Online History tutor
Dr David
History A Level Tutor with 13 years experience - specialising in History A Level Edexcel, OCR, AQA - focus on content and skills
Online History tutor
History A Level Tutor with 13 years experience - specialising in History A Level Edexcel, OCR, AQA - focus on content and skills
About
After studying History at University, I became an A Level History teacher at a large Further Education College in Sussex, where I eventually became Head of History. At the same time, I also obtained an MA in History and eventually a PhD. In 2016 I left Further Education and joined a University department as Lecturer in History.
Working across the sector, including in Russell Group Universities, I teach and research on a wide variety of British and non-British History. I'm the author of three books - with my fourth on the way in 2027 - and have won funding and prizes for my work.
Despite working at a University, I continued to teach A Levels as a private history tutor, and have done so now for 13 years.
I live in Sussex with my wife and two very energetic children.
With 17 years experience teaching History at both A Level and Undergraduate level, I have taught almost every History topic imaginable! From The Norman Conquest to Margaret Thatcher, from US Civil Rights to the Partition in India, my expertise range across the medieval, early modern, and more periods, and from British, European, and Global History.
I have also taught all three British exam boards: Edexcel, OCR, and AQA, and am particularly adept at making sure students learn the precise demands of their particular exam boards, teaching students differently depending on the exam board they are being assessed by. As both a teacher and head of department, I focused in particular on the skills students need to acquire in order to push into the highest levels (5 / 6 - A/A*). Some students need support due to having mixed part of the course due to teacher absence or their own; sometimes because it is challenging; other times due to the sheer scale of content demanded in History A Level. In contrast, other students are fine with the content side of things but need help with skills, whether because their own teachers haven't had time to focus on anything but content, or never bothered to teach them, or the skills themselves are too challenging to master. My own experience is that a mixture of content and skills is important, and students often need support with both to succeed.
There are no guarantees in tuition or indeed teaching, but I have never not been able to help students raise their grade by at least one level, often it's more like two. This year (2026) my best student leaps from a predicted C grade to A/B/A* in their final History exams (that had more to do with them than me - they worked incredibly hard!).
What I would say is that I have a history (get it?!) of high student outcomes. As Head of History, I managed four History lecturers across two campuses, whilst continuing to teach my own class load. In this role I implemented the new 2 year linear A level curriculum which the exam boards continue to assess students in (this will change shortly as new A Levels are launched). As Head, I improved ALPs (value added outcomes) from 8 to 2, placing the department within the top 95% of History performing departments within the UK. 75% of my students obtained Higher Grades (B - A*). As a personal tutor, most of my students achieve A/A*. I have never had a student who didn't get a B grade or higher. Many of my students go on to study at Oxbridge.
Subjects & pricing
Languages
- English Native
Qualifications
Higher education
- BA History · University of Kent · First-class (1st) · 2009 University of Kent · First-class (1st) · 2009
- MA (Hons) History · University of Kent · Distinction · 2011 University of Kent · Distinction · 2011
- PhD History · University of Kent · Pass with minor corrections · 2011 University of Kent · Pass with minor corrections · 2011
Reviews from Tutorperch
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Reviews from First Tutors
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- May 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Pippa
David has been supporting my son in preparing for his history A-Level and I highly recommend him. He's very knowledgeable about the course content and has really helped to build my son's confidence for the exams. He gives detailed feedback on essays and clear direction on exam requirements and techniques and has really helped with exam preparation.
- May 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
Angela
David has a very friendly manner and built a rapport with my daughter quickly. He responds to emails promptly and is encouraging during tutor sessions. Unfortunately due to a change in family circumstances we couldn’t continue lessons with him.
- Jun 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Alex
David has been an excellent A-level tutor for my daughter and I highly recommend him. He really made the effort to tailor each lesson to the specific needs of my daughter. He has continually gone above and beyond, for example in coaching and supporting her for her NEA, giving detailed feedback on her essays or simply discussing complex topics to the detail she needs. She has gone into her exams both better prepared and more confident than I had hoped for.
