Maths tutor · Braintree
Dale P.
GCSE Maths Tutor (10 years experience after classroom teaching of GCSE and A-level for over 20 years)
Hourly rate
£42/hr
Maths tutor · Braintree
GCSE Maths Tutor (10 years experience after classroom teaching of GCSE and A-level for over 20 years)
About
After retiring (on ill-health grounds) from classroom teaching in 2016, after 22 years, I decided to explore a few new ventures, including examination assessment, postgraduate study, and home tutoring.
I examined for Pearson (Edexcel), OCR and CIE over a 2-year period, whilst simultaneously continuing my love of teaching by offering private tuition in Mathematics at KS2, GCSE and A-level. I no longer offer A-level tuition, and still occasionally offer KS2, but I genuinely prefer preparing students for their external GCSE examinations in Mathematics. Alongside the tuition, I embarked on a part-time Master's degree in Mathematics with the Open University. After gaining a Distinction in 2023, I am now committed to another Master's degree; so, I can truly empathise with the commitments that students require in order to succeed.
I fully appreciate the needs of students when it comes to preparing for internal mock examinations, which can eat up 3-4 weeks' study time in year 11. During these times, it is purely discretionary as to whether maths tuition continues apace in the background. To compensate, I usually offer extra tuition during the Easter break and in the May half-term break to help students best prepare for their GCSEs in May/June. I do offer tuition in the summer break for students going from year 10 into year 11 if required, subject to holiday commitments, etc.
If tuition is sought by someone outside a 3-mile radius from Braintree town centre, then I reserve the right to charge an additional mileage charge of £1.00 per mile to cover costs and lost tutoring time, e.g. if someone is 7 miles from the centre of Braintree by road, then an extra charge of £4.00 per lesson will be incurred.
The pricing of my lessons is a little misleading. The lessons invariably last around 70-80 minutes; so, my hourly rate is approximately £34, not £42. I had been a successful tutor with First Tutors from 2016 until May 2026. Alas, after 10 years of unwavering service and excellent reviews, I was unaware that this tutoring portal had ceased trading until recently.
I do hope that this brief summary of my experiences inspires you to consider me as a prospective tutor of your child/children. Special rates are negotiable if a student requires home-schooling during school hours or if more than one lesson is required per week.
Subjects & pricing
Discount
Lessons can take place on an ad-hoc pay-as-you-go basis, provided a commitment to regular tuition is agreed from the outset, or long-term savings can be made if lessons are paid for in advance in one of two ways:
If a sequence of 10 lessons is booked and paid for in advance, then the block price is £400, but non-refundable in the event of cancellation on the day of a lesson. If a lesson is cancelled at least 24 hours before it is due to take place, then a credit of £20 will be offered against any future booked lessons.
Alternatively, if 20 lessons are booked and paid for in advance, then the block price is £760, again with the same conditions as above regarding the cancellation of a lesson.
Languages
- English Native
Qualifications
Higher education
- BA (Hons) Mathematics and Theoretical Physics Certificate checked · The Open Unversity · 2:1 (Upper second) · 1989 The Open Unversity · 2:1 (Upper second) · 1989 Certificate checked
- MSc Mathematics Certificate checked · The Open Unversity · Distinction · 2023 The Open Unversity · Distinction · 2023 Certificate checked
Teaching qualification
- PGCE Mathematics and Computer Science Certificate checked · University of Keele · Pass · 1994 University of Keele · Pass · 1994 Certificate checked
Reviews from Tutorperch
No Tutorperch reviews yet. Students can leave a verified review here after a lesson.
Reviews from First Tutors
Imported from Dale P.'s First Tutors profile before the site went dark. Shown separately from Tutorperch reviews — today they don't feed this tutor's Tutorperch rating or ranking.
How we verify these
Each imported review went through admin review. The tutor proved ownership of the First Tutors profile via one of two paths:
- Photo match. The First Tutors avatar matched the tutor's identity-verified Tutorperch photo, confirmed by admin.
- Cryptographic email check. The tutor uploaded an original First Tutors email (.eml). We verified the DKIM signature against First Tutors' signing keys and cross-checked the embedded tutor ID against the claimed profile.
The review text is the original reviewer's own words, quoted as-is. We verified the tutor's ownership of the profile, not the truth of what each individual reviewer wrote.
- Feb 2025 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Dale is very knowledgeable and personable chap whom my son has taken to very quickly. He is going over and above what we expect of him and my son is definitely starting to garner a better understanding ready for his next mocks and final exams. I could not recommend more! 5*!
