Jim D

I Have been a teacher of Physics in a variety of 11-18 Comprehensive schools, both Boys and Mixed Co-educational settings. Teaching both OCR and AQA GCSE’s and A-Levels along with some Level 2 BTEC Physics, since 1988 in Essex, Enfield and Hertfordshire.

I have been one-to-tutoring for the past 2 years. Started delivering A-Level tutoring during the first COVID outbreak once face-to-face studying could resume and then completed FaceTime tutoring during the Winter lockdown. I have continued tutoring initially via word of mouth and now offering my services through Tutorspot.

I will tailor my tutoring to the needs of my students. I generally create 2 learning objectives per session and a list of principles, theories, calculations and applications to be discussed to meet these objectives. I have created presentations of images and video clips to illustrate key points when required. First session is generally a getting to know the student opportunity where level of need can be assessed and identified. I encourage tutee to make a summary concept map of sessions immediately after the session and will set private study tasks - in the form of reading, researching, experimenting and answering qualitative and quantitative problems as the situations allow. I have written a series of mini-ebooks (I call them nutshell in Physics guides) to cover the major points of both the GCSE and A-Level Physics courses. I use and share these free of charge with my tutee and students I teach during my normal day to day teaching. They are generally well received.

I have taught extensively the OCR GCSE and A-Level Physics examination courses prior to 2014, and since that time to date, teach AQA A-Level and GCSE Physics in Hertfordshire. I currently tutor the OCR Advancing Physics A-Level course but my experience of this course is limited.

Students I have supported have achieved their target grades but as yet have not had to sit an external exam due to COVID. In my normal teaching my A-Level record is 95+% A*-E in a comprehensive setting with 50+% A*-B. At GCSE classes, typically achieving 100% 9-5 grades with 50+% achieving 7 or above.