Dr John W.

| Over 98% of my tutees have achieved the A* | 28 years in top HMC schools | PhD Biochemistry | Average UCAT score in top 1% | Over 600 tutees into Oxford, Cambridge or Medicine |

Dr John Wharam BSc (Hons), PhD, PGCE, MA Ed

Tutoring Experience

Following a First Class degree from Durham University I completed my Doctorate in 2 years and then worked as a Postdoctoral Biochemist at Oxford University. Deciding to become a teacher I then completed a PGCE.

I spent 28 years working in leading HMC Schools, including many years as the Director of Teaching and Learning (Academic Deputy Head / Assistant Head) at Woodbridge School in Suffolk. I then retired at the age of 53 to concentrate full time on tutoring. My teaching career included an absolute wealth of experience as an examiner and Inspection work for ISI, and my classes consistently achieved exceptional exam results and value added.

I started tutoring whilst I was in the sixth form because I took some of my A levels early and it was the success and the enjoyment that I got from tutoring that eventually led to my move into teaching. Over the last 30 years, helped greatly by my experiences as a teacher and examiner, I have kept on improving my tutoring skills and every year the results just seem to get better and better. More than 98% of my tutees gain the A*, more than 30 have gained 100% in A level papers, and I have helped over 600 students get into Oxford, Cambridge or Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Med. Most of my tutees score in the top 1% in the UCAT but I also enjoy helping students who really struggle with the time pressure of the UCAT to reach a score that gets them into medical school.

I specialise in online tuition for A level Chemistry and Biology and in helping students to excel in their UCAT and in medical school interviews but I am also very happy teaching GCSE sciences, GCSE maths or A level economics.

Tutoring Approach

My lessons are interactive and engaging and I have a relaxed and positive approach. Throughout school and university I pursued elite sport, winning World and European Titles. The difficulties, such as balancing this with academic work and overcoming injuries, prepared me well for helping students to develop their emotional and mental resilience and to overcome their specific challenges. I make sure that my students fully understand material, know how to tackle unseen exam questions, and know how best to prepare for exams. For chemistry, biology and medical school entrance I probably have the best track record that there is.

I really enjoy tutoring and get a lot of satisfaction and pleasure from helping students to do so much better than they think they can, whether at GCSE, A level or University level. For online lessons I always ask to be paid in advance and I use Zoom as the platform as it is super reliable and the screen sharing is fantastic. I have a large dedicated office for tutoring with two 900Mbps fibre connections from different providers to ensure that I always have superfast internet speeds.

Exceptional Reviews

I've pasted some of these below as I think they give you more insight into my tutoring than the above bio does

Anaiya:

John was fantastic.
In just 4 lessons he helped me immensely.
He has a unique style in which he quickly works out what is needed and gives excellent feedback and practical ways of improving.
He is very easy to talk to and I felt very comfortable.
I absolutely recommend him to anyone doing UCAT wanting to excel.

Jewelee:

We can’t thank John enough for the unconditional support and knowledge working through preparation for the UCAT, he went above and beyond willing to support Britain every step of the way. Even with a 7 hour time difference we were able to work it out due to John’s commitment to his students. We were very fortunate to have worked with John and most definitely will continue in the future as the need arises. Thank you for everything, you helped make all the difference and gave Britain the opportunity and chance to make the best decision possible

Stuart:

Dr John has been fabulous. He pulled my daughter up from B/C grade to an A* in both biology and chemistry, got her into medical school, and gave her the habits, skills and confidence that she needed. Absolute lifesaver. Totally recommend.

Alison:

Dr John started tutoring my son after the mocks when he got a disastrous CDD. John was just brilliant and my son enjoyed the lessons and he got A*A*A*. I massively recommend Dr John as a tutor. Absolutely outstanding and well worth the money.

Peter:

Exceptionally knowledgeable and professional. Took my youngest son up to A level and got him into medical school. Utterly reliable, superb in every way.

Sanja:

John has helped my son with his A-level Chemistry prep. He was in the A/A* range, but after working with John has secured 93% (and a clear A*) on his last Chemistry exam and commendation from his Chemistry tutor.

Naella:

John is an amazing tutor. He is very patient and effective in his teaching methods. My son has benefitted from fabulous lessons in A-level Biology and Chemistry. John has been focussing on exam question technique, which has made an immense difference. My son is always happy to attend sessions with John, which has not been the case with previous tutors.
As a parent (and a teacher), I have found John to be prompt, organised and forthcoming with advice and updates. This has been useful for me in supporting my son. I am so glad that I was able to secure tutor sessions with John, as my son is much more confident that he will be able to obtain the grades he wants in the summer

Adi:

John has the rare qualities of being incredibly professional, targeted and adaptable in his teaching, and is incredibly passionate about helping others with biology.
My son (A-level) was struggling to translate the knowledge he had into responding effectively to exam questions, and as a result had lost confidence. John was quickly able to show him where he was not responding the 'correct' way, give practice and pointers. .
As an aside John's communications with myself (the parent) was highly sensitive, timely and informative. Really helpful in building a partnership to help my son. Thank you John

