Recent Press Releases

Local teacher receives Institute of Physics award

PR02(07)

Tue, 22 May 2007

[name of teacher, position] at [name of school] in [region] will be presented with a Teacher of Physics Award at the Institute of Physics Awards dinner on 18 January 2007 at the Savoy, London. The awards are presented to teachers in recognition of their outstanding contribution and dedication to teaching physics to children of all ages and levels.  

Terry Owens is head of physics at the KingEdward6^thSchool in CountyDurham. Since he arrived at the school in 1997 the decline in the number of students taking physics A-level at the school has been turned around and the subject is now one of the most popular with post-16 students. The proportion of students now achieving the top grades in A-level physics is much higher than the school average of 50%. He also organises extra curricular activities in addition to teaching such as master classes from the Engineering Education scheme and visits from high profile physicists.

Martin Cunningham is principal teacher of physics and science at KirkcaldyHigh  School in Fife. He brings physics concepts alive in his lessons with bright, colourful written materials and demonstrations: his imitation of a helium “pop” is infamous at the school. He also spends lunchtime and after school in the lab helping pupils revise, prepare for assessment or just talking with them about an aspect of physics that interests them.

David Rea is a teacher of physics at St Colman’s College in CountyCork where he has been a teacher for 37 years. As well as being a dedicated physics teacher he is a member of the team that initiated the Frontiers of Physics conference for schools and an organiser of the Tyndall lecture series for schools. He also supervises first year university physics laboratories, bridging the transition from school to university physics for many students.

Nahum Ordman is head of science at HasmoneanHigh School in London where he has taught for more than 40 years. His former pupils include leading academics, scientists, doctors and dentists as well as numerous people who have gone on to teach physics themselves.

Nicola Waller works for the Tees Valley Schools science education unit in Stockton on Tees which involves teaching in schools throughout the TeesValley. She has organised science weeks, an annual Science Mastermind competition and science clubs and speakers in several schools as well as teaching primary science. She also arranges visits to local industrial sites for pupils and gives training and advice to industrialists on how to plan and tailor a site visit to suit the needs of primary aged children.  

Gita Tailor, coordinator of the awards at the Institute said: “Every year the Institute celebrates the work of teachers who have raised the status of physics through their outstanding practice both in and beyond the classroom. The Institute is dedicated to supporting physics teachers with schemes such as the affiliated schools and teacher networks where teachers and schools can share their ideas and experience: the Teachers Awards are part of that support.”

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