Enhanced DBS Background Check
120+ Hours Taught
30 Students Taught
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Recent AQA Examiner Training
About me
With nearly 20 years of experience in secondary education and over 13 years as a Head of Geography, Richard Selway is a seasoned and highly respected geography educator. He has taught and led departments across a variety of schools—including high-performing grammar and academy settings—delivering consistently strong exam outcomes and transformative learning experiences.
Richard’s extensive background includes leading curriculum design, mentoring new teachers, and delivering whole-school CPD. His geography tutoring is grounded in deep subject knowledge, rigorous academic standards, and a passion for helping students connect classroom geography to the real world.
Why Parents & Students Choose Richard
✅ Proven Track Record of Exam Success: As Head of Geography at Magna Academy, Richard raised GCSE outcomes from 50% to 72% grades 9–5, and boosted Progress 8 scores from -1.52 to +0.67. For your child, this means they’ll be learning with someone who knows exactly how to deliver results—whatever their starting point.
✅ Deep Curriculum Expertise: Richard has led the design and implementation of 11–18 geography curricula, including GCSE and A-Level. His lessons are structured for long-term understanding, with built-in strategies for retention, application, and exam technique.
✅ Fieldwork & Enrichment Leader: Richard has planned and led local and international field trips and extracurricular programmes. He brings geography alive with real-world insight, helping students develop both exam knowledge and a love for the subject.
✅ Mentor & Coach to Teachers: He has coached dozens of trainee teachers and early-career staff. As a geography tutor, this means Richard is not only a subject expert—he’s also a gifted communicator who can explain concepts clearly, identify misconceptions quickly, and adapt his approach to every learner.
How Richard Supports Students
📈 Targeted Exam Preparation: From mastering command words to structuring 8-mark answers, Richard builds students’ confidence in tackling all aspects of exam papers across AQA, Edexcel, OCR, and Eduqas.
🧠 Conceptual Clarity & Skills Focus: He helps students not just memorise facts, but understand big ideas—like globalisation, sustainability, and geomorphology—while embedding key geographical skills like map reading, data analysis, and case study application.
🌍 Broader Learning & Engagement: With a background in conservation and expedition leadership, Richard enriches his tutoring with stories and case studies from across the globe—from coral reefs in the Philippines to glacial environments in the Alps.
Experience with Neurodiversity and SEND
With nearly two decades in the classroom and over 13 years as Head of Geography, Richard Selway has worked closely with students of all abilities and needs, including those with a wide range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). His tutoring is underpinned by a deep understanding of inclusive education, shaped by years of experience developing curriculum and leading teaching for diverse learner profiles.
How Richard Supports SEND Students:
🔎 Individualised Approach: Richard recognises that no two learners are the same. He adapts every session to meet individual needs—whether students benefit from scaffolded resources, clear visual support, verbal reinforcement, or step-by-step breakdowns of complex topics.
🧠 Experience with a Broad Range of Needs: From working with students with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD to those with processing difficulties, anxiety, or low confidence, Richard is skilled in adjusting his pace and delivery style to help every learner feel understood and supported.
📚 Leadership-Level Understanding of Inclusive Practice: As a long-standing department head, Richard led on whole-department differentiation strategy, progress tracking for all learners, and staff training on supporting SEND students in mainstream classrooms. He knows how to balance academic challenge with accessibility, ensuring that SEND learners make excellent progress without being overwhelmed.
🧭 Calm, Supportive, Structured Tutoring: Richard creates a safe and reassuring space where learners feel confident to ask questions, make mistakes, and build resilience. His structured sessions reduce cognitive load and help students gain the clarity and confidence they need to succeed.
What This Means for Parents:
Your child is learning with a tutor who understands both the pedagogical and emotional needs of SEND learners.
You can expect measurable progress without undue pressure, through tutoring that’s responsive, practical, and compassionate.
Your child will benefit from professional insight developed over 20 years, delivered in a warm, student-focused environment.
Qualifications
🎓Newcastle University
🌟Master of Education (Distinction)
🎓University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
🌟PGCE Geography
🎓University of Plymouth 🌟BSc Earth Science
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