We focus on understanding, not memorising
Physics underpins our entire universe from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particles. Unfortunately, lots of students don’t appreciate this the vast and interesting world of physics because they feel trapped under a pile of formulae and laws. At Thames Tuition we always aim to keep the joy and intrigue in our subjects by focussing on understanding the key concepts of the subjects. Once the base concept is understood, the mathematics can be connected to it much more easily and the full picture comes together.
Our physics tutors are extremely passionate about their subject but are also extremely patient. We are aware that some of the concepts in physics are very difficult to understand so we believe being patience in crucial when teaching physics. With patience and passion we believe that students will excel in their understanding of physics and be able to explain even the most difficult concepts. Once the concept has been understood we then introduce the mathematics behind it which is what makes our physics tuition so successful.
Similar to the way we teach all of the science subjects, the key thing is to ensure that students have a strong understanding of the basics in A levels before moving on to the more complex topics. In our first few sessions we will always spend time understanding the level that students are at and making sure that there are no gaps in their understanding before progressing to the more complex topics.
Our Physics tutors
William Henry
Hi I’m Will and I have a first class masters degree in Physics with Astrophysics from the University of Bristol. I loved my time studying Physics. Learning how things work the way they do, from the largest galaxies to the smallest particles and everything in between – how could I not! Unfortunately this excitement is often lost in the classroom as the key concepts are skipped over. Before you know it, you’re swimming in “Formulae”, “Laws” and “Principles”, with little understanding as to why.
Concepts are at the heart of Physics and this is where I focus my tutoring. Once the base concept is understood the mathematics can be connected to it much more easily, and the full picture comes together! Being able to help someone else understand Physics through this way is such a joy and is what keeps me tutoring.
Luke Green
Aerospace Engineer Graduate from the University of Sheffield, teaching GCSE Maths and Physics in and around Henley-on-Thames.
I provide a friendly and adaptable approach in my tuition that focuses on building my students’ confidence in their subjects. Developing a quick rapport through my easy-going and engaging nature is key to this approach.
Understanding that everyone learns in a different way, I aim to adjust my teaching methods to each student to help them understand the subject material in a way that best suits them. My tutoring experience allows me to pitch lessons at the right level to ensure they are challenging but achievable, and more rewarding as a result.
I achieved a 2.1 in Aerospace Engineering, as well as an A in A level Maths and A* in. GCSE Maths and Physics. My academic background and passion for problem solving give me the tools to provide a fun but effective lesson, enabling my students to achieve the results they are capable of.
A Level Physics
A Level Physics contains many very complicated topics. It is vital that students are able to create a strong foundation by gaining a through understanding of the fundamental principles in physics. Over the first few months of tuition we aim to ensure that students are able to fully grasp the principles behind each topic and aren’t simply trying to memorise equations. We also have a large focus on developing the basic mathematical skills that are required to be successful in A Level Physics such as rearranging equations and using units to your advantage.
Once students have a deep understanding of the basics, we will work through the A level syllabus focusing on one topic at a time and gradually building their understanding of the syllabus.
We like to give students lots of opportunities to test their knowledge so we believe in doing a lot of past paper questions throughout their learning. Not only does this help to asses where students are and if they fully comprehend the subject matter but it gives the students an appreciation of where they need to be by the time the exam comes and a familiarity of how each topic can be assessed.
GCSE Physics
Physics is a very challenging subject which covers a range of relatively distinct topics. It can seem like there are an endless amount of equations to remember and that the syllabus is very broad. However once you understand how you are assessed and the key concepts behind each unit, the GCSE Physics syllabus becomes very manageable. The important thing is to understand how you are assessed in GCSE physics:
The GCSE physics exams are structured in a way that tests one topic in each section. This is how we would recommend revising and preparing for exams. It is best to focus on one topic at a time and complete multiple past paper questions on each topic ensuring that it is fully understood. We would also recommend that you use and learn from the mark schemes of past papers. GCSE exam questions are fairly similar from year to year and lots can be learnt by studying the mark schemes.
Students can often have a fear and anxiety when it comes to failure in mathematical subjects. This is completely understandable but we assure you that there is nothing to be scared of!
Physics is an incredibly interesting subject and provides students with an understanding of how the world works from the smallest subatomic particles to the largest start in the universe. However, to fully appreciate these concepts, students need an effective understanding of basic maths and the ability to think mathematically.
At Thames Tuition we believe that we can teach students not to be fearful when it comes to maths and science. We create an atmosphere where it’s ok to make mistakes and we encourage students to simply try and then improve. The best way to improve is by making mistakes and learning from them. Physics is no exception to this and the ability to think mathematically is a skill like any other which can be learnt. Our goal is to help reduce students fear when it comes to new and challenging topics and start to help students approach questions with a curiosity rather than a fear.
We believe that being successful in Physics comes down to two things:
1) Mathematical ability – To do well in Physics, you need to be confident in your basic mathematical skills. GCSE and A Level Physics don’t require you to be exceptional mathematicians, however, they do require that you are confident in the core skills and are able to apply basic mathematical techniques quickly and confidently. We
2) Understanding the Context – This is by far the most important aspect of being successful in your Physics exams. If you have a thorough understanding of the scientific principles and are able to apply your knowledge to conceptually difficult concepts then the rest is easy. Once a deep understanding is attained, it can be relatively easy to apply the maths to it.
Whether you chose to get a Physics Tutor or not is a very individual choice and there are several reasons why you might chose to work with a tutor.
Firstly, there are many topics in Physics that can be exceptionally difficult to get your head around. In A Level Physics for example, you will be learning about electromagnetic fields one day, and particle physics the next. Each concept is very challenging to understand and it can for students to convince themselves that they know a topic with only a superficial understanding. A good Physics tutor will help students to fully understand these difficult concepts and ensure that students attain a deep knowledge of even the most complex ideas.
You may also consider Physics tuition if you struggle with maths. Whilst we don’t believe you need to be a maths whizz to be successful at GCSE and A Level Physics, it certainly helps to be confident in the basics. At Thames Tuition we aim to help our student with their approach to the more mathematical questions and to teach them the core mathematical skills to handle any question.
Finally, tuition can be a fantastic tool to check that there are no gaps in your knowledge. Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know! By working with one of our fantastic tutors, they can help you to discover the areas that you need to focus on and allow you to excel in your exams.