James H

What I teach

I have been a specialist tutor in A-level physics for the last 30 years and also teach GCSE physics and maths plus the mechanics part of A-level maths. I teach all exam boards- Edexcel, AQA, OCR including syllabus B, Welsh Board, Northern Ireland system, plus Scottish Higher, Advanced Higher, University Foundation, and International Baccalaureate.

I teach what an individual student requires e.g. reinforcing what you learned in school that week, revision for exams and mocks, teaching specific topics as required, and teaching private candidates. I encourage students to be proactive in suggesting what topics to teach that lesson.

I can certainly teach exam technique (I am an examiner) and study technique as we go along.

Results

My students get excellent results, see reviews. Most of my Sherpa A-level students get A* to B since 2021. Two A-level A grades (AQA) and and two A*s (Edexcel) in 2023, Three A grades (OCR) in 2022 and an A* and A in 2021. Two of my female A-grade students went to uni to do Aerospace engineering (Edexcel and OCR), and one got an A grade and went to uni to study physics. One AQA retake got A* another (with dyslexia) improved from D to a high B as a private candidate in 3 months. In 2023 I got several 9s, 8s and 7s for GCSE maths and physics including a year 12 retake, and one A* Welsh Board. My 2022 GCSE students (maths and physics) got minimum 6, including several who really struggled with maths. Several 8s and a non-English speaker who got 9. One got 5 for maths but I only taught her for a month but she was still pleased. I had an IGCSE A* and a Welsh Board A for GCSE physics. In 2020 two of my A-level students got A* grades and an AQA retake student improved from E to A, by giving her the exam practice she lacked in her last school. Some of my students score 100% on A-level units and once 600/600. Most of my two-year students score minimum B and my retake grade improvement is at least two grades. Many of my students go on to university to study medicine, engineering and sciences.

Experience

Since 1993 I have taught full-time, in most private tutorial colleges in London e.g. MPW and Albemarle, often as Head of Physics, all exam boards. I teach two-year courses, one-year retakes, Easter Revision. I have tutored privately through agencies, via colleges and personal recommendations. I am experienced in teaching students whose first language is not English.

I am an examiner, marking A-level and GCSE physics each year since 2001.

Methods

I have successfully made the transition from face-to-face to online teaching and have acquired a taste for it. It works just as well for my students as traditional teaching. I enjoy using my online whiteboard and packs of exam board-specific past paper questions plus my own questions arranged by topic.

I teach study and revision techniques and provide topic-specific revision notes. I have been interested in exam technique since I was a teenager and share this with my students. As an examiner, I know exactly what is required and often use questions I have marked professionally. I address each individual student's issues and am patient and happy to repeat and use different explanations until a topic is understood. 

I use my own repertoire of worked examples which make the subject interesting by being real-life related, and also similar to exam questions. I use packs of board-specific past paper questions arranged by topic. My worked examples cover 90% of what will come up in your exam. For descriptive questions e.g. 6 mark questions I give lists of key descriptive phrases to break these down into manageable chunks, and details of the key practicals.

I enjoy making links between physics and other A-levels e.g. maths and chemistry and its relevance to e.g. engineering and medicine. I enjoy sharing my enthusiasm for physics but also respect those for whom physics is not their favourite subject, and work with them to get the best possible grade.

Interests

I am passionate about physics. I am a keen amateur astronomer and give lectures on the subject and keep up to date by attending lectures at London Universities and the Institute of Physics. I also enjoy landscape photography, country walking, and cycling.

Qualifications

I have a 2/1 degree in astronomy and physics from University College London, a postgraduate qualification in meteorology, and a Further Education teaching qualification.