Dr Patrick

INTRODUCTION

Hello, my name's Patrick and I'm a highly-qualified and experienced tutor with a wealth of knowledge and hands-on expertise.

I am passionate about education and learning, and love working with learners to find the best way for them to achieve their goals in whatever way is most suited to them. I am a friendly, open and down-to-earth person. I believe that studying and succeeding academically need not be a painful experience. With the right guidance, fulfilling your ambitions can be fun, as well as hugely rewarding!

My main drive is a huge personal curiosity and a desire to explore, develop, and express creativity; to expand my understanding and insight; and to help others to do the same and become fully-rounded individuals who contribute and enrich the lives of others and society in general.

I went to school in Swansea, and then I studied for and was awarded a BA (Hons), and then a Certificate of Postgraduate Study in Natural Sciences (specializing in Chemistry and Maths), at Cambridge University, between 1988 and 1993. I obtained a PhD from Birmingham University in Mathematical Chemistry in 1996. As an "added extra," I gained an MA from Cambridge University a few years after first graduating, and an MA from Oxford University when I worked there, both without any further formal study! Whilst doing all these things, I tutored extensively in Maths and Science.

Since returning to Swansea in 2012, I've extended my interests (and qualifications!) by gaining (in 2015) two Certificates of Higher Education from Swansea Uni: in (1) Creative Writing and Psychotherapy; and (2) Egyptology. I also have qualifications related to psychotherapy and communications-theory (please contact to discuss, if you are interested!). I gained a Distinction in practical "A-Level" (UWCH) Welsh for Adults in 2017.

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EXPERIENCE

I have worked full-time as a self-employed tutor since 2011. From 1991 - 1993 I was a graduate student and "supervisor" for undergraduate chemistry students at Cambridge University (teaching Chemistry and Maths). I have worked as a Research Fellow at the Universities of Oxford, Exeter, and Sussex, where I also taught Maths and Science. Between 1999 and 2011 I had an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career working as a Senior Lecturer in Mathematics at Northumbria University in Newcastle.

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APPROACH

I work on Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths and English with clients of all ages who want help with qualifications raging from Key Stage 3, through GCSE to A-Level. I have also worked with several undergraduate and postgraduate students who needed expert guidance regarding university-level work.

I love expressing creativity through learning and understanding new things, and strive to excel in sharing insight and in helping others to succeed in all their educational goals.

Education is a great gift and can be a wonderful experience under the right conditions for teacher and learner. I have received training in teaching and learning, and in aspects of psychotherapy and communication, and this helps to inform the ways I work with each individual.

My approach is to work alongside learners with the aim of facilitating them to discover and develop their own most suitable strategies and techniques for achieving their goals. These goals can be very diverse: to feel more confident, to boost grades, to improve general skills, to pass specific exams, to gain entry to Universities, to write better reports, or to master specific subjects or areas.

For me, “good learning” is not just about “passing the exam” but also about developing skills which are genuinely enriching to the individual, and useful throughout life. And, “good learning” does not have to be a “hard slog” – it can be “fun” whilst also achieving serious and lasting results.

I am very down-to-earth, friendly, open, and approachable. I always take into account the learner's age, experience, starting-level and needs, and am very hard-working and adaptable in finding new and appropriate ways to get the required results for each individual.

I regularly ask for detailed feedback on my own performance as an educator, and on the students' experience as learners in order to fine-tune my activities to optimise outcomes. I "do my homework" each week, too!

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WELSH LANGUAGE (for ADULT LEARNERS and GCSE/A-Level STUDENTS)

I can help with Welsh language and literature. I work with clients ranging from those doing GCSE exams, to adult learners just starting out on their "language journey," to people who want to "brush up" on their language skills and gain confidence.

I began learning Welsh several years ago in Tŷ Tawe in Swansea City Centre. I love the language and enjoy studying very much. I sat the A-Level exam for Second-Language Speakers in June 2017, and I got a "distinction." I also gained "distinctions" in advanced courses provided on-line by Swansea University ("Cwrs Gloywi") and Aberystwyth University ("Cwrs Graenus").

I am now fluent in Welsh and I was appointed as a Welsh Tutor for Adults working for Academi Hywel Teifi in Swansea University in January 2020. I also use the language to help school students who are studying Welsh, and science and maths through the medium of Welsh.

In 2016 I received a great honour when I won a prize called the "Learners' Prose Medal" in the National Eisteddfod. I have been nominated many times for national UK awards for my Welsh-for-Adults teaching. I've also written a half-a-million-words bilingual novel (Welsh/English).