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Why Manchester Students Choose Online Biology Tuition

Greater Manchester is one of the biggest educational hubs in the North of England. With strong sixth forms and colleges across the region — from the grammar schools in Trafford to large sixth form colleges like Loreto, Xaverian, and Aquinas — thousands of students sit A-Level Biology every year. And with AQA actually headquartered in Manchester, you could argue the city has a closer connection to the exam process than anywhere else in the country.

But big cohorts mean big competition. If you’re aiming for a place at the University of Manchester’s medical school or any other competitive course, a B grade in Biology might not be enough. That’s where specialist tuition makes a real difference.

I work with students across Greater Manchester every week, and online tuition fits perfectly with how life works here. No battling through Deansgate traffic or squeezing onto a packed Metrolink tram after school. You log on from home, we share a screen, and we focus entirely on what you need. Every session is recorded too — students tell me that being able to rewatch explanations before exams is one of the most useful things about working with me.

Worth knowing: AQA is the most common exam board across Greater Manchester, and I taught the AQA 7402 specification full-time for over five years. I know the specification inside out — every topic, every required practical, every mark scheme pattern. If you’re on AQA, you’re working with someone who has deep, detailed knowledge of your exact course.

What My Students and Parents Say

I have a 100% grade improvement rate across all exam boards and all students. But don’t just take my word for it — here’s what students and parents have said about working with me.

Google & Trustpilot Reviews

These are verified reviews from Google and Trustpilot, displayed directly from the platforms:

What Students and Parents Have Told Me Directly

100%

Grade improvement rate

5.0 ★

Trustpilot rating

25+

Years teaching experience

You can read all my reviews on Trustpilot and Google, or visit my testimonials page for more.

Areas Covered Across Greater Manchester

Because my tuition is entirely online, it doesn’t matter where in Greater Manchester you are — the quality of teaching is exactly the same whether you’re in Didsbury or Denton, Altrincham or Ashton. I currently work with students from right across the region:

📍 Manchester City Centre
📍 Salford
📍 Trafford
📍 Stockport
📍 Oldham
📍 Bolton
📍 Bury
📍 Rochdale
📍 Tameside
📍 Wigan
📍 Altrincham
📍 Sale
📍 Didsbury
📍 Chorlton
📍 Withington
📍 Prestwich
📍 Worsley
📍 Cheadle

I also work with students just outside Greater Manchester — in Cheshire, Lancashire, and across the wider North West. Online tuition means geography is never a barrier.

Meet Your Biology Tutor: Tyrone

Tyrone — A-Level Biology Tutor and Chartered Biologist

Tyrone

Chartered Biologist (CBiol) & Former Examiner — WJEC/Eduqas & Edexcel

I’ve spent my career teaching A-Level Biology and I still love it. Eighteen years of that were at Gower College Swansea, where I taught AQA for over five years and WJEC for the rest. I’ve also worked as an examiner for both WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel, so I don’t just teach the content — I know exactly how examiners mark your answers. My degree is a BSc in Immunology from King’s College London, and I hold a research degree in Molecular Pharmacology from Newcastle University — so I understand the kind of depth that top universities expect. I’m a Chartered Biologist registered with the Royal Society of Biology and a PGCE-qualified teacher.

Learn more about me →

My Qualifications

Chartered Biologist (CBiol) — Royal Society of Biology
Member of the Royal Society of Biology (MRSB)
Former Examiner — WJEC/Eduqas AND Edexcel
25+ years teaching A-Level Biology
BSc Immunology — King’s College London
Research Degree — Molecular Pharmacology, Newcastle
PGCE qualified — University of Wales
100% grade improvement across all students
BSc Immunology degree certificate from King's College London — A-Level Biology tutor qualification PGCE teaching certificate from University of Wales — qualified A-Level Biology teacher A-Level Biology examiner award certificate — WJEC Eduqas and Edexcel exam board examiner

Thank You Cards From Students and Parents

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to receive cards and gifts from students and families. Here are just a few — they’re a big part of what keeps me motivated.

Thank you card from the Cooke family thanking their A-Level Biology tutor for helping their child succeed in exams Thank you card from Beth, an A-Level Biology student, after completing her course and achieving her target grade Thoughtful gift from a grateful parent of an A-Level Biology student after successful exam results Thank you card from Nisha, an A-Level Biology student, expressing gratitude for personalised online tuition and exam support

How I Help Manchester A-Level Biology Students

No two students are the same, and I don’t teach them as if they are. But there are a few things every Manchester student gets when they work with me:

Tailored to Your Exact Exam Board

Most Manchester students are on AQA, but not all. If you’re on OCR A, Edexcel, or IB, every session is built around your specification — your past papers, your mark schemes, your exam structure. The content overlap between boards is significant, but the exam technique is completely different.

