Derek Weir

I'm a mechanical engineer and further education lecturer with over 25 years of industry experience spanning marine engineering, oil and gas, facilities management, and manufacturing. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the West of Scotland, and for the past five years I've been teaching SVQ, NC, and HND programmes at Scottish colleges. Through Next Level Learning Glasgow, I bring that same rigour and real-world grounding to one-to-one and small-group tuition in Maths, Physics, and Engineering Science.
Experience
25+ years in engineering practice — from marine engineering cadet and officer roles through offshore, process, facilities, and hotel engineering — giving lessons genuine industry context, not just textbook theory.
5 years of FE lecturing at West College Scotland and City of Glasgow College, delivering SVQ, NC, and HND programmes including Applied Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Process Control.
Curriculum and materials development — extensive experience producing lecture presentations, tutorial workbooks, worked solutions, and exam preparation resources across engineering qualifications.
Marking and assessment experience, giving me a clear, practical eye for exactly what exam boards and assessors are looking for.
Subjects covered: Maths, Physics, and Engineering Science from National 5 through HNC/HND level, plus English language and writing support.
Teaching Methods
Worked-example first approach — I break problems down step-by-step before asking students to apply the method themselves, building confidence before independence.
Real-world grounding — abstract formulas get tied back to actual engineering and physical situations, so the "why" makes sense alongside the "how."
Tailored to the syllabus — lessons are mapped directly to SQA and college assessment criteria, so study time is always exam-relevant.
Diagnostic-led planning — I identify specific gaps early and build a targeted plan rather than a generic curriculum.
Exam technique coaching — drawing on marking experience to teach students how to structure answers for maximum marks, not just correct working.
Flexible delivery — in-person and online sessions, with resources and practice materials provided between lessons.
Qualities
Patient and approachable — happy to revisit a concept as many times as it takes, without judgement.
Clear communicator — able to translate technical, industry-level knowledge into language that lands at any level, from National 5 to HND.
Genuinely invested — years in a classroom and on the tools have shown me what actually helps students improve, and I care about seeing that progress.
Structured and reliable — sessions are well-prepared, goal-oriented, and consistent.
Encouraging under pressure — particularly effective with students who've lost confidence in Maths or Physics and need to rebuild it before exams.