Olivia Á.

Hi, I’m Maja! (Pronounced Maya). I’m an astrophysics postgrad and a qualified secondary school science teacher. I’ve been through the full rollercoaster of science education, from fighting my way through a master’s degree and emerging with first-class honours, to teaching Year 9s on a Friday afternoon who would rather be anywhere else. Now I help GCSE and A-Level students believe what I already know: you can do this. My goal is to make science feel understandable, interesting, and even a bit fun. When I’m not teaching, you'll find me hanging upside down on an aerial hoop, or writing stories inspired by science and folklore. I went to secondary school in Hungary, where I was initially more interested in the humanities, until I fell in love with space and modern physics. For my leaving qualifications, I completed Advanced Exams in Mathematics and Physics and achieved an A. At university, I completed an integrated Master of Physics degree at the University of Southampton. My first three years focused on general physics (including lab work, mechanics, quantum physics, solid state physics, and wave physics) with a few modules of astronomy. During my master’s year, I had the incredible opportunity to conduct research at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where I studied the relationship between black holes and their host galaxies and wrote my thesis on this topic. I graduated with first-class honours in Astrophysics. After university, I felt drawn to education and wanted to help students grasp the beauty of science, so I completed a year of school-centred initial teacher training. I now hold a PGCE with QTS as a qualified science teacher.

My name is Karima! I currently study an Economics degree at Swansea University and achieved A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry and Economics. I have been tutoring for over 5 years and enjoy being able to transfer my knowledge to others whilst instilling within them why their education is so important. I attained 10 grade 7-9s at GCSE in Business, History and Drama, and progressed to study A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Economics. I tutored English Language, Reading, KS2, KS3 and 11+ content on the side. I am currently studying BsC Economics at Swansea University.

I have worked as a lecturer at De Montfort University for over 15 years. I hold a PGCE in further Education, an MA in English Language Teaching, and a BA honours in English. I taught English for Academic Purposes at university. This enabled me to develop various teaching approaches at different levels of English usage. I have also taught KS3-KS5 in the UK and abroad during which I have been observed several times and demonstrated that I was outstanding. I have used various teaching aids ranging from pictures, flash cards, to a variety of IT techniques. I have also used peer interaction and assessment to develop learners. Teaching at university enabled me to teach presentation skills. This has enabled me to do the same during training, coaching and mentoring sessions with colleagues. I have mentored a number of tutors. In my experience as a university lecturer I have used a variety of online platforms to teach students during the Covid-19 pandemic. I began my journey into English in 2002 when I did a BA (hons) in English at Demontfort university. Following this I did an MA in Children’s Literature in 2005 due to my immense love of reading. However, it was only when I landed a job at a resources centre that I decided to specialize in teaching and so I did a PGCE in education and an MA in English language teaching both in 2007-2009. I absolutely love teaching since then - as cliche as it sounds it is truly my passion and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I love my students and to see them excel truly makes me content. I’ve been told that I have a gift for building a rapport with learners and I to feel this is something that comes naturally to me because as a student I myself struggled with being misunderstood and branded as a ‘bad student’. I feel as a result I can relate to students and their struggles more easily. I’m also very patient and an excellent listener.

I help students turn ‘I can’t do it’ into ‘I actually enjoy this!’ — by building confidence through patience, positivity, and creative teaching. I specialise in Maths and 11+ preparation, supporting students of all abilities to feel calm, capable, and motivated. My background as a learning support assistant taught me how to break complex ideas into clear, manageable steps — especially for learners who struggle with confidence or anxiety around maths. I use interactive methods, games, and real-life examples to keep lessons fun and memorable. Above all, I believe progress starts with encouragement, and I aim to create lessons where students feel supported, proud of their effort, and inspired to keep improving. I studied Psychology at university, where I developed a strong understanding of how students learn and how confidence impacts performance. My studies helped me recognise that progress isn’t just about intelligence — it’s about mindset and approach. Before that, I achieved three A-Levels and gained hands-on experience working in schools as a learning support assistant, supporting students across maths, English, and general study skills. I’m now planning to continue my studies in Marketing and Business Management, combining my interest in psychology and communication with a passion for helping others grow and reach their potential. This mix of academic study and practical classroom experience has shaped my calm, supportive teaching style, helping me identify learning gaps quickly and adapt lessons to each student’s needs.