Exam Technique From a Former Examiner

I’ve marked thousands of exam scripts. I know the exact phrases, structures, and approaches that earn marks — and the common mistakes that cost them. This is the single biggest factor in moving a student up a grade, and it’s something school teachers often don’t have time to cover in depth.

Past Papers With Detailed Feedback

We work through real past papers together, and I mark your answers against the official mark scheme with written feedback. You’ll see exactly where you’re dropping marks and what to do differently. There is no more effective form of revision than this.

Recorded Sessions You Can Rewatch

Every lesson is recorded and available for you to rewatch whenever you like. Students use these recordings as a personal revision library — pausing, replaying, and revisiting explanations in the weeks before their exams.

What’s included in every session: Past paper questions, detailed topic notes, a full video recording of the lesson, and access to my student resource portal with digital materials.

Tuition Options

One-to-One Tuition

Hour-long sessions completely tailored to your needs. This is the fastest way to target specific weaknesses and build exam confidence. Most of my Manchester students choose this option, particularly in the run-up to exams.

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Small Group Tuition

Sessions with 2–8 other students at a lower cost per person. This works well when a group of classmates from the same school and exam board want to study together. Several Manchester students have organised groups this way.

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Preparing Manchester Students for University

Manchester sits right at the heart of a cluster of excellent universities. Students from across Greater Manchester apply to some of the most competitive biology-related courses in the country, and the A-Level Biology grade is almost always a non-negotiable part of the entry requirements.

I help students build the grades these courses demand. But I also make sure they understand the subject at a depth that will serve them in university interviews and beyond. Memorising mark scheme answers gets you through the exam — but genuine understanding is what gets you a place on a competitive course.

1

University of Manchester

Typical offer: AAA for Biological Sciences, A*AA for Medicine. Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health is one of the largest in the UK, with world-class research in genetics, microbiology, and neuroscience. Hugely popular with local students.

2

University of Leeds

Typical offer: AAB for Biological Sciences, A*AA for Medicine. Just an hour from Manchester by train, Leeds is a popular choice for Greater Manchester students who want a Russell Group experience close to home.

3

University of Liverpool

Typical offer: ABB for Biological Sciences, AAA for Medicine. Another strong Russell Group option within easy reach of Manchester, with particular strengths in tropical medicine, veterinary science, and ecology.

4

University of Sheffield

Typical offer: AAB for Biomedical Sciences, AAA for Medicine. Sheffield’s biological sciences department consistently ranks well, and the city is an easy commute from the eastern side of Greater Manchester.

5

Lancaster University

Typical offer: AAB for Biological Sciences. Lancaster consistently ranks among the top UK universities for student satisfaction in biosciences, and it’s a realistic option for students across the North West.

Plenty of my Manchester students also apply further afield — to Oxbridge, Imperial, Edinburgh, and Bristol. The preparation is the same wherever you’re applying: deep understanding, strong exam technique, and the confidence that comes from genuinely knowing your stuff.

Exam Boards Used by Manchester Schools

The first question I ask any new student is which exam board they’re studying. It makes a huge difference to how I teach. The content across boards overlaps a lot, but the exam structure, question styles, and mark scheme expectations are quite different. Here’s what I typically see from Manchester students:

1

AQA (7402) — Dominant Across Greater Manchester

AQA is headquartered in Manchester, so it’s no surprise that the vast majority of schools and colleges in the region use it. Around 55% of all A-Level Biology students nationally sit AQA. The specification features three papers, including a 25-mark synoptic essay in Paper 3 that is unique to AQA and catches many students off guard. I taught AQA full-time for five years and know the mark schemes extremely well.

2

OCR A (H420) — Used by Some Grammar Schools

A smaller number of schools in Greater Manchester use OCR A, particularly some of the grammar schools in Trafford and some independent schools. OCR A is content-heavy with a strong emphasis on practical skills and data analysis across all papers.

3

Edexcel (9BN0 / 9BI0) — Less Common Locally

Edexcel is less common in the Manchester area than in London and the South East, but some colleges and independent schools do use it. The Edexcel A (Salters-Nuffield) approach is context-led, which suits some students but can feel unfamiliar if you’re used to traditional textbook-style teaching.

4

IB Biology — International Schools

Manchester has a growing number of international schools offering the IB Diploma. IB Biology at Higher Level is demanding and assessed very differently to A-Levels, with internal assessments, group projects, and a different marking philosophy. I cover both HL and SL.

