John Pauls

Teacher of physics at Dr Challoner’s grammar school, having taught for four years at John Hampden grammar school and being head of key stage 3 and teacher of mathematics at another local school, I have developed an expansive knowledge of both private and state education. I have tutored for entrance exams, the 11+ GCSE and A level in both mathematics and physics.

My qualifications include A-Level Maths and physics, a Degree in Mechanics and Thermodynamics a teaching degree and a postgraduate degree in physics teaching from Durham university.

Whether it be continuous support throughout the year, or purely exam preparation, I ensure students can more fully understand the subject and, crucially, get top grades. I am very aware that the priority is ultimately achieving the right result/grade for the student.

I see clearly why people seek private tuition, and I believe it should complement, enhance and build on a student's formal education. Private tuition with me will give students a real edge over their peers, that they would not otherwise have had.

I serve all areas within South Buckinghamshire throughout the week and weekends, daytime or evening - at no extra travel cost.
I can also offer online classes and I use the latest equipment and software to deliver the best learning experience possible

I am happy to tutor up to 3 students per hour at a reduced cost per student.

Tutoring Experience

Having tutored for several years, I am familiar with all major exam boards (Edexcel, OCR, AQA, MEI, CIE, IB, ISEB)

I employ a pragmatic style that really delivers results and I generally look to improve grades by at least 2 grade boundaries, with the majority of my students receiving the top grade possible.

Furthermore, while many tutors may very well offer tuition regarding the material - I also pride myself on being able to help students with the other, less tangible skills required such as Exam technique and, crucially, Confidence. I feel this adds a huge amount of value and can impact grades significantly given the "it's how you perform on the day" factor. For those students who are at all panicked, nervous or worried by looming exams, I will ensure that this is no longer an issue by exam day.

I have also taught at a grammar school, therefore I am fully proficient in delivering 11+ tuition. I have worked at John Hampden Grammar school for 3 years, where I developed excellent relationships with all my students. I fully understand why teenage boys can struggle throughout the first few years in the grammar environment and while studying for the 11+ I will help them develop the skills required to deal with the rigour of the grammar system.

Tutoring Approach

Trish (5/5): (A-Level Physics) My son has had two sessions with JP and he felt at ease with him straight away. He found where my son's weaknesses lie very quickly and has gone on to prepare very good lessons that will suit my son's needs. He is extremely competent in his subject and explains steps clearly so that they are understood. I wish I had found JP earlier and I am very confident that my son will go on to get a good grade in his A level Physics under his tuition.

Jennifer (5/5): (Primary Maths) My son (year 6) really looks forward to his maths lesson and Jp. He uses subjects that are close to my boy's heart and tailors the subject to suit him, making it fun and applying maths in a way that makes sense.
My son really looks forward to his lesson with Jp, he says it's fun and he's really enthusiastic about maths now.
His teachers say there has been a marked improvement with his maths at school too.

At GCSE, understanding the fundamental aspects of physics is important for achieving the highest grades. A lot of students fall short of the top grades due to losing marks on descriptive questions, which is also a primary focus for C/D grade students.

The students who fall short of A* grades by one or two marks generally do this because of poor exam technique and time management skills. Therefore, my approach to tutoring is dependent on where the student is with regards to his/her studies in physics. I will tailor learning to a students needs while exploring the exam board specification in an interesting and engaging way.