John

Watching a student go from “I don’t get this…” to “This is easy!” is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching. After completing my PhD, I pursued my passion for science communication, working at the Edinburgh Science Festival before moving into teaching, where I’ve gained four years of experience supporting students of all abilities.

As a teacher, I helped students deepen their understanding and gain confidence in organising, presenting and leading on their own projects in my role running the school’s STEM Leadership programme. I also adapted my PhD topic into a project for students to complete and ran an after-school club exploring the fundamentals of aerodynamics and spaceflight using Kerbal Space Program (think ‘Flight Simulator’ meets the ‘Minions’).

Whether you want to boost confidence, prepare for exams, or explore science in more depth, I’d be delighted to help. I’ve spent years studying science to pick apart the complex nature of the world, and I love to share that perspective with others.

Tutoring Experience

I have experience teaching the full spectrum of high school science, from Year 7 students encountering physics for the first time to Year 11 students preparing for their final exams. I have a wealth of experience working with students across different stages and ability levels.

Some students have been kind enough to give me feedback. Highlights include:

“I really enjoy science because of the way sir teaches it, he makes it really clear.”

“You helped me understand a subject that used to feel almost impossible.”

Before teaching, my career in research was a highly interdisciplinary, giving me a wealth of experience in communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences—from school groups visiting the labs to collaborators in different fields. During this time, I tutored graduate students on quantum physics, helping them grasp some of the more unintuitive concepts of this challenging yet powerful theory.

Tutoring Approach

One of my favourite things about tuition is that it allows me to adjust my approach to meet each student’s needs: something that isn’t always possible when teaching an entire class. I believe that a critical part of developing understanding is building confidence—or self-efficacy to use a technical term—so I encourage students not just to think in terms of what they know, but how confident they feel applying that knowledge.

Once we have that shared understanding of their starting point, I build from there, anchoring new information to more familiar contexts and breaking complex topics into manageable steps. With multiple years of teaching students of all abilities, I’ve developed a wide range of approaches for making science more accessible.

Having worked with many students preparing for exams, I understand that these can be stressful and how important they are. In addition to tuition for students who find it helpful, I can also offer guidance on exam technique, revision strategies and planning to help students feel more confident and in control of their learning.