Over the years, many students and parents alike have written to James to express their gratitude. Here are just a few examples:

James Layland was my son's tutor, primarily in Physics and on occasion Maths, from October 2003 until April 2006. He was a recommendation from a friend. I have always found him to be charming, professional, consistent, honest, reliable and authentic.

Through tutoring my son Buster in Physics, James transformed Buster's relationship to learning overall. In James, Buster found a role model of someone who takes a real personal pleasure in intellectual pursuit, not to gain accreditation but as an end in itself.

In fact as a result of Busters obvious increased motivation, several of Busters friends followed suit and elected to study with James. This was not to do with parental discussion or pressure but entirely of their own volition, on Busters example. They wanted to enjoy learning physics and this is what they found when studying with James.

For me as a parent, it was invaluable to have James as a consistent support through the years spanning GCSE’s and A Levels. I would from time to time phone and discuss Buster's progress not only as regards Physics, but in more general, pastoral care terms. I found him level headed, practical and I felt he had a good appreciation of who Buster was as a person.

It is rare to find a teacher who can both inspire, and yet also provide a thorough examination preparation. I am extremely grateful to have had the privilege of his acquaintance.

Please do not hesitate to call me if you need any further information.

Yours sincerely,
Cindy Palmano

(Buster gained a grade A and went on to study at Brunel)

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I have known James Layland for over a decade, initially as tutor and principal and now as friend and god-father to my daughter. I was originally tutored by James whilst suffering from ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). This condition had resulted in huge gaps in my education, and the lack of support from teachers and fellow students meant that I dreaded attending class even when my health permitted it. James overcame these shortcomings in both knowledge and attitude. As a tutor he was articulate, entertaining and infinitely patient. Whilst I was not able to pursue a serious course of study I was able to spend my ‘good days’ in an environment where I was supported emotionally as well as being challenged intellectually. In short, James was a god-send.Years later, health recovered, I returned to College as a full-time student with James as my principal as well as my tutor. James taught me Mathematics at GCSE and AS level and effortlessly fuelled my enthusiasm for a subject that I had previously loathed. He was able to explain the material such that I both understood and enjoyed it.I cannot speak highly enough of him or his abilities.

Carolina Baillie

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Irena came to England from Kazakhstan and studied Maths, Further Maths and Physics with me from 2005 to 2007. She gained a grade A in each and went on to read Economics at Cambridge. She writes:

James is the best teacher that I have ever had. His talent, to show physics and mathematics in a completely different light, made me look at these subjects from another perspective, and taught me to love and enjoy them. He can open students’ hidden talents and stretch their minds to the very limit. His care and belief in students earned me a place in Cambridge University to read Economics (where I am now). His talent to teach is priceless! I have enjoyed every minute of every lesson with James. 

Irena Anichshuk

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Thank you so much for the wonderful year you and your colleagues have given Humfrey – leading to his successful grade A and admission to Bristol –but a year that has been positive for Humfrey in so many more ways than academic achievement.

I have been enormously impressed by the qualities of the college you run – as a governor at King Alfred’s I have some insight into the range of issues and pressures in private education- you do a remarkable job and I praise and recommend you at every opportunity!

With many thanks again

Stephen Brandes

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I have known James for the past 15 years when he has been teaching Maths and Physics to my children, Tariq, Suzy and Mona.

We are all grateful for the support he has given; he is a wonderful teacher, highly professional with loads of experience. James not only is a great teacher but encourages your children to love the subject, resulting in all three of my children wanting to study Maths for A-level and achieving grade As.

Mrs Shehab

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James Layland taught me Physics and Maths A-Levels. I gained a grade A in Physics and a B in Maths and went on to study at Imperial College, where I am now. He is an excellent teacher, explaining concepts clearly, using analogies and always being patient. He manages to work at a pace which suits you, but still had plenty of time for past papers and revision. His courses were extremely interesting and helped to inspire my love of Physics.

As a headmaster he was the soul of the college. Always being accessible no matter what the problem was and easy to talk to, while always being able to keep order at the same time.

Tonje Baillie

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James Layland taught me Maths and Physics in 1995 for GCSE cramming. He was by far the greatest and most inspirational teacher I have ever encountered. So much so in fact that I decided to do Maths with him alone for A level whilst studying Biology and Art at Godolphin and Latymer. James has a particular talent for not only getting his message across but also instilling a sense of wanting to learn in his students.