Dale P. replied
Thank you Daniel for your comments. Piece by piece we chip away at his misconceptions, and I hope that he is starting to gain some confidence in the subject.
- Nov 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Dale has been tutoring my daughter for the past year, since Year 10. We have found him to be consistently punctual, diligent and thorough. He will never finish a session until he's happy that my daughter has fully grasped the particular equation they are working on. Personally he is a lovely, patient man and we all have a great relationship with Dale which is very important when inviting somebody into your house! It also means my daughter feels comfortable enough to be honest if there is an area she is struggling with. He is also very adaptable and will cater for the usual intrusions to the weekly timetable if he possibly can! I would highly recommend Dale, he is a pleasure to get to know and believe he is suitable for any age range.
Dale P. replied
Thank you Andrea for your kind words. I always try my hardest to accede any individual requests from tutees, and I endeavour to make my tutees feel at ease when faced with challenges in their learning. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to tutor your daughter for the past year, and I truly hope that she can aspire to the grade she deserves in the final outcome.
- Oct 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Dale has been professional, friendly and good throughout. Would fully recommend.
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your feedback Charlotte. I hope the trust you have in me will pay off in the long run as George clearly has the potential to succeed in his maths GCSE, should he choose to do so.
- Sept 2024 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Very pleased with Dale. An excellent tutor My grandson is a rather reserved boy but he likes Dale and has every confidence in him Thank you for this opportunity to express our thanks to Dale
Dale P. replied
Thank you Jim. It is a pleasure having the opportunity to try and boost Lochlan's confidence in maths. He has clearly been encouraged in his early years to handle many numerical tasks with relative ease. We now need to ensure that he knows when to use the different skills he has acquired.
- Jan 2023 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Dale has been tutoring my son for several months now for his GCSE's in June. He was not doing very well in maths and did not understand many of the topics. He has progressed so well since starting tutoring with Dale and actually looks forward to his sessions, he says that Dale is really good at explaining things. O am now much more optimistic about his GCSE.
Dale P. replied
Thank you very much for your kind words. It is, and has been, thoroughly enjoyable tutoring Drew, and I am confident that, as the exams draw ever closer, he will be capable of stepping up the pace and achieving a grade of which he is proud.
- Feb 2022 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
Dale has been a great tutor for William. He has been able to hone in on what needs to be taught for this years GCSE exams. William has found him to be a great tutor and looks forward to each session.
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your comments. It really is a pleasure to support William at this crucial time in his mathematical development, and I, likewise, look forward to each session Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help William.
- Sept 2021 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
I just wanted to say how happy my 15 year old son was with Dale's first tuition lesson. This was his first tuition lesson ever so he was a little apprehensive but he really did enjoy it and feels that it is going to be extremely beneficial to him. He thought Dale's way of teaching is exactly what he needs and coming from a 15 year old that's quite impressive. I was amazed to be honest that he wasn't tired after the first long session but he was full of life and had the most fantastic feedback. It's always hard trying to find the right tutor so first time lucky we are really glad that we have found Dale to tutor our son. It's great how it is on a face to face basis too as that is really hard to find these days. His already looking forward to tomorrow's session, we have him once a week.
Dale P. replied
Thank you so much for your detailed and positive feedback, and I, too, am looking forward to tomorrow's session and beyond. Huey is a well-rounded individual, and it was a real pleasure to meet him last week, and it was noteworthy that he was not afraid to seek clarification if something was not clearly understood. I always try to make my tutees feel at ease so that an atmosphere conducive to learning is created quickly. Thanks once again.
- Nov 2018 ·imported from First Tutors
A First Tutors client
We have been very impressed with how quickly Dale assessed our daughter’s needs and areas for development. He is extremely patient and calm and can always think of another way to explain methods! Many thanks.
Dale P. replied
You are more than welcome. It's a pleasure and an honour having the opportunity to teach your daughter. I hope that our patience will pay off in due course as her confidence increases. There are some challenges to overcome first, not least her self-belief in the subject. Thank you
- imported from First Tutors
Jane
Dale has been coming to tutor my daughter for some months now. She enjoys the sessions, never complains when I remind her in the morning that he is due that afternoon (even when she had not done the set work!) and I can hear that he is constantly giving her the information required to understand the exam questions that she is likely to encounter as well as testing her understanding. Having missed almost two years of school through illness, there is a lot to make up in just 6 months, but Dale has started with the basics and checked what she actually does know/remember, and then tailored the teaching to her requirements. He is always punctual and often runs over his time just to ensure that a topic is completed/my daughter does understand what they have covered. Coming to our home is so much easier for us too. I would not hesitate to recommend Dale - as long as we still get our weekly slot with him!
