What do you teach?
Radcliffe Academy of Maths and Physics (RAMP) teaches the HSC Physics curriculum as set by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). This is the same curriculum that is taught in all NSW high schools, both public and private.
Who are your teachers?
At Radcliffe Academy, our tutors are fully qualified, NESA accredited Physics teachers. Most other tutoring colleges use recent school leavers with high ATAR scores as their tutors.
You cannot assume that a person will be a good teacher simply because they are good at doing something themselves. If this were the case, we would not have a critical shortage of maths and science teachers in schools, as they would be employing our vast pool of high-achieving recent school leavers. Instead, it takes 3 years to earn a Bachelor of Education, or two years to earn a Master of Teaching if you already have a Bachelor degree. This is because there is much, much more to being a teacher than simply being good at the subject. For this reason, Radcliffe Academy does not employ recent school leavers.
Do you teach the course at the same time as students are learning it at school?
No. Radcliffe Academy teaches the course ahead of the school schedule. This way, students are well-prepared as they encounter the content at school. This is an optimal method for understanding and retaining knowledge.
Where do students attend the Radcliffe Academy lessons?
The Radcliffe Academy program is completely online.
What is included in the course?
Students attend one 45-minute group tutorial and have access to one 15-minute individual session with a tutor once each week. They also have online course materials, a video lesson, conceptual and numerical questions and short quizzes. For more detailed information about the course structure, please click here.
Do I have to use the 15-minute session each week if I don’t need it?
No. If you do not use your weekly 15-minute private session, you can save it to the following week. The sessions will accumulate each week up to a maximum of one hour. You must use this hour before starting to accumulate more time. This allows students to use the time flexibly, and focus on those areas where they are most in need of individual support.
Why do you teach the whole curriculum rather than just providing one-on-one support tutoring?
Regular tutoring sessions which focus on isolated questions that a student is finding difficult, such as a homework question that they cannot complete, provide only a band-aid solution. The student may well be struggling with the underlying concepts which are being rushed through at school. The tutor could help the student with a few difficult questions, but this approach will not address their underlying knowledge and understanding deficit.
Why do you teach ahead of the school calendar?
The Radcliffe Academy program provides thorough and comprehensive instruction in the HSC Physics course. Students are provided with a video lesson, in-depth written course materials, conceptual and numerical questions and short quizzes to confirm understanding of key concepts. This is all in addition to the live tutorials and private sessions with tutors. Essentially, Radcliffe Academy teaches Physics in a much more comprehensive way than students will learn it at school.
When the Radcliffe Academy student encounters the physics course material at school, they are well-positioned to consolidate the knowledge they have already mastered. They should then do very well in their school assessments.
Can I start the program at any time?
Yes, you can start at any time. If you start in the middle of a module, you will have access to all of the materials for that module.
Which online platform do you use?
We use Canvas for the delivery of course content and live tutorials. Canvas is used by many universities (eg. Sydney University) and some high schools. No downloading is required; the course is web-based.
When does the course start?
Both Year 11 and Year 12 start in Term 4 of each year. So, a student in Year 10 would commence the Year 11 course when they are in Term 4 of their Year 10 year.
How many students are in the group tutorials?
Currently up to 8 students can be in each group tutorial.
When are the tutorials?
Group tutorials are on weeknights or Sunday evenings, according to availability and demand.
When are the one-on-one sessions?
During the week by arrangement with your tutor.
How do I enrol?
Please complete the Placement Enquiry Form here.
Is parental involvement required?
It depends on the student! Some students are very independent and self-motivated. They will do all the work that is required of them without prompting from parents. Others will struggle with motivation and need support from home to keep on track. Always remember that Physics is a difficult subject! Your student has most likely chosen it either because they have an intrinsic love of science, or because they know that they need Physics for their desired future career. Despite these fantastic motivators, it is natural to feel overwhelmed or discouraged at times. These are the times when a parent’s support can be most valuable.
Do you ever ask a student to leave the program?
The Radcliffe Academy course provides a comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered by the HSC Physics curriculum. However, this comprehensive understanding can only be achieved if the student actively participates in the program by completing the coursework, viewing the video lectures and attending their tutorials. If a student is not engaging in the program, Radcliffe Academy staff will contact parents to discuss the situation, and may recommend that the student withdraws.
We have zero tolerance for poor behaviour. This is not school, where one student can obstruct everyone else’s learning by behaving badly. Poorly behaved students will be excluded from the program.
How does the Radcliffe Academy approach compare to other tutoring colleges?
Radcliffe Academy is a boutique tutoring program, specialising in Maths and Physics. We are not cranking hundreds and thousands of students through our program whilst using recent high-school leavers as our tutors. All Radcliffe Academy Physics tutors are qualified teachers. Our aim is to work in partnership with parents and students to achieve the best outcome possible for each student.
How do the Radcliffe Academy fees compare to just hiring a private tutor?
The average tutoring price for a qualified Physics teacher is $125 per hour. (You may be able to hire an unqualified student for less than this, but not an actual teacher.)
Radcliffe Academy provides one hour of tutor contact time per week with a professional Physics teacher for $100. This fee also includes all of the course materials, video lessons, questions and quizzes.
Do you teach the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
Not directly. However, the IB Physics course is very similar to the HSC Physics course, going into a little more detail in some areas. Radcliffe Academy also goes into more detail than the HSC Physics curriculum requires.
I have more questions! Can I talk to someone?
Certainly! Our Placement Enquiry Form allows you to indicate when you are available for a phone call. You can also email us at info@radcliffeacademy.com
Radcliffe Academy of Maths and Physics 