Thomas

I am a qualified teacher and tutor of over ten years' experience. After studying Physics at Imperial College, I taught maths and physics at a private tutorial college in Kensington before gaining a PGCE Teaching Certificate from the Institute of Education (University of London). I taught physics at Tiffin Boys grammar school in Kingston for four years as well as tutoring physics and maths. I am fully CRB checked through the school.

I have extensive testimonials from parents of my students:

"My son has been exceptionally lucky to be inspired by you at Tiffin and then in turn supported by your tutoring. You are one of the few tutors I have found capable of working with top students aiming for high grades. It's great to find someone who knows the fine-grain detail of the markschemes and understands that every single mark matters for students aiming for top universities and A* grades. I hope you are still available when my daughter sits her maths and physics A-levels"

Julie Davidson, Surrey

"Tom was of great help to our 17 year old son during his A levels. As a result he achieved an A* in Physics and will soon be off to his first choice university to study mechanical engineering."

Brian Flasck, SW19

"Mr McKennan is an excellent physics tutor, with a passion for teaching. His interactive teaching style and extensive knowledge helped my son to secure a high A* in physics at A level. I strongly recommend him as a physics tutor."

Mr Sharma, Sutton

"The big success for us as parents is not only that our son did pass his 7+ exams [for King's College School] but the fact that he enjoys maths. He is always looking forward to his lesson with Tom, eager to learn new things. Tom taught him how to think strategically which is applicable, really, to any subject at school!"

Drs Yiannis & Maria Kyriazis

"Dear Tom, thank you for all your hard work with Nicole over the last year. She has gone from being a mid range student to gaining a perfect 100% in her recent mock SATS Exam [Year 6]."

Charles Turner, Surrey

"Thomas has proved to be an excellent and reliable tutor. My daughter has just achieved an A* and A in her Physics and Maths A levels. She says Tom is patient and explains things well and that he has really helped her with her A Levels. Tom has really helped her in her understanding of the complicated and advanced aspects of the syllabus and advising her on the best ways to revise for the exams."

Georgina Benton, SW19

"Tom has been an inspirational tutor to my son who was lacking in confidence in his abilities at the end of Year 10. Through Tom's encouragement and dedication his confidence grew and he moved from a C grade to an A* in Physics and a low B grade to a solid A in Maths (in a year of controversy with a difficult 2015 IGCSE paper!). Thank you."

JI, SW19

""Tom is a dedicated and inspiring tutor. He encouraged, motivated and guided my son not only on what to think but on how to think in Physics. As a result, my son has gained more confidence and fascination for this science. He has obtained an A in this subject and he is well equipped to start an MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield, his first choice university. Thank you Tom!""

Dr G Cagliesi, SW19

"In late February this year I asked Tom to help my 16 year old daughter, Bea, with physics coaching for her GCSEs. This was after Bea had got a C in her mocks and had admitted she was struggling with physics. With only a few months available Tom gave Bea the individual support she had always needed to understand in her terms many of the complex physics topics she was confused by (especially electricity!). The coaching was carried out on about 8 Saturdays working in 90 minute sessions. Bea got on very well with Tom ,who adopts a very professional, patient but quietly challenging teaching style. In addition to explaining the troublesome areas of the syllabus he also clarified the marking systems and how to tackle the papers. When Bea took the papers she said they went well and that she felt Tom had been at her side through the exams and that she felt able to attempt answers to all the questions. We were, however, more than pleasantly surprised to find out today that Bea got an A* in her physics GCSE, which was an enormous improvement from the C she got in her mocks four months previously!! This achievement would not have been possible without Tom, who we are very indebted to."

Simon Kilgour, NW1

"Tom provided support with Maths tutoring to my daughter throughout her GCSE year. He came to the house once or twice a week and not only explained parts of the curriculum to her with which she was struggling, but more importantly, gave her the tools and confidence to look at problems and work them out. By these means he helped her convert a C/B grade in to an A grade. Tom has a cheerful and relaxed way of working and we are very grateful indeed for his efforts with our daughter. I am happy to speak with any prospective clients who are considering engaging him to help their children through the exam process"

Nancy Cogswell, SW19

"An excellent teacher with an ability to make Physics easy to understand, resulting in an A* at GCSE for our son"

Dr A Patel, Surrey.