Oxana:

John's lessons are exceptional. His expertise and pedagogical skills are amazing. His lessons are carefully structured and tailored to students' needs. My children have physics, chemistry and biology lessons with John, and he helped them bridge a huge gap in curriculum coverage at school and achieve grade 8 in their mock GCSE exams. Most importantly, John really cares about his students and is passionate about his teaching. This is what makes a real difference and helps his students succeed. My children really love lessons with John and I don't need to look any further when they prepare for A levels

Faye:

John is an excellent tutor. Supportive, professional, patient and engaging

Richard:

John has been an excellent biology tutor for me over the last couple of years. He has taken me through the entire AS and A level syllabus as a private candidate, helping me to achieve the highest grade possible in exams. I am not only able to successfully answer exam questions but have developed a real understanding of the material thanks to John's knowledge and experience on the subject. He has also been a great help in preparing for the Oxford BMSAT. Highly recommend

Ian:

John has been a superb tutor for our son for chemistry. He got a D in his end of first-year sixth form exams because he had to change school and exam boards mid-year. This gave him a predicted grade of C, which was not good enough for the university he wanted. John stepped in and tutored him over the summer holidays. Between John’s help and our son’s hard work, he lifted his grades in chemistry up to an A. John was patient, pointed, and demanded excellence; exactly what was needed to get the grades necessary. We would strongly recommend

Sarah:

John is a brilliant Maths teacher who helped my daughter achieve a 6 in her GCSE having been told by school that she'd never even pass her Maths and needed to do the lower, foundation level. We protested and she insisted on doing the higher level and, thanks to John, this was achieved. She had got 3% in her mock so we got help from John and this grade was brought up from a fail to a grade 6 (almost a 7) for her GCSE after a few months help from John

Alison:

John is an excellent tutor. He has been tutoring our daughter for A-Level Chemistry and for the UCAT exam. She is in year 12 and wants to study medicine. Her grades dipped after her school chemistry teacher became sick and we knew we needed a tutor to help her. We contacted John and we are very glad we did. He is straightforward, pleasant to work with and really knows his subjects. His explanations are clear, he can answer her questions and work through any problems, and he is great at directing her to websites for additional/independent study. All the tutoring has been done online, and the technology has been reliable and easy to use. She has worked hard and, with John’s help, her end of year exam results couldn’t be better. Her confidence has also dramatically improved and she is now in a great position to apply for university. We are very happy and grateful that John had availability to tutor our daughter. We highly recommend him.

Frances:

John is very well versed with knowledge that he can offer in the tuition class. He is very helpful in teaching the student in study skill and exam skills that enables my son to study and review his material more independently. My son's mock exam result has been boosted drastically, this is a vast jump in 6 lessons. He is now much more ready and confident for the AS exam. I would highly recommend John. Best tutor!

Lantie:

John has proven to be a phenomenal biology A-Level tutor for my son. He covers material in-depth and importantly, is very thorough with exam technique, which is really helping my son’s confidence. John’s support has become increasingly reflected in school tests/exams that they’ve had so far. Also reflected in feedback from teachers about my son’s contribution in lessons (in regards to discussing content with a high degree of knowledge). Even though my son has ADHD, John’s manner has been patient and communicative, allowing for 90 minute sessions to be helpful right through to the final minutes. As a parent, I find that John has been the MOST reliable tutor of all the ones we’ve had for various subjects over the years! His tutoring is clearly a priority rather than a sideline, which he delivers with enthusiasm

Mahnoor:

John has been an incredible teacher and source of support for my brother who is an A-Level student who has weekly Biology and Chemistry lessons with John. My brother has the following to say: "John is an exceptional tutor who always takes care to ensure I thoroughly understand the syllabus. He prioritises exam questions and technique, which has resulted in increased confidence and better performance on my behalf. He is kind and it’s a pleasure to work with him." As the adult with oversight of the arrangement, I have found John to be communicative and readily available to discuss his process and teaching methods as and when I have sought insight into my brother's progress. John has been available over the phone and via email to provide updates when they are sought and his involvement in my brother's education has been a source of reassurance, which is important as A-Levels are a stressful time for teenagers everywhere. Not only is John evidently experienced and considered in his approach but he has also adapted his teaching and engagement style to my brother's learning style. I have heard nothing but praise about their lessons and I myself have found John is easy to reach and communicate with. He is flexible in respect of teaching arrangements as well as adaptive in his teaching style so that he can best meet his student's needs. I cannot recommend John highly enough

Rachel:

John is supporting my son with A level Chemistry and I cannot recommend him enough. The lessons are well organised and very interactive, because of this John is able to pick up very quickly any areas that need extra support. My son has applied for medical school so an excellent grade in Chemistry is very important and I am confident that he will get there with John’s support. However, more important than all of the above, my son actually really enjoys the lessons with John and his confidence has really grown

Carol:

