Dr Jon S.

About Dr Jon

🎓 Academic Qualifications:

BSc in Physics, MPhil in Physics

Ph.D from Imperial College London

📚 Teaching Experience:

Over 17 years of experience in tutoring (both online and face-to-face)

Over 13000 hours of online teaching

Highly exam-oriented approach to teaching

Specialist in GCSE, A-Level, Further Mathematics and Physics

Extensive experience preparing students for TMUA, MAT, PAT and STEP examinations for Oxbridge and top university admissions

🏫 Teaching Experience with Students from Top UK Schools:

Taught students from leading UK schools including Eton College, St Paul’s School, Westminster School, Henrietta Barnett School, Hampton School, Manchester Grammar School and Godolphin & Latymer School.

Collaborate with schools in China to support students preparing for UK examinations

📖 Authorship:

Published practice books for A-level Maths, available on Amazon, to provide students with additional resources for exam preparation

Author of advanced mock papers and challenge questions designed to stretch high-performing students aiming for A/A* grades and competitive university admissions

Dr Jon's Background

From a young age, I found Mathematics and Physics fascinating, as they explain everyday phenomena such as why the sky is blue and how magnets attract metals. Despite my interest, I admit I was a lazy student, which pushed me to search for interesting and efficient ways to learn rather than simply spending long hours in front of books. This approach proved advantageous, helping me navigate the demanding examination system in Hong Kong and successfully gain admission to study Physics at university.

My curiosity led me to continue pursuing master’s and doctoral degrees in Physics, as my undergraduate studies were not enough to satisfy my desire to explore these subjects more deeply. During my postgraduate studies, I became deeply involved in educating young students at Hong Kong Baptist University, teaching electromagnetism and guiding secondary school students preparing for the Asia Physics Olympiad and International Physics Olympiad competitions, where many students achieved gold and silver awards.

After moving to the United Kingdom, I also worked with Pimlico Connections and The Access Project, providing free tutoring to financially disadvantaged students. These experiences allowed me to understand the major differences between the Hong Kong and UK education systems. Hong Kong examinations are often significantly more demanding in terms of problem-solving and algebraic rigour, and this understanding has enabled me to adapt strong Asian STEM training methods to fit the UK curriculum effectively.

Today, my teaching focuses heavily on examination strategy, advanced problem-solving and helping students bridge the gap between standard school-level questions and the much more demanding style of questions seen in admissions tests such as TMUA, MAT, PAT and STEP.

Many students who perform well in school examinations still struggle when faced with unfamiliar or highly abstract mathematical problems. My lessons are designed to train students to think flexibly, recognise hidden structures within difficult questions and develop efficient methods for solving challenging problems under timed conditions.

One of my unique approaches is the A* Targeting Scheme, designed specifically for students who already find most past paper questions straightforward. I create original challenge questions that integrate multiple advanced topics together, allowing students to develop deeper mathematical thinking and adaptability beyond memorising standard methods.

While my teaching approach is highly exam-oriented, students often find my lessons structured, engaging and enjoyable. I focus on simplifying difficult concepts, exposing students to high-level exam techniques and building strong foundations that allow them to approach unfamiliar problems with confidence.

Many of my students have gone on to study Mathematics, Physics, Engineering and related subjects at top universities. Ultimately, my goal is not only to help students achieve excellent examination results, but also to help them develop confidence, curiosity and genuine problem-solving ability that will benefit them far beyond the classroom.

Teaching Philosophy

The character 研, which appears in my company logo, embodies the essence of research and study, aligning closely with my teaching philosophy. In Chinese, 研 means “to study” or “to research,” reflecting my commitment to fostering deep understanding and intellectual curiosity in students.

I believe that learning should not be one-directional. My lessons encourage active participation, discussion and exploration rather than passive memorisation. I frequently present questions that go beyond textbooks, challenging students to think critically, analyse unfamiliar situations and engage deeply with the material.

The “research” aspect of 研 symbolises the journey of exploration that I hope every student experiences through Mathematics and Physics. Rather than simply teaching students how to answer questions, I aim to develop independent thinkers who are capable of approaching difficult problems with confidence, creativity and logical reasoning.