Stephen Cox

I am currently taking bookings for TMUA and STEP tuition, to start in Jun/Jul/Aug 2026. (TMUA takes place in Oct 2026/Jan 2027; STEP takes place in June 2027.)

I currently have only very limited availability.

I taught mathematics at universities in the UK and Australia for more than 25 years. I was Admissions Tutor for Mathematics at the University of Nottingham for several years. I have also taught year 7-10 classes in Nottinghamshire secondary schools, in person and online, as part of a teacher training course.

I have used my university teaching experience to support students in their A level preparations and university applications, including the UCAS application process, personal statement, preparation for the TMUA and STEP exams, and interview practice. A level students that I have tutored recently have secured places at top-tier universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Warwick, Bristol, Bath, York and Birmingham.

My teaching experience in local schools equips me to tutor GCSE students in both Foundation and Higher Tiers, and students studying for the FSMQ Additional Mathematics, Level 2 Further Mathematics or Level 2 Extended Mathematics. My recent GCSE students have succeeded in goals ranging from passing the Foundation exam to securing a Higher Tier grade 9.

I have a current Enhanced DBS certificate.

So whether you are looking to catch up on some missed learning as you head towards GCSEs, aiming to improve your performance in A levels or in university applications and entrance exams, I can provide you with the support you need.

I have a First Class honours degree in Mathematics from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Bristol. While working at the University of Nottingham, I won a Lord Dearing Award for my “excellent reputation for engaging students and delivering innovative teaching” and a Vice-Chancellor’s Medal for setting up and running a successful peer-mentoring scheme for Mathematics students.

I am calm and patient. I aim to build confidence and develop a good understanding of mathematics through a careful sequencing of tuition; this helps to ensure that the student’s learning is secure and that my tuition provides an excellent foundation for exams and for future studies.

Homework is a key element of my tutoring: it gives the student the opportunity to practise skills that they have developed during the tutoring sessions; it also shows me where the student’s new knowledge is secure and where we need to do further practice to help consolidate that knowledge. Normally, I set and mark weekly homework for each student and use their performance in the homework to guide my planning of subsequent sessions.

It might be that you have specific topics in maths that you would like to work on, or it might be that you want to regain your confidence more generally. Accordingly, we might agree to focus on specific topics, or we might choose topics to fill knowledge gaps as they become apparent through tutoring sessions and weekly homeworks.

Tutoring sessions themselves generally include a mix of explicit teaching from me together with a lot of student practice on relevant problems. My aim in the tutoring sessions is to support the student as they develop greater competence and fluency across a range of mathematical topics. As their mathematical fluency grows, my students become more confident mathematicians.