JP

Hi there! My name is JP Ay. The main subjects that I can support you with are: Biology, Chemistry, and Maths, boosting students studying for GCSEs up to University Admissions. My teaching style, focus and experiences as a tutor are listed below.

What are my experiences as a tutor?

Between the ages of 11 and 18, I studied at St Pauls School, Barnes obtaining 4 A Levels (Biology, Chemistry, Maths & Physics) after which I went on to do a Masters in Biochemistry at Oxford University.

Having recently finished my academic journey, I have seen first-hand some of the failings of the current education system and the limitations imposed on students learning, whether it be the outdated rote-learning system for preparing for examinations or the insistence only to follow a set syllabus. This has been further exacerbated over the past few years during the pandemic, with online learning causing many students to fall behind.

Over the past four years, I have tutored a wide range of students from small state schools in Wales to private schools such as Eton who are preparing for 11+, 13+, GCSE and A Level/IB examinations in Biology, Chemistry and Maths. I can also tutor for (Oxbridge) University Applications for Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences providing support with personal statements, interviews and entry exams.

While at Oxford I was a Year Representative for two years and was an Interview Runner (Helper) for three years in the course of these activities have been part of meetings while at Oxford discussing the admissions process. Therefore I have valuable insights into how best to prepare and succeed in University admissions interviews. Additionally, I have helped pupils, aged around 17 and 18 years old, from the ARK schools foundation with mock Oxbridge-style interviews based on my own questions and pre-reading to support those who have been asked to interview who are from disadvantaged backgrounds.

During the pandemic, I volunteered as a First Aider with St Johns Ambulance service over the COVID-19 pandemic for a year (April 2020 - April 2021) in various London hospitals in both COVID wards and in A&E. In 2020 I also self-published a book on Amazon entitled: What the Point of School: How the Current Education System is Failing to Prepare Students for the Real World advocating for Educational Reform in the UK.

What sets you apart as a tutor?

My primary goal as a tutor is to encourage students to enjoy learning and apply this knowledge to real-world concepts. Furthermore, using my own experiences and understanding of the academic system can provide students with the tools to best prepare them for exams and University admissions.

The best aspect of tutoring is seeing a student smile or light up when they make a connection between what they are learning and a real-world phenomenon they have an interest in, or when they ask an interesting question and have a complete reply that inspires them to want to know more about a certain topic, and not just to pass an exam! I have found this method especially beneficial for neurodivergent students who may struggle to stay focused for a whole session if it only involves exam question preparation.
As well as the tutoring sessions, students can always reach out either for help with homework set during the sessions if they would like, school work or exam technique preparation. Particularly before exams, boosting a students confidence can be half the battle towards a great performance and I believe that it is not only important to learn the material but also to learn HOW to learn effectively because learning is a continuous process and a crucial life skill in academia and beyond.