Tutor HuntSubjectsMaths Tutors
Ian
My Qualifications
University of Bristol
Mathematics & Physics
2010
Verification Status
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Information about Ian
Welcome!
My name is Ian and Ive been tutoring for over a decade now, teaching one-to-one in the Plymouth/Devon area, online across the UK and internationally to students abroad.
If youre looking for a knowledgeable, creative & acutely empathetic tutor who helps transform lives and realise every ounce of a students potentialyou`ve come to the right place!
With my deep understanding, unwavering passion and a clear sense of conscientiousness, Ive helped students from all walks of life. Whether it be 11+, KS3, GCSE or A-Level. Ive taught most of the British syllabi at some point (AQA, OCR, Edexcel).
In addition, Ive helped students pass their entrance exams (GAMSAT, MAT, PAT, ENGAA) and gain entry to their university of choice! And at the undergraduate level, Ive taught students studying for degrees in physics, mathematics, economics, finance, chemistry, mechanical & civil engineering, optometry and marine biology.
In any case, I enjoy tutoringI love meeting new people, sharing what has been a lifelong passion of mine, and making a genuinely positive impact on their future.
Whether youre a parent with a curious 12-year-old, an A-level student aspiring toward further education, or an adult learner looking for a career transition. I treat every individual on a case-by-case basis, welcoming the diversity of ages, backgrounds and abilities that come with being a tutor.
APPROACH
I actively promote a culture of openness, curiosity and freedom of expression. There are no stupid questionsI quite enjoy mulling over seemingly obvious points. Theyre often the most revealing, where students genuinely need attention and some of the deepest insights can be gleaned.
Im naturally creative in temperament, building from the ground up and recognising connections across disparate material. Finding the best way to communicate those insights can be interestingand theres plenty of inspiration to be found in an educational environment.
I strongly emphasise the use of language. It plays a crucial role in our cognitive faculty and serves as an invaluable tool for expression, comprehension and retention. If you can`t articulate your understanding, then you probably have more thinking to do.
I`m very much of the opinion that, if you`re not having funyou`re doing something wrong. Intellectualism, without emotion, is an unnecessarily dry, monotonous chore. Education should be exciting, empowering and rewarding. Fun is an intrinsic part of the process.
Authenticity, imagination and a sense of exploration are essentialyou`ve got to make the ideas your own, think critically, and envisage possibilities in the broader context. What does this say about the world? How do I relate to this material? Can I view this from another angle? How exactly can this be used?
It`s central to my approach thento provide an environment where students can discover what they learn. It`s important they have the opportunity to assimilate concepts on their own terms.
BACKGROUND
I grew up here in Plymouth, having attended Hyde Park Junior School, Coombe Dean Secondary School and Bristol University. I graduated with an MSc in Maths & Physics, specialising in theoretical physics for my final year. I was supervised by a Dirac Medal-winning physicist at the time, which proved a formative experience.
Ive been tutoring since I graduatedand its certainly taught me a lot over the years: affording me a great deal of introspection, some much-needed autonomy, and the opportunity to pursue other subjects & interests.
I`ve since become fascinated by pedagogy, developmental psychology, and epistemology in general. What is knowledge? How do we discover, impart and represent meaning? How do the senses help facilitate learning? Is motivation intrinsic? Can this be augmented?
My interests (past & present) include photography, design, animation, mountain biking, basketball, fitness/weight training, paddleboarding, meditation/mindfulness, writing, computer science, web development, economics, psychology, philosophy & neuroscience.
Availability: 10 am to 9 pm weekdays and earlier on Saturday
Willing to travel: 8 miles
Experience: Ive been tutoring for a long, long time! I first started to raise money for an expedition with Raleigh International. Alas, I loved working for myself and Ive been going ever since! Ive seen just about everything in my 13 years of practice, having worked with numerous schools & agencies at the local, national and international levels.
Ive helped with 11+, KS3, GCSE, and A-Levels across physics, mathematics and chemistry. Ive also taught for various entry-level exams and taken on undergraduates from a diverse range of foundation/degree courses.
DBS Check: Yes
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Feedback For Ian (12)
Phillip (Mr)
20/12/2022
Ian is a very warm friendly tutor. He has really engaged with our daughter, who gives excellent feedback after each session. My daughter is already more confident with maths and Ian is the main reason for this. My daughters new found confidence can only help improve her other subjects. In short, an excellent tutor who I would recommend.
She-kei (Miss)
30/06/2022
Ian is an reliable tutor who gives detailed, thorough, in depth and easy to understand explanations of different principles and ideas and how to apply them in all sorts of situations. He brings genuine interest and enthusiasm to the subject rather than simply going through the curriculum without explaining the uses and applications of each part.
Georgia (Miss)
27/02/2020
Difficult to communicate with and understand, session felt awkward and uncomfortable despite tutor being very knowledgeable of the topics. Tutor not familiar with the content in each exam board and specifications.
Tutors Response :
I`m sorry you feel that way Georgia.
When I arrived at your house, your daughter had no textbooks, past exams or worksheets at all to work from (literally a blank table).
When queried about where she might like to start, she gave a reference to "mechanics" and little more.
As a tutor, I often support students in their studies (as opposed to directing them). It is difficult to help those who take little to no ownership of their education, especially in the first lesson.
The inclusion of a relevant textbook would have provided some much-needed guidance (though I know the schools can be particularly stingy in that domain).
I did my best under the circumstances - and whilst the range of topics I covered was vast, your daughter seemed impressed with my capacity to explain and consolidate disparate parts of physics.
Had we a few more lessons, perhaps a more effective dynamic would have emerged.
I`m happy to offer another lesson free of charge - if you`d like to try again.
Best wishes,
Ian