A Chemistry Teacher in Lancashire has taken it upon himself to provide a solution to the acute shortage of science teachers by providing lessons online from his home.
Online Chemistry Tutor Ltd. started as an online platform for private tuition and study advice in late 2016. Steve Smith, Founder and Director said: “Private Tuition is a growing industry in the UK. Most tutors are limited to a catchment area within a few miles of their home. I saw an opportunity to use internet-based video communication and screen sharing technology as a way to reach students in need of a tutor across the UK and possibly beyond. The business was started as a part-time enterprise whilst working as a full-time Chemistry Teacher, but the decision was taken recently to leave mainstream education and to develop the business full-time.
“The business offers one-to-one or one-to-many support for students of GCSE, IGCSE or A Level Chemistry. There was a surprising early development when I was approached by a Head of Sixth Form at a School in London who was in need of support for an A Level Chemistry class. Following on from a successful trial lesson, I have been commissioned to provide six hours of A Level Chemistry Teaching per week to 18 students. This teaching is provided from my home almost 200 miles away.
“The desperate shortage of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) teachers, particularly experienced teachers, has been well documented in the news and it appears to be particularly acute in certain parts of the country such as the South East. As an experienced A Level Chemistry teacher, I am well placed to be able to offer teaching support as part of a blended teaching solution to schools and I am actively pursuing opportunities to offer such support to other schools who might be in need of it.”
For more information, visit www.onlinechemistrytutor.net.
