David V.

I am a fully qualified secondary-school Teacher of Physics working at a top independent school, with thousands of hours of experience tutoring students in Science and Mathematics. I am also a graduate of Durham University with a Master’s Degree in Physics and Astronomy, and prior to teaching I worked as an experimental physicist.

I teach the following subjects:

Physics:

* IB Standard and Higher Level, including IA and EE support.

* A-level and GCSE across all major exam boards, including Scottish and Welsh qualifications.

* Pre-University Physics, including interview and ESAT preparation. I am also able to offer support for degree-level Physics, depending on the subject and level.

* If you are lucky enough to be doing Astronomy GCSE, I teach that as well!

Maths:

* A-level and GCSE across all major exam boards, including Scottish and Welsh qualifications.Further Maths:

* A-level and GCSE across all major exam boards, including Scottish and Welsh qualifications.

* Particular focus on Mechanics and Pure Mathematics.

Chemistry:

* GCSE across all major exam boards, including Scottish and Welsh qualifications.

Biology:

* GCSE across all major exam boards, including Scottish and Welsh qualifications.

My Experience:

Across countless tutoring lessons, my teacher training, and several years of full-time teaching in school, I have experience working with students of varying backgrounds, ages, confidence levels, and prior attainment, both inside the classroom and out. This has given me great insight into the struggles that today’s pupils face within the education system and has led me to develop a range of teaching techniques to adapt to the specific needs of each pupil and the demands of their particular course.

This experience has helped me understand how different students approach various topics and how they may be challenged by particular concepts. My professional teaching experience and wealth of practical tutoring experience have equipped me with the pedagogical knowledge and skills to help students improve, whether they struggle with calculations and equations or definitions and conceptual ideas.

I also have experience and professional training in supporting students with special educational needs, including Autism, and have had many long-term clients with additional needs. I draw on the evidence-based training I received during my PGCE, as well as my subsequent classroom experience, and seek to understand students on an individual level to get the best out of them.

Conceptual Understanding

I like to help students improve by identifying gaps in their understanding and building a genuine grasp of the key principles and how they relate to one another. I always try to take students beyond bookwork and rote memorisation so that they come away with a real appreciation for the subject and an understanding of how different ideas fit together. I believe this deeper understanding is particularly important for students hoping to take their subjects further, such as those aiming for STEM courses at university.

My teacher training and subsequent classroom experience have given me an excellent understanding of the common misconceptions students have around scientific ideas, and I am well-practised at identifying and resolving these issues before they hinder further progress. I also draw on evidence-based approaches to learning and memory to help students retain what they have learned and recall it effectively when they need it, particularly under the pressure of an exam.

I love to incorporate an interdisciplinary approach to teaching science, highlighting wherever possible the connections between Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths. My students and I have found this very beneficial to their overall understanding and enjoyment of the subject, and it becomes increasingly important when tackling more difficult problems. I also like to include the history and stories behind scientific discoveries, which can help bring the subject to life and improve engagement. I currently run Physics extension programmes for sixth-form students aiming to study Physics or Engineering at university, giving me considerable experience of taking students beyond the confines of the syllabus and introducing them to more challenging ideas and problems.

Examination Practice

I believe one of the best tests of whether a student has really understood a concept is whether they can apply it to a new and unfamiliar situation. This is a crucial skill in Physics and is also exactly what the more challenging exam questions require. Learning Physics is really a question of doing Physics.

Once a student has developed a strong conceptual understanding, I believe in “practising like you’ll play”: becoming comfortable with the style, content and difficulty of the questions they will face in the real exam. We work through questions carefully, identify what the examiner is looking for, and develop the problem-solving and exam technique needed to tackle unfamiliar questions confidently. If you have ever felt that you understand the subject in class but cannot work out how to apply it to a confusing exam question, this is exactly what I aim to address.

In addition to my teaching and tutoring across the IB, A-level and GCSE, I wrote revision-guide material for Physics & Maths Tutor, have run several of their revision courses, and run the IB-level revision courses at my school. I am therefore very familiar with the content and examination demands of the courses my students are taking.

Beyond lessons, I can also offer additional support including homework marking, personalised advice and revision planning. Please enquire if you would like this so that we can discuss time commitments and fees.