Dale P. replied
I am delighted to have had the opportunity to tutor your daughter. I know that time is of the essence regarding GCSE entry this summer, and I hope that my words of encouragement are boosting her confidence to this end. Thank you for the kind words in your feedback, and I will continue to work hard to best prepare her for the forthcoming examinations.
- imported from First Tutors
Ruth
Dale is both thorough and professional. Lessons are well prepared and carefully targeted. Dale has a really good understanding of the KS3 curriculum and we feel lucky to have found an experienced and qualified teacher to help our son.
Dale P. replied
Thank you Ruth for your kind comments. It is a pleasure having the opportunity to tutor James, and it is very encouraging to see his confidence improve, as well as his assessment performance in school.
- imported from First Tutors
Ewa
Excellent tutoring by Dale .My son is improving in maths .I can highly recommend Dale as a tutor **Telephone Number Removed** Thank you !
Dale P. replied
Thank you Ewa. I do hope that Thomas continues to challenge his understanding of maths and enjoys learning about it for years to come. Thanks, Dale
- imported from First Tutors
Emmanuel
Dale is patient, methodical and consistent. He is personable and enthuses his students. He is a keen teacher that is out to get the best from his students.
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your comments. However, if Peter is to be successful, then he does need to reinforce what we do with continued practice between sessions.
- imported from First Tutors
Julia
Dale is an excellent maths tutor. My daughter was predicted a D at Maths A Level and with Dale's help she has achieved a B! We are absolutely delighted and would happily recommend him as a tutor to anyone needing help. He is a really nice person and was kind, patient and knowlegeable.
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your kind comments. I was merely a messenger hoping to help her believe in herself and her potential. If I helped to facilitate that confidence and self-belief in any way, then that would give me great pleasure to know that she can now embark on the next stage of life's journey renewed vigour and confidence.
- imported from First Tutors
Debbie
Dale is passionate about maths & a really nice person, who makes my daughter feel at ease & comfortable in her learning. She feels she has learnt so much under Dale and feels more at ease with her approaching exams. Dale is also very accommodating timewise, which is a great help with our hectic lifestyles.
Dale P. replied
Many thanks for the kind comments. I just hope that in the time remaining, she is able to take the advice on board and get the grade she deserves.
- imported from First Tutors
Claire
Very nice guy , obviously loves his job and being able to help youngsters.
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your kind words. I just hope we get where we want to be in the coming months.
- imported from First Tutors
Jodie
I feel privileged to have access to someone with Dale's experience and qualifications to tutor me. Whilst I have a huge task ahead of me with my studies, I have every confidence that if anyone could help me succeed - Dale is definitely that person. Dale is not just knowledgeable, but his style of teaching makes maths enjoyable. I would highly recommend Dale without hesitation. (I wish to remain anonymous)
Dale P. replied
Thank you for your kind comments. I look forward to the challenge of steering you in the right direction. I think there will be a few obstacles to overcome, but I am confident that your determination to succeed will see you through in the end, and I truly hope that you will get the grade to which you aspire.
- imported from First Tutors
Polina
Dale is currently helping my daughter to prepare for her Maths As. He had helped her grow in confidence and she had improved in a matter of weeks. He was very good at answering any additional queries she had. Dale is a considerate and knowledgeable teacher who clearly understands and loves his subject and I would recommend him without any hesitation. My daughter had commented that he had never lost his temper even when she was being particularly trying and had a great sense of humour. We are very fortunate to have his help during this stressful period. Thank you, Dale.
Dale P. replied
Thank you very much for your kind words. I just hope that Eugenia remembers how to deal with some of the more tricky parts of the syllabus that we have encountered. Dale
- imported from First Tutors
Julia
Hi Dale. So far we think you have been friendly and helpful. Isabel was quite unlucky in her maths class last year at school and doesn't think she was taught how to do quite a lot of the work properly. (She did complain to head of year but nothing was ever done.) As a result she has taught herself a lot of topics using the internet and we would appreciate your patience and understanding. Thanks. Julia
Dale P. replied
Thank you Julia. Don't worry. I can be very accommodating, patient and understanding. I just hope that my work with Isabel enables her to make a smooth transition to what can be a daunting second year of the A level maths course.