New Arrivals in the Common Room Ben Scott
Ben Scott joined the Chemistry department in September 2011 after studying biochemistry at York University. He is a real enthusiast for Chemistry and loves in particular talking about and teaching Organic Chemistry, his favourite area of science. His eagerness to see youngsters progress in science has led him to take a key part in the Salters Chemistry Club. A sportsman too, he has a particular interest in hockey and basketball, as well as, unfortunately, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
Lucy Benson
Linda Bonner
Linda Bonner joins the Economics department. With a BSc in Economics from Bath, this is her first paid teaching post, but all her career has revolved around jobs that contain aspects of teaching. Having previously worked as an assistant director for a local authority, she wanted to use skills she had learnt there in a new environment. Her hobbies include going to the cinema, music and reading. Her favourite meal would be something plain and simple, an authentic seafood risotto (but it would have to be cooked by somebody else!) She hopes to use her experience to contribute towards helping students choose between the myriad options available to them for higher education and eventual careers.
Ins & Outs The Albanian 2012
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Mary Brereton
Dan Jewison
Dr Mary Brereton is one of two new English teachers, joining the School for her third year of teaching after two years at Hampton. She has a degree in English and a post-doctorate in 18th century history writing from Wadham College, Oxford. She took the step from academia to secondary school teaching because of the great variety of topics she can teach here, a relief from the intensity of specialism. Dr Brereton will be helping to run the Debating Society, as well as drawing on her experience to help the U6 Oxbridge applicants with extension projects. Outside of school life, she has been exploring the history of St Albans, having only just moved into the area. Dan Jewison also joins the English department as a newly qualified teacher. His previous career was in the field of sports fitness and nutrition, and he holds a BA in Theatre Studies and English Literature from the University of Leeds. He also holds an M Phil from Trinity College Dublin. He likes English because ‘literature expresses what we can’t express ourselves’ – and, of course, because it is the most important subject. His favourite contemporary novel is Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale and he also likes W B Yeats. In his spare time, he enjoys a variety of sports and snooker.
Chris Johnston
Tom Robinson
Joining the Classics department this year is Lucy Benson. She has a degree in Classics from Birmingham University and last summer did a Masters in Education at Cambridge. Prior to teaching at St Albans School, she has taught at King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford and Aldenham School. She likes two things about her subject: firstly, the way an author can convey many different meanings with just a few sentences, and secondly, its ability to transport people to another world of monsters, gods and omens! She finds the pupils of St Albans motivated and enthusiastic, and you may see her helping out with the school plays, as she likes drama and stage make-up.
Joining the Geography department is Chris Johnston. He joins us from Redborne Upper School, having graduated from Durham. Teaching combines the two things he looked for in a career: something fundamentally enjoyable that involves helping people. He aims to build a good rapport with both teachers and students. He has been impressed with the enthusiasm of everyone at the School, especially outside the classroom, with regard to the contribution made to extra-curricular activities. He is a keen squash and tennis player and hopes to help with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He is keen to coach a school rugby team in the future.
Joining the Biology department is Tom Robinson. With a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick, he specialises in ecology, especially mosquito luring and trapping. His degree involved the research and presenting of information on various topics and this originally sparked his interest in teaching. Drawn to the School by its excellent reputation and large range of sporting and musical activities, he plans to get involved in many extracurricular activities as well as teaching. As a singer and oboist, he already sings in the school choir. He will also be helping out with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and hopes to participate in after school sports such as badminton.