I'm Dave Ashton, the person behind Cardiff Maths Tutor. I am dyslexic, and have first-hand experience of what it is like to struggle at school, including in mathematics. This means that my lessons are tailored with activities that embed understanding and develop students' ability and confidence in mathematics.  I have created exam walk through videos to support my students' which will always be available on YouTube to help any students, so if you want to see my teaching methods please watch any video you like on YouTube.

Although this is a new venture for me, I have the recent experience of teaching all the new and current examination specifications. Overall, I have been teaching mathematics for 16 years and have taught at some of the top performing private and state schools in Wales including: Cathedral School Llandaff, Bishop of Llandaff CIW School, Bassaleg School and Caerleon Comprehensive. I have also worked as mathematics adviser in South East Wales to support school improvement in mathematics. In that time I have taught students at all ages and levels of ability. I tutor GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy Higher and Intermediate, as well as AS Pure Mathematics and A2 Pure Mathematics.

The performance of the most recent classes I have taught include: 

At A2 pure maths, 44% of students achieved A* grades, with 75% obtaining an A grades or above and 100% C grade or above. 

At AS pure maths, 100% A grade (top grade available), with 80% of students achieving full marks in my module.

At GCSE, I have experience of teaching both the English 9-1 qualification and the Welsh (A*-G)  qualifications of Mathematics GCSE and Numeracy GCSE, as well as Additional Mathematics. I have taught classes that have achieved the C grade that students desperately needed to study subjects away from Mathematics, as well as teaching classes of 32 students where 100% pupils have achieved an A grade or higher, with 75% achieving A* grades. 

I have had great feedback from students that I teach, please see the testimonials section for reviews submitted by previous students, tutees and parents. 

In my spare time, I love to spend time with my dogs, Russell and Albie. Together with my fiancée Bryony, I like to spend time on walks around Cardiff or getting to the beach in Pembrokeshire which is where I spent most of my childhood. I also love to cycle on the road and have completed some 100 mile bike rides which were as physically demanding as summiting the biggest mountains in Africa. 

One of the other loves in my life is spending time in the outdoors both at home and further afield, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Toubkal in Africa.

I have been recognised by both Google and the Welsh Government in my teaching career.

To become a Google Certified Teacher which has now rebranded as a Google Certified Innovator I had to display a series of characteristics. Google stated educators who attend a Google Teacher Academy become Google Certified Teachers (GCTs). GCTs are:

• Outstanding educators with a passion for using innovative technologies and approaches to improve teaching and learning.

• Creative leaders who understand opportunities and challenges, and have a desire to help empower others in their local community and beyond.

• Ambassadors for change who model high expectations, life­long learning, collaboration, equity, and innovation.

I received a Highly Commended award in 2016 from the Welsh Government for my innovative use of technology to enhance learning. You can read about my project via this link. 

I appreciate the importance of safeguarding. I have a received a DBS check, and pay for this to be annually updated.