About
Michael Carragher
Economics & Business Tutor
A-level and GCSE Examiner, qualified teacher, former Head of Department with 21 years teaching experience based in Kingston-upon-Thames.
I set up Seven Skills Tutoring in order to focus more on the part of teaching that makes the biggest difference: working one-to-one with students with a clear, customised plan to help them realise their full potential in the exam hall. Most of my work is with students of A-level Economics and A-level Business but I tutor across GCSE, IB and undergraduate Economics too.
I am an experienced A-level and GCSE examiner, thus use this expertise to help my tutees master exam technique and also in building awareness of the types of topics and issues featured in exam papers.
I tutor students from a diverse range of educational institutions: Independent schools and colleges, Grammar schools, Academies, Sixth Form colleges and Community schools. I also tutor occasionally home-schooled students, as well as undergraduates studying degree modules in microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Qualifications & experience
The credentials behind the tutoring
- BSc, MPhil, PGCE. Economics and Business teacher.
- Qualified teacher (QTS). 21 years in teaching and Head of Department roles across independent and State schools.
- A-level and GCSE Examiner. Both Economics and Business exam papers.
- Enhanced DBS certificate. Up to date.
- 14 years tutoring privately. Mostly A-level Economics and A-level Business.
Approach
How I work
Diagnostics first
The first tutoring session includes a diagnostic assessment of student needs. This paves the way for implementing a clear action plan for raising student attainment.
Tutoring focused on specific Exam Board demands
The economics syllabuses of AQA, Cambridge OCR, Cambridge International, Edexcel, Eduqas and IB Diploma are not the same in terms of subject content, the types of exam assessment used and the way each type of assessment is marked. My tutoring in respect to topic coverage and exam technique is therefore always specific to the exam board studied by the student.
Contextualised learning and tutoring
I attach huge importance to encouraging my tutees to think, speak and write in context, whether this be in terms of a topic case study or a real-world issue/problem in economics or business. Contextualising learning in this way builds a deeper level of understanding and is essential for fully mastering the ‘high-order’ skills of analysis and evaluation which are both needed to secure top grades.
Schools and institutions
Where my students come from
My sixth form tutees have studied at a wide range of institutions:
- Independent schools
- Christ's Hospital, Collingham College, Epsom College, Hampton School, Kings College School Wimbledon, MPW London, Reed's School, St Edward's School Oxford, Surbiton High School, Tormead School
- Grammar schools
- Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School, Tiffin Boys' School, Tiffin Girls' School, Wallington High School for Girls
- Other schools and colleges
- Cheam High School, Coombe Girls' School, Esher Sixth Form College, Glenthorne High School, Grey Court School, Gunnersbury School, Hinchley Wood School, Orleans Park School, St Richard Reynolds Catholic High School, Teddington School, Waldegrave School, Westminster City School