About Tyrone — Your A-Level Biology Tutor
I’m Tyrone — a Chartered Biologist (CBiol MRSB), qualified teacher, and former examiner for WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel. After 18 years teaching A-Level Biology at Gower College Swansea, I now tutor full-time — combining over 25 years of teaching experience with genuine laboratory research background to help students across all UK and international exam boards achieve their best grades.
Last updated: February 2026
Why I Tutor Full-Time
After 18 years teaching A-Level Biology at Gower College Swansea — one of the largest further education colleges in Wales — I made the decision to leave college teaching and dedicate myself entirely to private tuition. It was not a decision I took lightly, but it was the right one for my students.
In a college setting, I was bound by fixed timetables, large class sizes, and institutional priorities that didn’t always put the individual student first. Tutoring full-time has changed that completely. I can now offer sessions throughout the day — from early morning through to evening — giving students and parents far more flexibility to find a time that works around school, college, and other commitments. There is no need to wait until after 4pm for a session.
Working exclusively as a tutor also means I can give every student my full attention and commitment. I am not splitting my energy between classroom teaching, marking coursework for 120 students, and attending staff meetings. Instead, every hour of my working day is focused on helping individual students or small groups improve their understanding and their grades. I prepare tailored resources for each student, I follow up between sessions, and I adapt my approach to exactly what each person needs.
The move to full-time tutoring has also allowed me to expand beyond the exam boards I taught in college. During my time at Gower College, I delivered both the AQA (5 years) and WJEC (approximately 13 years) A-Level Biology specifications. Now, I tutor across all major UK and international exam boards — AQA, Edexcel (A, B, and International), OCR A, OCR B, WJEC, Eduqas, IB Biology, and Cambridge International (CIE 9700) — supporting students not just across the UK but internationally, including students in Kuwait, France, Switzerland, Gibraltar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong.
What full-time tutoring means for you: More available time slots throughout the day, undivided attention on your progress, resources prepared specifically for your exam board and topics, and a tutor whose sole professional focus is helping you succeed.
Teaching Experience & Examiner Background
My teaching career spans over 25 years, beginning with lecturing on HND, GNVQ, and National Diploma courses at Bridgend College (covering anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and animal health), followed by 18 years at Gower College Swansea delivering A-Level Biology. That depth of classroom experience — teaching thousands of students across multiple syllabuses and ability levels — is something I bring directly into my tutoring.
Crucially, I have also worked as an examiner. I have examined for both WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel (Unit 6BI03 1B), which means I have sat in marking rooms, applied mark schemes, and seen first-hand how examiners award — and withhold — marks. This is not something most tutors can offer, and it fundamentally shapes how I teach exam technique.
Examiner insight: Having marked real A-Level Biology papers, I know the precise language examiners expect, the common mistakes that cost students grades, and the difference between answers that scrape a pass and answers that secure top marks. I bring this knowledge directly into every session.
British Biology Olympiad
During my time at Gower College Swansea, I coordinated and ran the British Biology Olympiad — a national competition organised by the Royal Society of Biology that challenges the most able A-Level Biology students in the country. My students consistently performed well, winning medals and gaining recognition in the local press. Running the Olympiad required teaching well beyond the A-Level syllabus, covering university-level concepts in ecology, physiology, genetics, and evolutionary biology — experience that directly benefits my tutoring students today, particularly those aiming for A* grades or preparing for university admissions interviews.
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I was also on the teacher advisory board for the Big Picture magazine produced by the Wellcome Trust, and I am a registered educator with HHMI BioInteractive — one of the world’s leading producers of free science education resources.
Academic Qualifications
My academic background spans immunology, molecular pharmacology, and education — giving me a depth of subject knowledge that goes well beyond the A-Level syllabus.
Research Degree in Molecular Pharmacology
Newcastle University, Northern Institute for Cancer Research. My research investigated the molecular pharmacology of platinum anti-cancer drugs (BBR 3464 and Cisplatin), developing a novel technique using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry to detect drug-DNA adducts in clinical samples from patients receiving chemotherapy during Phase II clinical trials.
Post Graduate Certificate in Education
University of Wales
Open University — 150 Credits
Credits towards a BSc degree, The Open University
Certificates & Evidence
Research Experience & Scientific Publications
Before focusing on teaching full-time, I spent several years as a working scientist. My research at Newcastle University’s Northern Institute for Cancer Research investigated how platinum-based anti-cancer drugs interact with DNA in patients undergoing chemotherapy. I developed a novel detection technique combining ICP-MS with fluorescent DNA probes and presented my findings at national and international conferences, including the British Association for Cancer Research and the International Conference on Plasma Source Mass Spectrometry.