"Punctual, polite and always very well prepared, Tom is an excellent tutor"

David Bailey, SW1

"Tom helped my older son for about 3 months, and I noticed that during this brief period my son had gained lot of confidence and had improved a lot in his Maths and was able to pass the 13+ entrance exams of two very academically selective private schools. According to my son Tom is very calm, patient and makes math problems easy to solve. I am glad I got to know Tom and would definitely recommend him to anyone I know."

Mohamed Rabie, SW20

"Tom helped our son achieve excellent results in maths in his 13+ full scholarship exam at Kings College School. Maths was the subject he needed to put in the most effort and fortunately we found Tom who built up his problem-solving skills and gave him a deeper understanding of all the topics. The lessons have always been very enjoyable for our son and gave him much more confidence."

Tina, SW20

"Tom was a tremendous help with our 10 year-old boy and girl twins, who were preparing for their 11+ exams. He was able to spot their areas of weakness and work with them both to improve their maths skills and confidence. They both got offers for all four very competitive schools. We will use Tom again in the future and cannot recommend him highly enough."

Dr and Mrs Sacks

"Tom provided extra tuition for our daughter in maths in Y4-6 - as a result of Tom's patience and experience as a trained teacher, her confidence and capability increased significantly."

Nausicca Martin, SW19

"Both my daughter and her friend gained grade A in their AS Physics exams and give Tom, their tutor, the credit!"

Gloria Onafeko, NW11

"Of all the tutors my son and daughter have had, Tom was the best: he really pushed them to think for themselves and work things out clearly"

Chioma Okoye, W1

"Tom helped me to understand the principles behind mathematics and taught me strategies to break down even complicated mathematical problems into simple steps. With his help, I was able to get the grade I needed in my A2 Maths to get into Bristol University"

Humfrey Brandes, SW7

"Tom was recommended to us by a friend to help our daughter specifically with her A level Mechanics module. He quickly assessed her needs and was methodical and thorough in his teaching. He was always on hand to support and give further help when needed. He left no stone unturned and provided much practise through questions and exams papers to consolidate her knowledge. As a result our daughter achieved an A grade in her Mechanics module. Tom is a dedicated, committed tutor whom I would gladly recommend."

Mr Dhillon, SW19

"Our son finished his AS exams knowing he needed to secure at least an A in physics in his A level final exams. He was predicted lower by his school and the signs were not encouraging. By the time he finished his AS exams, he was lacking in confidence slightly in the subject and his scores were nowhere near an A. He needed a tutor and a guide who could instil confidence, push him just the right amount and above all else, get him to enjoy the subject once again. In Tom, our son found the right tutor. He has scored a very high A in physics (narrowly missing an A*) and is now going to study Natural Sciences at UCL. Thank you Tom"

Sanat Rao

"Due to having glandular fever, my daughter was unable to sit her A-Levels in her U6th year. She decided not to go back to school or college in the following year and wanted to study on her own with the help of tutors. Tom tutored her from November to May - twice a week. He was very thorough and made sure her understanding was on point. She got an A in her Maths A Level and was not far off an A*. Tom was an excellent tutor and we would recommend him highly."

Parry Ray, SW19

Tutoring Experience

I have been teaching maths and physics for over eleven years.

After studying Physics at Imperial College, I taught maths and physics at a private tutorial college in Kensington before gaining a PGCE Teaching Certificate from the Institute of Education (University of London).

I taught physics at Tiffin Boys grammar school in Kingston for four years as well as tutoring physics and maths.

I have helped many students to gain top grades at A-Level (AS/A2), IGCSE and GCSE, physics and maths, all major boards (Edexcel, OCR, AQA, WJEC) and I have tutored many younger students to pass entrance exams for independent and grammar schools. My students have gained entrance to top schools including Eton (King's scholarship), Westminster, Winchester, Whitgift, Trinity and King's College School.

