2024 Teachers of Physics Awards: Dr James Perkins
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Faversham
For subject expertise, curriculum innovation and skilled teaching, raising the profile of physics in the school, development of staff in local schools, and outstanding work with pupils through extracurricular activities at a local and national level.
Dr James Perkins has overseen a steady increase in student achievement and uptake for physics in his school, alongside supporting the development of specialist teaching within the facility and in local partner schools. This has included a broad range of extracurricular activities from a popular junior STEM club to Crest awards and Physics Olympiad competitions at different levels. These activities have been so successful that one former club member is now training as a physics teacher themselves.
As well as leading the science department, Perkins works with early-career and experienced colleagues to develop their physics confidence with partner organisations including the Ogden Trust and Physics Partners. Collaborative work beyond physics, including materials science (specifically with a scanning electron microscope in schools programme) show students how broad the subject can be and the wide range of opportunities available, augmented by visits he organises from former students and professional scientists.