This real-world laboratory experience means I can teach topics like DNA, protein synthesis, pharmacology, immunology, and analytical techniques from personal hands-on knowledge — not just from a textbook.
Publications
Royal Society of Chemistry — Plasma Source Mass Spectrometry: Applications and Emerging Technologies, 2003, pp. 82–90 (ISBN 0-85404-603-8).
British Journal of Cancer, 2003, 88, suppl 1, S42.
British Journal of Cancer, 2002, 86, suppl 1, S108.
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Why this matters for students: Having worked with techniques like ICP-MS, gel filtration chromatography, ELISA, DNA extraction, tissue culture, fluorescence microscopy, and gas chromatography, I can explain practical and analytical techniques with real-world context and genuine understanding.
Professional Memberships & Accreditation
I am committed to maintaining the highest professional standards. My memberships in learned bodies demonstrate ongoing engagement with both the science and the teaching profession.
Certificates & Evidence
Continuing Professional Development
I believe that effective teaching requires staying current with both the science and the latest educational approaches. I regularly undertake CPD through the Royal Society of Biology, attend subject-specific conferences, and complete specialist training programmes to ensure my teaching methods and subject knowledge remain at the highest level.
Laboratory & Industry Experience
My career before full-time teaching included several years working in professional laboratory environments. This hands-on scientific experience sets me apart from tutors who have only ever taught from textbooks.
Quality Analyst — Microbiology & Chemistry
L’Oréal Manufacturing (UK) Ltd. Microbiological identification and enumeration, chemical testing (titrations, pH, density, viscosity, gas chromatography, Karl Fischer water content), quality release of finished goods, and investigating out-of-specification products.
Microbiologist
Sunjuice Ltd. Performed air, water, and product testing for micro-organisms; enumeration of yeasts and moulds; pH, acid, pulp, and brix analysis of fruit juices; shelf life determination.
Phlebotomist & Medical Laboratory Assistant
Princess of Wales Hospital, Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust. Blood sample collection by venesection and capillary tube methods, preparation of blood and bone marrow films, staff training in blood collection techniques.
Laboratory Technician
Exploration Associates Ltd. Physical and chemical testing of soil and water samples, including sulphate content, pH, compaction testing, and particle size distribution.
Real science, real experience: When I teach topics like immunology, microbiology, biochemical testing, or analytical techniques, I draw on personal experience of using these methods professionally in hospitals, research laboratories, and industry.
Safeguarding & Data Protection
The safety of my students is my highest priority. I maintain full compliance with safeguarding and data protection requirements.
Enhanced DBS Certificate
I hold an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate and subscribe to the DBS Update Service, which allows my certificate to be verified at any time. My DBS status is also checked annually by The Tutors’ Association as a condition of my membership.
ICO Registration
Biology Education is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection. You can verify my registration by searching for my registration number on the ICO public register.
Professional Affiliations & Useful Links
I am affiliated with the following organisations. Click any link to visit their website and verify my credentials.
Frequently Asked Questions
I hold a BSc (Hons) in Immunology from King’s College London, a Research Degree in Molecular Pharmacology from Newcastle University, and a PGCE from the University of Wales. I am a Chartered Biologist (CBiol) and member of the Royal Society of Biology, the Chartered College of Teaching, and The Tutors’ Association.
Yes. I hold a PGCE teaching qualification and have taught A-Level Biology in the further education sector for over 18 years at Gower College Swansea. I am a member of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Yes. I have examined for both WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel exam boards. This examiner experience means I know exactly what gains marks and what loses them in A-Level Biology exams.
Yes. I hold an enhanced DBS certificate and subscribe to the DBS Update Service, which allows my certificate to be checked at any time. My DBS status is verified annually by The Tutors’ Association as part of their membership requirements.
Yes. Before teaching, I worked as a phlebotomist and medical laboratory assistant in the NHS, a microbiologist, and a quality analyst in chemistry and microbiology at L’Oréal. My research at Newcastle University involved investigating platinum anti-cancer drugs and I have three published scientific papers, including a book chapter published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Yes. Biology Education is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection. You can verify this on the ICO public register. For full details, see my Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is intended for informational purposes only. Biology Education and its author accept no responsibility for individual exam outcomes. Students are advised to consult their own teachers, tutors, and official exam board resources as part of their revision.