I also specialise in scholarship papers and have helped students gain scholarships, including the notoriously challenging King's Scholarship for Eton College and the Westminster Challenge.

In addition, I have prepared numerous students for the 11+ and 13+ Common Entrance papers used by many grammar and independent schools: non-verbal reasoning as well as physics/science and maths. I also have experience working with younger primary school pupils, both in preparation for prep school exams and boosting general maths/reasoning skills.

Levels covered include:
• A-Level (AS, A2: Edexcel, OCR, AQA, WJEC)
• GCSE/IGCSE (Edexcel, OCR, AQA, WJEC)
• Common Entrance (Maths, physics/science, non-verbal reasoning: 13+ and 11+)
• Entrance and scholarship exams (Eton College/King's scholarship, Westminster/Westminster Challenge, Winchester, Whitgift, Trinity, KCS)
• Primary school

I have extensive testimonials from parents of students I have taught:

"My son has been exceptionally lucky to be inspired by you at Tiffin and then in turn supported by your tutoring. You are one of the few tutors I have found capable of working with top students aiming for high grades. It's great to find someone who knows the fine-grain detail of the markschemes and understands that every single mark matters for students aiming for top universities and A* grades. I hope you are still available when my daughter sits her maths and physics A-levels"

Julie Davidson, Surrey

"Tom was of great help to our 17 year old son during his A levels. As a result he achieved an A* in Physics and will soon be off to his first choice university to study mechanical engineering."

Brian Flasck, SW19

"Mr McKennan is an excellent physics tutor, with a passion for teaching. His interactive teaching style and extensive knowledge helped my son to secure a high A* in physics at A level. I strongly recommend him as a physics tutor."

Mr Sharma, Sutton

"The big success for us as parents is not only that our son did pass his 7+ exams [for King's College School] but the fact that he enjoys maths. He is always looking forward to his lesson with Tom, eager to learn new things. Tom taught him how to think strategically which is applicable, really, to any subject at school!"

Drs Yiannis & Maria Kyriazis

"Dear Tom, thank you for all your hard work with Nicole over the last year. She has gone from being a mid range student to gaining a perfect 100% in her recent mock SATS Exam [Year 6]."

Charles Turner, Surrey

"Thomas has proved to be an excellent and reliable tutor. My daughter has just achieved an A* and A in her Physics and Maths A levels. She says Tom is patient and explains things well and that he has really helped her with her A Levels. Tom has really helped her in her understanding of the complicated and advanced aspects of the syllabus and advising her on the best ways to revise for the exams."

Georgina Benton, SW19

"Tom has been an inspirational tutor to my son who was lacking in confidence in his abilities at the end of Year 10. Through Tom's encouragement and dedication his confidence grew and he moved from a C grade to an A* in Physics and a low B grade to a solid A in Maths (in a year of controversy with a difficult 2015 IGCSE paper!). Thank you."

JI, SW19

""Tom is a dedicated and inspiring tutor. He encouraged, motivated and guided my son not only on what to think but on how to think in Physics. As a result, my son has gained more confidence and fascination for this science. He has obtained an A in this subject and he is well equipped to start an MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield, his first choice university. Thank you Tom!""

Dr G Cagliesi, SW19

"In late February this year I asked Tom to help my 16 year old daughter, Bea, with physics coaching for her GCSEs. This was after Bea had got a C in her mocks and had admitted she was struggling with physics. With only a few months available Tom gave Bea the individual support she had always needed to understand in her terms many of the complex physics topics she was confused by (especially electricity!). The coaching was carried out on about 8 Saturdays working in 90 minute sessions. Bea got on very well with Tom ,who adopts a very professional, patient but quietly challenging teaching style. In addition to explaining the troublesome areas of the syllabus he also clarified the marking systems and how to tackle the papers. When Bea took the papers she said they went well and that she felt Tom had been at her side through the exams and that she felt able to attempt answers to all the questions. We were, however, more than pleasantly surprised to find out today that Bea got an A* in her physics GCSE, which was an enormous improvement from the C she got in her mocks four months previously!! This achievement would not have been possible without Tom, who we are very indebted to."

