Tutor Profile

Alastair

Private Chemistry and Physics Tutor in New Malden

A highly experienced and supportive i/A level Chemistry and i/GCSE Chemistry and Physics tutor with more than 20 years teaching and 14 years examining experience.

I completed a degree in Chemistry followed by a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. After 5 years postdoctoral research in natural product synthesis and including running Continuing Education short courses I was appointed as a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry. I taught undergraduate to postgraduate organic chemistry and general chemistry for non-specialist first year students. My research included developing new synthetic methods and transition metal catalysts combined with natural product synthesis. I then completed interdisciplinary research at a research institute for 5 years before training as a GTP Secondary Science teacher on relocating to get married.

Teaching Experience

I have taught in state and independent schools as a KS3 Science and KS4 Science teacher specialising in Chemistry to A level and Oxbridge entry. During the last 10 years I have developed my own business as a Tutor for Science for KS3, KS4, Common entrance exams specialising in Chemistry for A level students and undergraduate Chemistry students. I have acted as an examiner for 3 exam boards during the past 8 years and worked as a Practical Endorsement Visiting Monitor for A level Chemistry for 6 years.

Tutoring Approach

I base my tutoring on the student's needs, developing their prior knowledge, building confidence in their learning and problem-solving skills whilst developing exam technique. I develop the student's learning experience at school or university and provide both additional resources and practice questions. My students are encouraged to develop their knowledge and an appreciation of what examiners require by developing their assessment for learning skills.

I have taught science as a fully qualified teacher for secondary school education since 2006 and am also a qualified higher education lecturer. I have extensive teaching experience in schools as a science teacher, specialising in chemistry, and at university as a lecturer in organic chemistry. I have also worked as an examiner at both A-level and GCSE. At A-level I have taught the entire chemistry course. Past students have taken the AQA, Edexcel and OCR examinations and achieved the highest grades. I have helped students prepare for Oxbridge interviews through extension lessons beyond the A-level specification, and coached students for technical interviews.

I have taught chemistry, biology and physics at GCSE in schools and online for the AQA, OCR Gateway, Edexcel 9-1 and the Edexcel IGCSE specification.

I have also taught introductory chemistry for non-specialist undergraduate students, as well as organic chemistry and analytical chemistry to students at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

I have tutored students for GCSE and A level for over 20 years and have 10 years’ experience using online tuition through specialised online tuition classrooms including ClassIn or combining Zoom and BitPaper interactive whiteboards. I have taught IGCSE Science in a dedicated online school. I have over 2000 hours experience using online tuition nationally and internationally, including teaching international A level Chemistry online with face-to-face practical sessions in a hybrid teaching role.

I am DBS approved and have a portable DBS certificate registered with the DBS Update service that is updated and current.

I enjoy online tutoring and my students have all benefited enormously from individualised support in preparation for their examinations. Students enjoy the tutorial style lessons which are normally 1 hour in duration, but longer times can be arranged if required.

Availability

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Qualifications

QTS Secondary Science and A level Chemistry teacher

QTS · West London Partnership · Pass · 2005

Diploma in Teaching in Higher Education

Masters · Uniiversity of Wales, Bangor · Pass · 1999

Phd

Doctorate · University of Southampton · Pass · 1989

BSc (Hons) Chemistry

Bachelors · University of Exeter · 2-1 · 1981
Tuition onlineDBS checked
  • This tutor is a Teacher (self-declared)
  • This tutor is happy to teach online
Subjects Taught
£40.00
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£60.00
£40.00