder in 1979, (selected for Olympics in 1980), and representing GB and England in High Jump until 1988. He also was ranked 4th in the UK in the 800m in 1986. He was Loughborough University Athletics club chairman 1984, and has worked with TV on broadcasting athletics. He now has less dynamic hobbies and enjoys hill-walking, ski-ing, guitar and painting. He has coached most sports up to top schoolboy/girl level. This sporting background helps him to recognise the importance of correct preparation, discipline, and how success can lead to success.
Tim is a Christian and likes to support the local community. He was Chairman of the Shropshire Geographical Association from 2015-2018.
He has two boys aged 16 and 18 currently at Shrewsbury school.
IB Experience
I am not IB qualified but I am familiar wit the course and content as being Head of Department for about 25 years it is important to know about all geography options for one's students.
Tim's availability
Contact Owl Tutors for availability.
School entrance experience
Tim has worked with children aiming to attend the following schools:
I have helped students with their applications for Oxbridge and two years ago had the two students I was helping gain places for Oxbridge colleges.
I have given support lectures to Packwood Haugh for geography Scholarship and CE, and have provided examination feedback to all schools who apply to Shrewsbury for CE.
I have run Geography days for Prep school teachers to help with their preparation of CE and Scholarship geography candidates.
I have marked CE and 13+ Scholarship papers for Shrewsbury for the past 19 years. I have done the same for 6th form entrance.
Tim's qualifications
Tim qualified to teach Geography in 1982, and holds a 32 years of experience in British Public Schools from Loughborough.
Geography (KS3, GCSE AQA, GCSE Edexcel, GCSE OCR, IGCSE, A Level AQA, A Level Edexcel, A Level OCR, Pre-U, IB Standard Level, IB Higher Level, Advanced Placement and Undergraduate)
Recent testimonials
Tim was an enthusiastic, confidence boosting tutor from the start and I think this was such an important component of why my daughter's tutoring with him was so successful. She had done badly in her AS level and we wanted her to have geography tuition throughout her upper 6th year up to her A levels. When Tim first started tutoring her, he assessed her previous work and identified the areas she had fallen down on in her exams. He then came back with a formula to improve her exam skills and backed it up with the ongoing reassurance that she was capable and could achieve. He shared his assessments and ongoing opinions with us parents in an easy fashion which I liked.
Tim was otherwise professional, a good time keeper and flexible with his tutoring availability. I would certainly recommend him.
