Simon

Hi. I'm Simon, a 42 year old career-changing teacher of Physics trainee. I was previously a popular senior lecturer (associate professor) in engineering at a Russell Group university. Since 2007 I've supported many hundreds of engineering students from sixth formers through to masters and PhD postgraduates. I've lectured core engineering modules, ran tutorials, set exams, supervised dissertations and supported team projects. I've worked in the UK and internationally. If it's done by a lecturer in a university, I've probably done it.

But perhaps most importantly to me, I'm a STEM champion. My passion is to bring young people on and see them fly in their careers - something I now get to appreciate more and more as I keep in touch with my ex-students, some of whom are now at the very top of their fields.

In 2024, seeing the urgent need for more Physics teachers in the UK, I made the decision to make a big change and refocus on a new challenge. I'm now training to be a secondary teacher of Physics from KS3 through to A-Level. It's a big challenge, but I'm really enjoying it so far!

Tutoring Experience

As a chartered Naval Architect with wide industry experience in the maritime engineering sector, my university specialism was structures, fluid mechanics and engineering design. Maritime has broad similarities to mechanical, civil and aeronautical engineering. I also spent a lot of my research time running large scale physical experiments (think big wave machine tanks!). This also gives me a wealth of practical experience when teaching Physics, where I try to bring the subject alive with real examples and applications.

I also have extensive experience in university admissions and careers advice. I was a UCAS selector for 8 years, helping many prospective students through the big decisions and navigating them through the university application process. I can help with personal statements, application tactics and understanding the reality behind the brochures.

I'm also involved in several environmental and heritage organisations as a volunteer, including an incredible project in Kenya called Flipflopi, where we are turning ocean plastics into sailing boats. You need to see it to believe it!

Tutoring Approach

I'm an experienced and motivational teacher at HE level with a caring pastoral approach. I'm known by my students to be engaging, conversational and very supportive in my teaching. I focus as much on the broader support to your learning and wellbeing, rather than just the technical mechanics of answering exam questions. At the same time, I do understand the tactics to overcome those exam hurdles, which we need to develop quickly sometimes.

I'm new to secondary school teaching, but don't let that put you off as I think it comes with advantages too! As a newbie but one with a lot of past education experience I'm fresh, enthusiastic and also learning the very latest teaching approaches. I'm taking my new career seriously and I'd approach tutoring the same way - it is a great way for me to develop too.