Jonathan

Experience

Private tutor and school teacher for two decades in GCSE & IGCSE Separate sciences & Combined Science, A Level and IB Biology, Keystage 3 Science, BMAT medical and dental school entrance test and medical and dental school applications.

2004-2005 PGCE with QTS Secondary (11-18) Science (Biology specialist), Roehampton University

2005-2007 William Morris Academy, Hammersmith Teacher of GCSE/AS Biology, Health & Social Care, Psychology

2008-2010 Kumon Maths & English Instructor Shepherds Bush Franchise owner

2010-2011, 2012-2015 Godolphin & Latymer School, Teacher of Yr 7-8, Edexcel IGCSE, OCR AS/A2 and IB Biology

2011-2012 St. Pauls School, Teacher of Edexcel IGCSE and OCR AS/A2 Biology

2015-2016 Sri KDU International School, Malaysia, KS4 and IB Science teacher

2016 - 2017 Godolphin & Latymer School

2017-2018 M.Sc. Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research, King's College London

2018-2020 Head of 6th Form Science, Kensington Park School.

2020-2021 Head of Biology, City of London Academy Southwark

2021- 2022 2nd in Charge of Science & Biomedical and Oxbridge Admissions Programme Director, City of London Academy Southwark

Biography

I work as a full time private tutor. I am the author and presenter of an online A-level Biology Revision course for Rugby School Online and a KS3 course for Pearson. I also provide support and advice for Biomedical and Oxbridge Admissions at City of London Academy Southwark (COLA-S).

Before this, I was 2nd in Charge of Science and Head of Biology at COLA-S. I also set up the Science Faculty at Kensington Park School and was Head of 6th Form Science. Additionally, I have spent several years teaching Biology at the highest level to students at top independent schools such as Godolphin, Latymer, and St Paul's School.

I have nearly two decades of experience of tutoring (including 11 years at Keystone) and aided many students in securing their desired grades for 11+, 13+, GCSEs, A-Levels and entry to top universities as well as entry to medicine and dentistry.

In 2018, After a decade of teaching in schools, I decided to go back to university to take up an M.Sc. in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences research to refresh my subject knowledge and get new ideas for experiments to run back in school. This has reminded me of the importance of the learner experience and the power of good teaching.

Personal Approach

In the initial meeting, I'll aim to find out the student's weaknesses, strengths, and general interests. If the aim is exam preparation, I will get the student to complete selected past year paper questions. This helps me find out what areas the student needs support with and also how I could present material in a way that will engage him/her. We will then agree on a plan of action together. In ongoing sessions, I will also try to integrate and model key study skills such as mind mapping, taking concise notes, memory tricks etc. There will be quizzes either oral or written at the end of each lesson or start of the following lesson to check how much learning has been made. The student will then be asked to evaluate their own progress and set targets for themselves.

What I do when I am not tutoring

When I am not tutoring, I love travelling to lands near and far, going to live gigs of any genre, visiting museums/galleries, theatre and trying out new places to eat as well as trying to replicate those dishes at home.

Testimonials

Hi Jonathan, It went well I am happy with the outcome :) I improved 30% from last time!! So it was a 6. Thank you so much for all your support in helping me improve and finally making me enjoy bio towards the end! You were an amazing mentor. Tahira.

The sessions were super useful for interview prep and gave a great insight into the environment that you are in with MMIs and panel interviews. I just want to focus on my final exams now. The sessions were really helpful, and I think it helped me improve my interview skills greatly. NLCS students.

Hi Jonathan, We are really keen that you should continue working with M and S and are delighted with the progress they both made. Like you, we feel it would have been nice if S had done slightly better than BB in the GCSE science but who knows how she would have done without you, and with your support and with a focus on one science subject only now at Standard Level I hope she can continue to improve. The objective frankly looking ahead is to get a 6 or 7 to support the overall IB score. M improved hugely with the help you gave and his ability to deal with the exams increased notably. I have no doubt that this is as much about work and revision discipline and technique as it is about understanding.

David (S got a 6 for her IB in the end!)

Hi Jonathan, Thank you very much for all you have done - without your help, G would not be anywhere near where he is now. Regards, M

L got a C – best she could do as she only sat the foundations papers, 100% in 3 exams. Thank you! Esther.

I found Jonathan to be genuinely interested in teaching and children. He is flexible and professional. I would highly recommend him. R Vyse.

He got an A* in Chemistry and As in Biology and Physics, so we are very pleased! JP

Dear Jonathan

A obtained a B overall for his General Science exam. I think the individual scores were B for Biology and Physics and a C for chemistry. As you know, his goal was an A. He is pleased with his B and hopefully he has learnt that an A grade requires more than last minute cramming. Thank you for your input as it undoubtedly improved his understanding of the subjects. He must be better prepared next year, but all things considered he gave it his best shot.If you are still tutoring in the future I feel sure Alex would be pleased to work with you again.

Best regards and thanks, Andrew

Hi Jonathan,

J said he learnt lots today and also enjoyed himself, well coming from a 15 year old that's got to be a winner! Thank you Jonathan for inspiring J he really has enjoyed his tutoring and said he has learnt a great deal.Regards,Amanda

Dear Jonathan,

I was just about to e-mail you! A received B in Maths and a disappointing, but quite expected C in Physics. His teacher complained about his attitude to Physics quite a lot, so it does not surprise me that he did not do better. However, with your support he at least obtained a very respectable B in Maths, which is a good start for his university preparation. He also has B in Business Studies, so we shall start building on that. I shall e-mail Keystone with praises for your work and will be most grateful if you could offer Anton extra tuition during exeat weekends to give him a boost for his A-levels.

Kind regards,Svetlana

Hi Jonathan, hope all is well. Sorry I thought I had also sent you the good news of F's excellent results- Straight A*s but it seems I had not and it was just F who had rang you. I still thought we must thank you again for getting F achieve these great grades. Thank you for all your help and and guidiance. F really enjoyed his lessons with you. He has been awarded a scholarship from Latymer Upper. Thanks. Best, Fiza.