Since leaving I have recommended James to many people and would not hesitate to do so again.

James gives the kind of education that all children deserve, but so few get.

Harriet Leigh

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Moritz Volz came to England to train for Arsenal football club. During this time, and for many years after, he studied Maths with me. He gained a good grade in his A-level and is currently playing for Fulham. He writes:

I have enjoyed working with James for many years. It wasn't easy to make the change from working in a classroom environment in Germany to having private tuition in England. Especially in that time I found James very considerate and supportive. It helped me a big deal in settling in and finding my feet. His ways of teaching are second to none and I somehow regret not being taught anymore.

Moritz Voltz

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Dear James,

I just wanted to thank you for the boost you gave to Bella's confidence just before her exams. In only three months she seemed to jump from possibly failing the common entrance to getting an outstanding A as her final result in maths. To achieve such results in such a short time shows that the knowledge was obviously there but you gave her the ability to access it. Thank you and see you next term when I hope you will be able to continue the good work with Samuel - who got an A in physics, by the way... Have a great summer.

Lucinda Gresswell

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I would like to thank you - as I have in the past, for the many years of faithful and wonderful attention you have given to my own son in both his 'GCSE' and 'A' level Mathematics, both as his tutor and as Principal in  preparing for other examinations.  Words cannot describe our admiration and gratitude for our good fortune in having such a wonderful tutor and genius-no less- able not only to perceive the academic weaknesses but other strengths of students and further, able to act upon this knowledge and enable the students, including my son, to reach levels they had not previously thought possible in their work.  You have opened the gate to their future success and they owe a debt they can never repay to you for this, for the confidence and the foundation you have given them to proceed and to study in their future careers and lives…

…from the quality of the staff you have engaged, to the understanding and brilliance shown towards the students under your guidance, to the discipline you instilled into their studies and the self-evident results of this, turning around indifferent and lazy and discouraged students often to gaining University places and passing their examinations which their well-known schools had failed to do…

….I entrust the remainder of my son's Mathematics studies to you with absolute confidence and gratitude

Jay Hardwicke
(Lady Hardwicke of Glencairn)

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I completed my a-levels in 1997 and failed to meet the grades I needed to gain entrance to my university of choice. I had already deferred a year to take a gap year travelling and to "find myself". With the realisation that a solid education and good a-levels as a foundation to life would probably be more important than spending time on a beach, my parents and I decided that I could benefit from a revision course and re-takes 3 months later.

Traipsing around the many revision colleges in London, my mother and I became disheartened as many tutors said that they would give me a go but felt that my goals would be unattainable. We met James just days before the course was due to start, he was instantly enthusiastic about my prospects and said I could perhaps even set my goals higher.

The 3 months I spent with James were by no means plain-sailing, I was always going to have to undertake a huge workload, one that I had not been asked to complete before this time. Under James's guidance I was taught how to manage my time and to prepare for my coming exams. James had a knack of comparing the syllabus to every day situations that I could relate to. We also had the added obstacle in that I am dyslexic and had difficulty taking in information. To overcome this, James set about learning how a dyslexic child can best be taught and how I would be able to compute the information he was to give me. This took a huge amount of patience at times, but I soon began to take to his new teaching methods. James found ways to make the classes I sat with him as enjoyable as possible, I took on brand new modules that we felt I would have more interest in and started to thoroughly enjoy coming to "school".

At the end of a hugely rewarding 3 months I sat my exams and increased my results by 2 grades in all 3 of my A-levels, a feat that still impresses me to this day. During my time with James, he and his colleagues also guided me through my UCAS application forms and even after I had left his tuition, he spent some time campaigning for me within the University of my choice. I subsequently gained entry to Newcastle University to study Mechanical Engineering, something that was so far out of my grasp a few months previously. James's tuition has given me a grounding for my career. Since I completed my degree at Newcastle I now have a job I thoroughly enjoy.

To this day over 10 years later James remains a firm friend and still a continual source for academic advice.

R Bostelmann

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Dear James,

Loads and loads of thanks for helping me with Maths and Physics for the past three years. I got into Imperial College with an A in Maths and a B in Physics (only 0.4% away from an A though) and your lessons played an enormous part in these achievements... I hope to have some more lessons over the next four years.
Warmest wishes for the future and a great many thanks.

Anna Kovaleva