Whatever board you’re on, I tailor every session to your specific syllabus. Here are my dedicated exam board pages with detailed information about how I help students on each one:

Tuition Fees for Manchester Students

My fees are the same for all students regardless of where you’re based. There are no hidden costs, no long-term contracts, and no sign-up fees. You pay per session and can stop at any time.

One-to-One Tuition

Weekdays (Mon–Fri): £80 per hour

Weekends (Sat–Sun): £120 per hour

Fully personalised to your exam board and topics. Includes recorded sessions, notes, and resource portal access.

Small Group Tuition

Weekdays (Mon–Fri): £50 per hour per student

Weekends (Sat–Sun): £80 per hour per student

Minimum 4 students per group. A popular option for Manchester students who organise groups with classmates on the same exam board.

Free 20-minute consultation: Before committing to anything, let’s have a quick chat about where you are, what you’re aiming for, and how I can help. No obligation, no hard sell — just an honest conversation. Book your free consultation here.

Ready to Improve Your A-Level Biology Grade?

Book a free 20-minute consultation — no obligation, just an honest conversation about how I can help.

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Frequently Asked Questions — Biology Tuition in Manchester

Yes. All my tuition is delivered online using a professional teaching platform with a shared whiteboard, screen sharing, and session recording. I work with students across Greater Manchester every week. Online tuition removes the need to travel across the city, which is a real advantage given Manchester’s traffic and public transport.

AQA is by far the most common board in Manchester and across the North West — AQA is actually headquartered in Manchester. Most state schools, sixth form colleges, and many independent schools in Greater Manchester use AQA. Some schools use OCR A or Edexcel, and a handful of international schools offer IB Biology. I cover every board and tailor sessions to your exact specification.

One-to-one tuition is £80 per hour Monday to Friday and £120 per hour at weekends. Small group tuition (minimum 4 students) is £50 per hour per student on weekdays and £80 at weekends. I also offer a free 20-minute consultation so we can discuss your needs before you commit to anything.

Absolutely. Many of my students from the Manchester area are applying for medicine, dentistry, and biomedical sciences at universities including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, and Sheffield. I help them achieve the A-Level Biology grades these courses demand and make sure they understand the subject at a depth that will serve them in interviews.

Yes, and it’s the board I get asked about most by Manchester students. I taught the AQA 7402 specification full-time for over five years and have detailed knowledge of all eight topics, the twelve required practicals, and the Paper 3 synoptic essay. I have a dedicated AQA page with more information about how I teach this specific board.

We use a professional online teaching platform with a shared interactive whiteboard, screen sharing, and the ability to annotate diagrams together in real time. Every session is recorded so you can rewatch it during revision. I also provide digital notes, past paper questions, and access to a student resource portal. Students consistently tell me they prefer online tuition to face-to-face because the recorded sessions are so valuable for revision.

Yes, and this is something Manchester students do regularly. If you and your classmates are on the same exam board, a small group session can be a cost-effective way to get expert tuition. You need a minimum of four students and everyone benefits from hearing each other’s questions. Get in touch and we can arrange it.

I’m a Chartered Biologist (CBiol) registered with the Royal Society of Biology. I have a BSc in Immunology from King’s College London, a research degree in Molecular Pharmacology from Newcastle University, and a PGCE. I spent 18 years teaching A-Level Biology at Gower College Swansea and have worked as an examiner for both WJEC/Eduqas and Edexcel.

A-Level Biology is widely regarded as one of the more demanding A-Levels. In 2024, only 27.7% of students achieved an A grade or above, which is lower than Chemistry, Physics, and Maths. The jump from GCSE catches many Manchester students off guard — the syllabus is vast, at least 10% of marks require mathematical skills, and examiners expect precise scientific language rather than the descriptive answers that worked at GCSE. The topics students struggle with most are respiration and photosynthesis, genetics and gene expression, and the immune system. With the right support and exam technique coaching, though, it’s absolutely manageable.

Most of my Manchester students book one session per week during term time, which is enough to build momentum and stay on top of the syllabus. Students who are further behind or preparing for exams often move to two sessions per week in the months leading up to their papers. Research suggests that around eight hours of focused one-to-one tuition can move a student up by one full grade. I recommend starting with a weekly session and adjusting based on your progress and how far away your exams are.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is intended for educational guidance only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, 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.

Trademark Acknowledgement: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, IB, and Cambridge International are registered trademarks of their respective organisations. Biology Education is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or formally associated with any exam board.