In the initial meeting, I'll aim to find out the student's weaknesses, strengths, general interests and preferred learning style. If the aim is exam preparation, I will get the student to complete selected past year paper questions. This helps me find out what areas the student needs support with and also how I could present material in a way that will engage him/her. We will then agree a plan of action together. In ongoing sessions, I will also try to integrate and model key study skills such as mind mapping, taking concise notes, memory tricks etc. There will be quizzes either oral or written at the end of each lesson or start of the following lesson to check how much learning has been made. The student will then be asked to evaluate their own progress and set targets for themselves. Regular file checks will also be made as my experience tells me that well-organised students are 99% of the time the best performing students. Ultimately, I hope that students enjoy learning the subject for the sake of it, become expert learners and cease to need my services.
I have been a face to face and online tutor in OCR, AQA, Edexcel & CIE GCSE/IGCSE Sciences for over a decade. I have tutored 11+ & 13+ Maths and Science, OCR & AQA A Level Biology and IBDP Biology for more than 5 years. I have assisted numerous students to gain entry into highly competitive public schools such as Winchester, Westminster, Charterhouse, Harrow, Eton and St. Paul’s(boys). Furthermore, I was most delighted to help 2 students win scholarships to St Paul's and Harrow.
Following completion of a Postgraduate certificate in Education and achieving Qualified Teacher Status, I taught in an inner city state school (William Morris Academy) which provided me with much experience dealing with students with specific learning differences.
I then ran my own Maths & English centre and discovered that I quite enjoyed working with Yr 5- Y 7 students as well.
After that I taught at prestigious public schools such as Godolphin and Latymer and St. Paul's (boys) where my classes’s iGCSE Biology results were consistently at 100% A*-B for 4 years. I also taught A level Biology and IB Biology at Godolphin and just A level Biology at St Paul's and again the classes I taught had a 100% A*-B for A levels and a minimum of level 5 in the IB. As a result of my past experience as a medical student at Imperial College, I was given responsibility for preparing 6th formers in both schools for medical and dental school interviews, the BMAT and advising them on their UCAS statements. During this time, I was also a moderator for OCR A Level Biology.
I then took a sabbatical to teach in an international school in Kuala Lumpur where my skills for working with students whose has English as their 2nd language was strengthened.
I am currently back in Godolphin teaching Biology from Yr 7 to Yr 13.
PGCE Secondary Science (Biology specialist), Roehampton University
B.Sc. (2:1) Medical Science, Imperial College.
Hi Jonathan
We are really keen that you should continue working with M and S and are delighted with the progress they both made. Like you, we feel it would have been nice if S had done slightly better than BB in the GCSE science but who knows how she would have done without you, and with your support and with a focus on one science subject only now at Standard Level I hope she can continue to improve. The objective frankly looking ahead is to get a 6 or 7 to support the overall IB score. M improved hugely with the help you gave and his ability to deal with the exams increased notably. I have no doubt that this is as much about work and revision discipline and technique as it is about understanding. D. (S got a 6 for her IB Biology and M won a place at KCS)
Hi Jonathan
Thank you very much for all you have done - without your help, G would not be anywhere near where he is now. Regards, M
L got a C – best she could do as she only sat the foundations papers, 100% in 3 exams. Thank you! Esther.
I found Jonathan to be genuinely interested in teaching and children. He is flexible and professional. I would highly recommend him. R Vyse.
He got an A* in Chemistry and As in Biology and Physics, so we are very pleased! JP.
Dear Jonathan
A obtained a B overall for his General Science exam. I think the individual scores were B for Biology and Physics and a C for chemistry. As you know, his goal was an A. He is pleased with his B and hopefully he has learnt that an A grade requires more than last minute cramming.
Thank you for your input as it undoubtedly improved his understanding of the subjects. He must be better prepared next year, but all things considered he gave it his best shot.If you are still tutoring in the future I feel sure A would be pleased to work with you again.
Best regards and thanks, A.N.
Hi Jonathan,
J said he learnt lots today and also enjoyed himself, well coming from a 15 year old that's got to be a winner! Thank you Jonathan for inspiring J he really has enjoyed his tutoring and said he has learnt a great deal.Regards,A.
Dear Jonathan,
I was just about to e-mail you! A received B in Maths and a disappointing, but quite expected C in Physics. His teacher complained about his attitude to Physics quite a lot, so it does not surprise me that he did not do better. However, with your support he at least obtained a very respectable B in Maths, which is a good start for his university preparation. He also has B in Business Studies, so we shall start building on that. I will be most grateful if you could offer A extra tuition during exeat weekends to give him a boost for his A-levels.
Kind regards,S.A.
Hi Jonathan, hope all is well. Sorry I thought I had also sent you the good news of F's excellent results- Straight A*s but it seems I had not and it was just F who had rang you. I still thought we must thank you again for getting F achieve these great grades. Thank you for all your help and and guidance. F really enjoyed his lessons with you. He has been awarded a scholarship from Latymer Upper. Thanks. Best, FM.
I once ate deep fried maggots and and crickets as a result of a Yr 10 student’s challenge to me that she would gain an A* in her end of year examination after I gave her a D in her end of Spring term report!