Paul James

A versatile educator, I possess 30 years' experience teaching in schools, colleges and other institutions in both the United Kingdom and Australia, alongside almost 20 years of private tuition in my core subjects and at all levels.

Friendly but firm, grounded but flexible, I pursue a wide variety of academic interests, maintaining a deep personal passion for the Classics (both Ancient Greek and Latin), for Archaeology, and for History (both Ancient and Modern) in general. Government and Politics also remain an abiding interest, as is the teaching of English language and literature.

Having studied both Ancient and Modern History, as well as Latin and Greek at school, I continued with ancient languages at the University of Sydney as background and prerequisite to my extended undergraduate Honours studies in Archaeology and Ancient History. (A High Distinction grade in Classical Greek was twinned with my winning the prestigious Nicholson Scholarship in Latin in my first year). I enjoyed the enduring vitality and legacy of these ancient tongues, while appreciating their practical linguistic application to our study of the deep past.

My involvement in the study of the past extends way beyond the classroom, moreover - I have, for example, worked many summers since 1997 as an Area Supervisor on archaeological excavations in Egypt, the Middle East and in Greece.

Tutoring Experience

I was for many years Head of Classics (2009-2019) in a large and prestigious fee-paying, academically-selective independent day boys' school in north-west London, part of the Harrow School Foundation. Although starting there originally as a Teacher of History and Politics, I was pleased to be tasked with planning and implementing the revival of Classics teaching in the day student section of the school foundation after an absence of 25 years.

As such, a significant part of my professional remit involved the reintroduction of the study of the Classics to our day boys. In this regard, it was widely recognised that my departmental colleagues and I succeeded well beyond expectations. At my departure to pursue other career ambitions, our modest, novel but steadily growing department offered Latin, Greek and Classical Civilisation from beginners in Key Stage 3, through to GCSE and A Level studies. We achieved great success in guiding a very respectable number of avid and able students through their secondary studies to read Classics and Ancient History at multiple Russell Group universities and at Oxbridge. Naturally, as erstwhile Department Head, I also possess significant examiner experience with both the OCR and Educas examination boards.

After many years of full-time teaching, I have recently semi-retired in order to pursue other career ideas and personal projects. Nonetheless, and naturally, I retain a passion for teaching in my subject areas, and so I remain keen to continue tutoring students who might benefit from my knowledge and skills. Moreover, I am in the process of writing several new Classical texts and reference works for several publishing houses, including Bloomsbury.

Outside the independent secondary school environment, I have taught and tutored Common Entrance students for Classics subjects, thereby gaining experience of the demands made on preparatory school students. I have also successfully taught a number of introductory / refresher courses to university level students as well.

Tutoring Approach

I seek always to adopt a caring, friendly, and understanding approach. Every student is different and I aim, therefore, to be both analytical and flexible in addressing a student's needs, making the most of their strengths and targeting their weaknesses to facilitate the best grade award possible. First lessons will nearly always involve some review of past school results and academic work, in order best to prioritise our combined strategy. The student and I work as a team.

I like to incorporate fun and variety in lessons, while also maintaining the depth and rigour necessary to achieve at the highest level. After many years' teaching, I have at hand extensive GCSE and A Level teaching and learning resources, the majority of which I have designed myself for the benefit of students working to master the relevant Classics and History syllabi.