John is a fabulous tutor, my daughter needed some support starting her degree and John gave her the confidence to believe that she could achieve her full potential. Would highly recommend and will be certainly using John again in the coming months

Saimah:

My son says that John is a total lifesaver. He has provided exceptional help for my son's degree studies, explaining things very clearly and helping him to work far more effectively and efficiently. He has also been very flexible with arranging lessons. John is excellent in every way and we highly recommend him

Khurshid:

John has been giving tution to maaz for five weeks in chemistry and biology and maaz already showing results ,maaz really enjoys learning from john , maaz just had his test in chemistry and maaz obtained 39/40 marks , john is very committed tutor I must say that john is highly qualified and have excellent skills of teaching

Shamil:

John has helped me so much with both practising and understanding the UCAT, whether its from hidden tells and efficient techniques in questions or helping me learn properly from my mistakes. Even though I only had a month the prepare, he helped me so much and I've never felt more confident to sit this exam even after my other previous attempts. I truly believe this will be my best attempt yet, I highly recommend him to anyone who is also at the mercy of the UCAT

Carolyn:

John has been amazing with my son Matt. We asked for his help after a difficult March A level mock where my son got 3 grades below his predicted grade, despite doing lots of revision. We asked John to help with exam technique specifically and to help with getting his grades up to what he needs to get his university place. John has offered Matt excellent insight into what examiners are looking for and how to approach questions. They go over exam papers in the sessions and highlight where he's gone wrong. John is very good at explaining how the mark scheme works, what the question is asking and showing him what phrases he needs to use to get the marks. This insight into what the exam board are thinking when they ask a question has enabled Matt to answer questions differently and pick up lots more marks. Just by changing the way he approaches questions, taking John's insight into account, has improved his grades. John has great experience in how the exam boards work and helping identify questions which come up year after year (albeit phrased slightly differently) so Matt can pick up some easy marks! He has also been great at helping with the maths questions in the A level which my son struggled with. Even though we've only had John a few months the difference has been amazing. My son is much more confident and has started to enjoy doing biology A level. His grades improved by 2 within the first month just from his sessions with John and we are now really optimistic for the final grades in August! My son enjoys the sessions and always looks forward to doing them because he can see the difference they are making. Thanks John

Melodie:

We found John because my daughter was struggling with A-level Chemistry; her attainment and confidence in the subject were both low. We knew we needed an experienced and capable teacher to help her to achieve the grade she needs. She has now been working with John for two months. He’s patient and kind and my daughter greatly appreciates his extensive knowledge of the subject. He has helped her to understand the reasoning behind exam answers, going into greater depth when explaining any areas that she’s struggled with, thereby thoroughly filling in her knowledge gaps. She’s also commented on John’s detailed knowledge of the exam syllabus, the papers and associated learning resources. She’s really enjoying working with John and is a lot more confident tackling past papers. I wished we’d found him sooner!

Sarah:

John is a very patient, knowledgeable, and helpful teacher. He was also flexible with accommodating the hours we needed to book and very friendly. Highly recommended!

Vivian:

John is a very experienced teacher, has great patience to the student and provide clear learning structure to follow

Gabby:

A very professional, effective tutor who injects some fun into each lesson. Brought me up from failing A level papers to getting a first in my first year of university! Strongly recommend for his exceptional teaching style and calm, positive demeanour

Nadim:

Extremely useful UCAT preparation. Very skilled and very accommodating to fit us in at short notice. Highly recommend!

Golam:

Amazing teacher who teaches students exactly how to think their way through tricky and unfamiliar questions so that they can get all of the marks. So pleased that we found him and only wish we`d found him sooner. We`d tried tutors before and not been impressed but John is totally different. He is the best there is and we strongly recommend him to you if you want to quickly move up to the top grade! Just fantastic

Prithvi:

John has somehow managed to make revising and practicing A-level biology enjoyable. I have gone from being under-confident and underperforming in my topic tests to achieving consistently high scores in the midst of my A-level exams. John ensures you understand the material you have chosen to cover and engages actively in conversation surrounding the topics, both helping expand your out-of-syllabus knowledge and encouraging a holistic comprehension of the vast specification (which are also extremely useful attributes to have for paper 3). John will allow you to decide on what you would like to focus on and teach you the intricacies of adhering to A-level marking, which differs greatly in both difficult and technique from GCSE. My aptitude for biology has increased dramatically, as has my motivation to improve even further.

Eddie:

The work John has been doing with Charlie has been great . John is very personable and was able to get on Charlies wave length straight away . Charlie needed some direction on answer structure to enable him to maximise his marks. I would have no problem recommending John in the future

Catherine:

My daughter`s confidence in Chemistry has improved enormously since she started being tutored by John, and after only a few weeks it`s already reflected in her grades which is amazing!

Caroline:

John is a brilliant tutor! Since starting lessons with John my son has made exceptional progress in biology and he really enjoys the lessons. John is an amazing teacher and we are so glad that we found him and would recommend him to anyone.

I have hundreds more 5 star reviews but this should be enough to give you an idea of my tutoring.