Emile
School:
Ravens Wood School
A-Levels: Physics (A*), Mathematics (A*), Chemistry (A*)
University:
Durham University
MPhys Physics - First Class Honours
Teaching and tutoring experience:
I previously worked as a tutor with GoStudent during university, where I delivered over 100 sessions. During this time, I helped one GCSE Physics student improve from a 5 to an 8 between October and the summer exams, and supported an A-Level Mathematics student in progressing from a C to an A* over a similar period.
Following this, I continued tutoring on a freelance basis, primarily across Central and South London, completing a further 50+ sessions. One notable outcome was helping a GCSE Physics student improve from a 6 to a 9 between January and May;she also went on to choose Physics at A-Level, citing my support as a key influence.
Teaching style and philosophy:
Throughout my time as a STEM tutor, I have found that the most effective method for improving the grades of my students is to take a two-pronged approach. The first prong is to improve understanding of the fundamental concepts which underpin the questions that my students will be faced with in exams, as I have found that even small misunderstandings of these concepts can manifest as repeated mistakes down the line. To help my students grasp these principles, which are often physical laws such as gravity and circuit rules, or mathematical techniques such as calculus, I try as much as possible to relate them to things they may see or experience in their everyday lives. An example could be teaching the laws of friction by using a car as a model. I find that grounding understanding in lived experience makes concepts stick a lot more reliably than staying with abstract concepts.
The second prong is exam technique, which is generally independent of mistakes made as a result of misunderstanding of concepts. Once I'm confident that my students understand the foundation of their material, I am quick to move into practice questions, of which I have access to a great many through connections at schools and online resources. By selecting a range of practice questions to give my students and watching them complete them without assistance initially, I can quickly diagnose and rectify any recurring habits with the potential to cost them marks in their exams. I then encourage my students to work together with me to complete similar questions, challenging any techniques that could be improved and ensuring that their answers are as clear as possible to an examiner reading them.
Combining these approaches, my lessons follow a structured and predictable format. I start by discussing goals and current subjects with my students before diving into the foundations of the content they're currently learning to test their understanding. We will then attempt some practice exam questions and work on exam technique for the second half of the session, before wrapping up with some action points for the student to take away and work on in their studies and independently.
Additional information:
I currently work as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer at Astroscale UK, based just south of Oxford, where I regularly solve what are essentially complex, multi-step technical problems under time pressure. This naturally feeds into my tutoring, particularly when helping students break down and approach challenging exam questions.
Outside of work, I enjoy building and racing FPV drones, a hobby I picked up in 2020, as well as outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing.
I currently live in Henley-on-Thames with my fiancée. I am available for online sessions on weekdays, and for in-person sessions within roughly an hour of Henley on select Fridays and weekends. This includes schools such as Eton College, Harrow School, Wellington College, and The Oratory School.