- May 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
Rajmonda
David has helped my daughter to perfect her exam skills. He is knowledgable in the A-Level History courses and has immensely helped my daughter with her confidence in answering exam questions. I cannot recommend David enough!
- Mar 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Naomi
David has received a 10/10 rating from my daughter in relation to preparing for A level history after her teacher's left her 6th form college. David is proving to be more than fantastic in terms of covering content, also helping with exam technique. I can hear that he speaks with a voice of knowledge, genuinely listens to her points of view, is encouraging - and is doing so much to fill up the gaps left by lack of regular teacher. He's also flexible and has gone out of his way to fit my daughter in at short notice. Thank you so much!
- Feb 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
Michelle
David has been tutoring my son for 8 months. My son thinks he's extremely helpful, friendly and approachable. David has outlined exam requirements and techniques which my son has previously found difficult to grasp. He is great at explaining what is required in a clear way and my son has really benefitted from private tuition. Thank you for your help!
- Jul 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Joanna
It's only been a few lessons so far but David has already made an impact. My daughter finds his lessons helpful and fun.
- May 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Nick
- Apr 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
sarah
David is an excellent A level history tutor, and it's a joy to see my son actually look forward to his lessons! David manages to make the lessons fun, whilst providing first class tuition and extremely thorough and helpful feedback on, for example, marked essays. It's been great to see my son's grades improve and we would unreservedly recommend him.
- Feb 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Gemma
I have only been working with David for a short time to support me with my A level history but I’m really enjoying my sessions: -He is great at explaining things - Has shown me how to approach and structure a question to get a high level grade - Excellent knowledge And all with a good sense of humour!
- Feb 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Alexandra
- Feb 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
Ian Robert
Dr has provided an exceptionally good programme for my A-level daughter and I have already seen the results in her School Reports. He is reliable, prompt and very prersonable. I recommend David to anyone seeking A-level support for their child. Ian Brown
- Sept 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Alina
David is an excellent tutor as I have learned many valuable skills and techniques from David which has helped me progress massively in my History A-level. I have learnt how to structure my essays clearly and I now know what examiners are particularly looking for within my essays. Thank you David.
- Sept 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Katherine
David has been an amazing tutor to my daughter. He has helped her a lot with her coursework and exam techniques. David also has a relaxed, fun and enjoyable approach to tutoring and has made my daughter feel more confident in studying History. If without David's help, she would not be able to achieve such a good grade. Thank you very much for your help David!
Dr David replied
My pleasure - she worked hard for her A grade!
- Jul 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Michael
David has been helping our daughter with A-Level History. He is a friendly and kind tutor, very patient and considerate. She had four sessions with him before her mocks and she managed to get a grade A. Definitely a 10/10 tutor!
- Jul 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Hasmita
Only recently began tuition with David and so far very impressed. He has considerable knowledge and has already help my daughter with structuring her essays. This is something that she hasn’t been taught at college. David’s enthusiasm for the subject is great and this has help my daughter to be more engaged and helped her to learn. Thank you David
- Jun 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
Dali
I would say David is the best tutor we have ever met! Very qualified, attentive and organized. My daughter enjoyed the lessons a lot and her skills iproved significantly after each lesson! Thank you once again David!
- Nov 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Sue
David is an excellent tutor. He has great subject knowledge but just as importantly the skills to impart this knowledge in an engaging way. I am especially pleased with the help that David has given Tom with regards to how to answer source questions and structure essays. He has also given very helpful advice on what examiners are looking for. Both Tom and I are very pleased with our choice of History tutor, thanks David.
- Sept 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Emma
- Aug 2020 ·imported from First Tutors
Jilly
My son has had 3 sessions with David so far. The fact that my son is paying for these sessions himself and still looks forward to them speaks for itself ! I would definitely recommend David as an A level History tutor.