More than just passing an exam
I’ve always believed that good teaching begins with a good relationship. When students feel comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and admitting they don’t understand something, real learning can begin.
My own education was a little unusual. I was homeschooled through GCSE, and my earliest teaching experiences were helping my younger siblings with maths and science. Even during my A-levels, I found myself explaining difficult concepts to classmates as I worked through them myself.
That passion eventually led me into teaching professionally in 2016. Since then, I’ve worked with students in mainstream schools, specialist SEN settings, and one-to-one tuition. Those experiences have reinforced something I firmly believe: learning should be tailored to the individual, not the other way around.
My lessons are relaxed and encouraging, but expectations are high. I want every student to be challenged, supported, and proud of what they achieve.
Exam results matter enormously, but there’s something special about that “Ahh! Now I get it!” moment. That’s what makes teaching worthwhile.
Why Catflap?
Ever wondered where the name Catflap came from?
Early in my science teaching career, I taught a girl called Hope, who was anything but hopeful! Naturally, I nicknamed her Despair.
Her mum thought this was hilarious and decided that, if I was going to give her daughter a nickname, I deserved one too.
After the Christmas holidays, Hope returned to school with a triumphant announcement:
“Mr Saywell! I’ve found a nickname for you now. Catflap!”
As it happens, there’s a brand of catflaps called Staywell, which sounds rather like my surname, Saywell.
And that was that. The nickname stuck. Years later, when I started my own science tuition business, there was really only one name I could choose.
Catflap Science Tuition!
Curiosity Opens Doors.
