Samuel

My name is Samuel (Sam) and I am a recent graduate of Durham University, where I studied MPhys Physics and undertook a master's project in Physics education and outreach. Prior to this I attended Middlesbrough College and studied Physics, Maths and Chemistry, achieving an A* in each. During my first, second and ending in my third year of study (2022-2024) I worked on the Levelling Up: Aspire Higher programme as a Physics mentor, building a foundation of outreach and education skills that I then applied as a tutor. In addition to this, I have worked for multiple tutoring agencies and platforms. Upon graduating, I also worked as a 'summer student' (a form of paid internship) with the Durham Quantum Light and Matter team to produce outreach and education materials.

My teaching style primarily focuses on qualitative thinking and the development of a student’s intuition, as I find this to be the most critical aspect of examination success. By helping students develop a strong thought process and a deep understanding of fundamental concepts, they become equipped to tackle even the most challenging and unfamiliar problems, while also cultivating a genuine interest in what they’re studying. To facilitate this I utilise visual learning and analogy to adapt content to a student’s learning style, ensuring engagement. I supplement this with an exposure to a wide array of exam-style problems to apply and exercise this intuition whilst also building confidence and good exam technique. All of this is done at the student's pace and adapted to their needs and learning style.

Currently I am tutoring on a self-employed basis for Keystone Tutors and I hope to do this for the foreseeable future. Over the coming years, I may also look to PhD study in condensed matter physics, particularly within magnetic materials or ferroelectrics. When I am not tutoring, I am developing my programming skills (Python), painting miniatures to relax and gaming.