Xavier Tobin

If you are looking for a tutor it is because you believe that you need extra help to achieve the grades that you are capable of. You could be struggling with a core concept or in an oversubscribed class and therefore not getting the teacher-time that you need. Maybe the way you're being taught science doesn't fit how you learn best.

An underappreciated fact is that Biology is perhaps the broadest subject it is possible to take. At university one specialises, however through GCSEs up to A-level one must learn from photosynthesis all the way up to global conservation. Therefore biology can be an extremely challenging subject. This can be punishing for students at school - perhaps you have a passion for animals/ecology, but genetics drags your grades down and you worry this will stop you from taking your passion further. In the worst case scenario, biology can sap so much time that it detracts from your other studies. This does not have to be the case.

Due to the above, my lessons are always based on your requests first and foremost; we have to prioritise the areas that you need the most help in. From there we will work through the syllabus in parallel with your lessons at school to strengthen your knowledge, understanding and the ability to apply these in exam context. Together all three of these will pull you up and over grade boundaries. Unless you request otherwise, a typical lesson will involve assessing your schoolwork, discussing the concept(s) at hand and then assessing your understanding with several exercises/questions (which can involve your homework). I will briefly check your understanding of the previous lesson also to ensure that understanding is retained. As the year progresses we will devise a revision plan around your mocks and your school timetable. We will discuss and practice revision and exam technique, for example using past test-papers.

Whether you are aiming to pass, or for top-marks and a subsequent Russell-Group University place, I will help you achieve that goal.

My most recent contract as a biologist was working in Brazil. There I taught about the biology of the wildlife (genetics, morphology, evolution, ecology, conservation) alongside tracking wild jaguars. I have a biology degree from Durham University, where I studied the full range from genetics through human physiology all the way up to biodiversity conservation in the face of climate change. I hope to share my passion with some students this year so that they can succeed in their goals.