2023 Teachers of Physics Awards: Tom Squires
Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre
For inspirational and inclusive teaching and outstanding work with underrepresented groups, support for colleagues, and development of numerous links across the educational community.
Tom Squires is an excellent classroom practitioner whose infectious love of physics has a real impact on students. Squires set up and resourced the A-level course in the school, seeing student numbers grow steadily.
He has supported non-specialist colleagues in the department to improve their physics teaching skills through specialist sessions, and this has been extended to local schools. Squires has encouraged local undergraduates to come to the school to observe teaching and has mentored them through teacher training applications.
He has built partnerships with many organisations including the University of Birmingham’s Women in Science and Engineering group who visit weekly to work with students. He has supported and championed students to overcome personal challenges and societal discrimination.