Simon Kilgour, NW1

"Tom provided support with Maths tutoring to my daughter throughout her GCSE year. He came to the house once or twice a week and not only explained parts of the curriculum to her with which she was struggling, but more importantly, gave her the tools and confidence to look at problems and work them out. By these means he helped her convert a C/B grade in to an A grade. Tom has a cheerful and relaxed way of working and we are very grateful indeed for his efforts with our daughter. I am happy to speak with any prospective clients who are considering engaging him to help their children through the exam process"

Nancy Cogswell, SW19

"An excellent teacher with an ability to make Physics easy to understand, resulting in an A* at GCSE for our son"

Dr A Patel, Surrey.

"Punctual, polite and always very well prepared, Tom is an excellent tutor"

David Bailey, SW1

"Tom helped my older son for about 3 months, and I noticed that during this brief period my son had gained lot of confidence and had improved a lot in his Maths and was able to pass the 13+ entrance exams of two very academically selective private schools. According to my son Tom is very calm, patient and makes math problems easy to solve. I am glad I got to know Tom and would definitely recommend him to anyone I know."

Mohamed Rabie, SW20

"Tom helped our son achieve excellent results in maths in his 13+ full scholarship exam at Kings College School. Maths was the subject he needed to put in the most effort and fortunately we found Tom who built up his problem-solving skills and gave him a deeper understanding of all the topics. The lessons have always been very enjoyable for our son and gave him much more confidence."

Tina, SW20

"Tom was a tremendous help with our 10 year-old boy and girl twins, who were preparing for their 11+ exams. He was able to spot their areas of weakness and work with them both to improve their maths skills and confidence. They both got offers for all four very competitive schools. We will use Tom again in the future and cannot recommend him highly enough."

Dr and Mrs Sacks

"Tom provided extra tuition for our daughter in maths in Y4-6 - as a result of Tom's patience and experience as a trained teacher, her confidence and capability increased significantly."

Nausicca Martin, SW19

"Both my daughter and her friend gained grade A in their AS Physics exams and give Tom, their tutor, the credit!"

Gloria Onafeko, NW11

"Of all the tutors my son and daughter have had, Tom was the best: he really pushed them to think for themselves and work things out clearly"

Chioma Okoye, W1

"Tom helped me to understand the principles behind mathematics and taught me strategies to break down even complicated mathematical problems into simple steps. With his help, I was able to get the grade I needed in my A2 Maths to get into Bristol University"

Humfrey Brandes, SW7

"Tom was recommended to us by a friend to help our daughter specifically with her A level Mechanics module. He quickly assessed her needs and was methodical and thorough in his teaching. He was always on hand to support and give further help when needed. He left no stone unturned and provided much practise through questions and exams papers to consolidate her knowledge. As a result our daughter achieved an A grade in her Mechanics module. Tom is a dedicated, committed tutor whom I would gladly recommend."

Mr Dhillon, SW19

"Our son finished his AS exams knowing he needed to secure at least an A in physics in his A level final exams. He was predicted lower by his school and the signs were not encouraging. By the time he finished his AS exams, he was lacking in confidence slightly in the subject and his scores were nowhere near an A. He needed a tutor and a guide who could instil confidence, push him just the right amount and above all else, get him to enjoy the subject once again. In Tom, our son found the right tutor. He has scored a very high A in physics (narrowly missing an A*) and is now going to study Natural Sciences at UCL. Thank you Tom"

Sanat Rao

"Due to having glandular fever, my daughter was unable to sit her A-Levels in her U6th year. She decided not to go back to school or college in the following year and wanted to study on her own with the help of tutors. Tom tutored her from November to May - twice a week. He was very thorough and made sure her understanding was on point. She got an A in her Maths A Level and was not far off an A*. Tom was an excellent tutor and we would recommend him highly."

Parry Ray, SW19

Tutoring Approach

I offer one-to-one tutoring personalised to each student's individual learning style and course of study. I use my in-depth knowledge of exam requirements to support students' learning. I also provide tailored follow-up activities to foster independence and challenge students to progress their own understanding.

I am also happy to provide online tuition where travel is impractical. I have considerable experience tutoring online over the past few years.