Jack

Starting from a state school background (with A*AA in English, Physics and History), I went on to read English at Trinity College, Oxford where I was awarded the Percival Scholarship after gaining a distinction in my preliminary examinations.

At Oxford, I was president of the comedy society (former members including Alan Bennett, Michael Palin, and Rowan Atkinson to name a few). I went on to try my hand in showbusiness, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, and writing jokes and shows for BBC Radio 4.

I returned to university for postgraduate study of Theology at St Stephen's House, Oxford, where I achieved a distinction. I have settled in Oxford with my wife, Emily, and little baby, Madeline.

In summary, my tutoring

- is RESPONSIVE to the student's needs. I fully expect and encourage students to bring me difficult school problems in Maths, parts of poems they don't understand, or exam papers they have been given for homework - I will always adapt to their requirements in the lesson.

- is CONVERSATIONAL and friendly. The great ancient teachers used dialogue to guide their students by using continued questions and deliberate irony. It has not been improved upon as a method, in my view. I am a good fit with pupils in need of encouragement and kindness.

- prioritises DOING. Students learn how to factorise an equation not from hearing a teacher describe the steps only, but by doing it for themselves, over and over. They learn vocabulary best not by a dictionary definition, but by seeing the word deployed, and then having to use it themselves. I do not shy away from getting students to keep practicing and practicing, until they are getting the result we need.

Beyond these practicalities, I am convinced that school and university are not means to an end (i.e. the good Maths score that means the pupil will be able to attend the 'right' academy, and then get the 'right' job). Learning has a value that takes us further than human utility, and I am keen to impress upon students a love of learning for its own sake. My approach to knowledge - the 'knowable' world that surrounds us - is to see it as a gift, not a resource to be exploited for our own gain. I enjoy learning goals like confidence-building, help with understanding, or helping to fulfil potential for this reason.

I am a writer, with a background in comedy performance. My double-act 'Moon' received plaudits and Channel 4 appearances in 2018-20, and a sitcom I co-wrote called 'Godsquad' (broadcast BBC Radio 4 October 2021) was shortlisted for the 2022 Audio Drama Awards.

After a brief interlude of debating whether I might be called into the Priesthood, I have returned to writing on topics like faith in the public square. I live in Oxford with my wife Emily and daughter Madeline.