Mathematics Speaker Biographies

Mathematics Speakers

Dr David Acheson graduated in Mathematics and Physics from King’s College London in 1967 and then gained a PhD at the University of East Anglia. After a short period at the Meteorological Office, he went to Oxford, and became a Fellow in Mathematics at Jesus College in 1977. His early research was on geophysical and astrophysical fluid dynamics, and in 1990 he published Elementary Fluid Dynamics, a well-known university textbook. His latest book 1089 and All That (2002) is a major new attempt at bringing the ideas and pleasures of Mathematics to a wide public. He is currently President of the Mathematical Association for 2010-11.

Tom Bree is a Geometer/artist, teacher, musician and writer. He studied geometry at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts in London under Professor Keith Critchlow and Paul Marchant and now teaches at the Prince’s School in the UK and abroad as well as on his own projects.

Charlie Gilderdale was educated in Argentina and at the University of Cambridge before becoming a Mathematics teacher and Head of Mathematics at a Cambridgeshire secondary school. During the last 20 years he has been working at the University of Cambridge, initially in the Faculty of Education working with trainee teachers, and more recently as a member of the Millennium Mathematics Project contributing to the NRICH website. His recent work has focussed on problem solving and on creating opportunities for learning Mathematics through exploration and discussion.

Prof Celia Hoyles OBE has been Professor of Mathematics Education at the Institute of Education, University of London since 1984, following teaching in London secondary schools. She co-presented a popular TV Mathematics quiz show, Fun and Games, shown at prime time on Yorkshire TV 1987-90. Celia Hoyles was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list 2004 for services to Mathematics education and was chosen as the first recipient of the Hans Freudenthal medal, in recognition to her cumulative programme of research. In December 2004 she took up the position of the U.K. Government’s Chief Adviser for Mathematics (75% of her time), a position she held until November 2007. In June 2007, Celia Hoyles was appointed as Director of the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics.

Dr Vinay Kathotia is Project Head for Mathematics at the Nuffield Foundation, coordinating mathematical work across the Foundation's education research and curriculum development interests, touching on the teaching, learning and assessment of Mathematics in schools and colleges. Prior to joining the Nuffield Foundation, he worked at the Royal Institution, supporting primary and secondary Mathematics masterclasses and other enrichment activities across the UK. Dr Kathotia was educated in India and in the US and has worked with students (primary through post-graduate), teachers and academics in Hong Kong, India, South Africa, the UK and the US. He has a particular interest in collaborative hands-on explorations that weave together Mathematics, Science, Art and Design.

Dr Snezana Lawrence is Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Bath Spa University. She is interested in the History and education of Mathematics in England, France and the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Dr Lawrence is currently working on the History of Mathematics in Byzantium. She is on the Advisory Board of the History and Pedagogy of Mathematics group, an associate of ICMI, and writes a column on the History of Mathematics for Mathematics Today. She is also Education Officer of the British Society for the History of Mathematics.

Prof Imre Leader was an undergraduate at Trinity College, Cambridge. After his PhD (under Bela Bollobas), he went to Peterhouse College as a Research Fellow and then Teaching Fellow. After a spell at UCL he returned to Cambridge in 2000 and become a Professor of Pure Mathematics in 2005. He is also a Teaching Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. His current research interests centre around Combinatorics and Ramsey Theory, which roughly speaking asks: is there always some order present if we have enough disorder? He has been involved with mathematical olympiads for several years. He was the team leader for the UK team to the IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) from 1999 to 2001.

Dr Chris Sangwin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mathematics at the University of Birmingham. Since 2000 he has been seconded part time to the UK Higher Education Academy Maths Stats and OR Network to promote learning and teaching of university Mathematics. In 2006 he was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship. His learning and teaching interests include automatic assessment of Mathematics using computer algebra, and problem solving using Moore method and similar student-centred approaches. Dr Sangwin is the author of a number of books, including How Round is Your Circle, which is an attempt to promote the links between Mathematics and Engineering using physical models.

Panelists

Liz Francis taught for 5 years before working in a number of government agencies including SEAC, SCAA and QCA.  At QCA Liz worked on new modular A levels for Curriculum 2000 and 14-19 developments.  She left QCA to work as a 14-19, then senior advisor for Suffolk LA, where she also worked as an Ofsted inspector.  She is currently the Director of Workforce Strategy, Standards and Qualifications which involves supporting schools in improving the quality and impact of professional development.  She leads TDA’s work on CPD leadership, quality assurance, 14-19 workforce development, CPD information and guidance, standards and qualifications.

Michael Chisnall is one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI) and is professional adviser to Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. He began his teaching career in 1974 with posts in Berkshire and Somerset. In 1980, he took up a deputy headteacher post in Cheshire, followed by three headships in Kent. In 1994 he became a school improvement adviser in East Sussex; his work included inspecting schools on behalf of the then recently-formed Ofsted, and having a strategic lead for Mathematics. He spent four years with Kent local authority as an area education officer and as Kent’s inspection training manager. In 2003 he joined Ofsted, where he inspected and quality assured in the primary, secondary and initial teacher education sectors. As a senior manager in Ofsted, he has responsibility for providing professional support for the Chief Inspector and in managing learning and development for the senior team.

Professor Mary Ratcliffe is Associate Director of the National Science Learning Centre. She taught Chemistry and Science in comprehensive schools in East Anglia before joining Southampton University as a lecturer in Science education in 1990, gaining a personal chair in 2004. She has been Chair of the Association for Science Education (1996/7) and was part of the Evidence-based Practice in Science Education network (with colleagues from the universities of York, Leeds and King's College, London). Research projects have included evaluations of Twenty First Century Science GCSE, innovative professional development and assessment of ‘ideas-about-science’. Mary has published very widely for national and international audiences, including many research publications, textbooks and curriculum materials. Before joining the National Centre in 2009, Professor Ratcliffe was Head of the School of Education at the University of Southampton. As Associate Director, she oversees the National Centre, Regional Centres and National STEM Centre programmes and leads on research and evaluation for the organisation.

PTI Staff

Oliver Blond (Deputy Course Director, Course Designer)

Oliver is Head teacher of The Henrietta Barnett School in North London and an English and Drama specialist by training. He has worked in a variety of schools across London, as Head of English and Drama at Wimbledon High School and Deputy Head at North London Collegiate School. He has been involved in The Prince’s Teaching Institute Residential events since they began in 2001.

Dr Robert Ferguson (Maths Stream Designer)

Robert began his career in Mathematics researching the numerical solution of the coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. After completing his PhD, he went on to work as a quantitative analyst at an American merchant bank, pricing and modelling government debt. Enjoying the training aspect of the job led to his decision to move into teaching. He has taught Mathematics in a number of schools and currently works at North London Collegiate School, where he has also been Assistant Head of the Middle School for the past four years.

Stephen Miles (Schools Programme Co-ordinator)

As a delegate at the first PTI Residential event, Stephen has enjoyed the role of Teacher Leader at subsequent events and contributes to the planning of the course. Stephen held a variety of roles in the secondary sector for many years before his move into Initial Teacher Training at Bath Spa University as Course Leader for the KS2/3 English PGCE. Stephen is now a Head of English at Worle Community College.