Paul

I have a physics degree from Bristol University. Earlier in my working life, I spent two years as an A-level physics teacher. For most of career though, I have been a TV producer, which has included making science programmes with the likes of Sir David Attenborough and Prof Alice Roberts. This has sharpened my skills for making difficult subjects interesting and entertaining. Now, I want to combine my communications skills with my knowledge of physics in a new career as a teacher. I am also a keen musician, and I like mountain biking. I live in a village in the Mendips, and I am married with two grown children.

Tutoring Experience

Having gained a 2:1 in my Physics degree and having worked first as an engineer with Thorn EMI and a studio manager with BBC Radio, I spent two years teaching Physics A-level (Cambridge examination Board) at Gutu High School in Zimbabwe. This involved teaching the whole Physics A-level syllabus twice, and preparing the students for a practical examination. Class sizes for physics A-level were about a dozen. My students were all from fairly humble-to-poor African backgrounds, but I found ways of introducing quite abstract ideas - whether it was nuclear physics, digital electronics or electromagnetic radiation - that they found accessible. They achieved good A-levels and many of them progressed either to university or to engineering apprenticeships. I’m still in touch with several of them and proud to see their progress. I also taught O-level there (which was available internationally for years after it ended in the UK) in ‘Physical Sciences’ (Physics and Chemistry) and ‘Zimbabwe Combined Science’ (which also included things like geology and agriculture) to much larger classes (around 50 students).
A couple of decades later I was able to give my children 1:1 tuition with their GCSE and (in the case of one of them) A-level physics. The latter went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Leeds University. It was an experience that reminded me how much I enjoy teaching, especially at a 1:1 level.

Tutoring Approach

My approach is friendly and encouraging. I like to work by being as clear and as simple as possible when explaining something but also to make it relevant and to inspire my students as to why we are studying something. I like to prompt my students to take the lead in solving problems, with hints as necessary. I'm a great believer in learning by doing.