About Our Teachers

Who they are and why they got involved...

"I am now in my fifth year of teaching. I am a trained Religious Studies secondary school teacher but have also taught Humanities, History and Geography. I am passionate about teaching and have always had an avid interest in writing and was the Films Editor for the most popular newspaper at the University of York. Having lived in China for two years and after travelling throughout the Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia extensively, I consider myself to have gathered a sound knowledge of Buddhism. I chose to become involved in writing for GCSEPod because it combines both my writing skills and my passion for Religious Studies and Buddhism."

Jonathan Beaufort-Jones – RS

"I am a former Head of English and have been a teacher for ten years working in both the state and independent sectors. I have taught GCSE English and English Literature for all this time as well as AS/A Level and the International Baccalaureate. I am an examiner with OCR and the IB and currently doing teaching supply cover in order to spend more time with my young family. I chose to become involved with GCSEPod so that I could pass on my experience of teaching and marking to a wider audience and I also felt that this was an innovative way to help young people develop their skills and knowledge before the crucial time of their examinations."

Nicola Greener – English Language

"I have taught History and Sociology for the past four years. My specialist areas of study are Yugoslavia, the United States and the Soviet Union. I wanted to be involved in GCSEPod as I am interested in using ICT as a means of engaging students and raising achievement by addressing a range of different learning styles. As an auditory learner myself, I felt this was an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of an innovative and progressive development in learning. Viva la revolution!"

Cathal Doyle – History

"I have been teaching Religious Studies and other subjects for around thirty years, both in this country and overseas. I have taught at KS3 and GCSE KS4 and have been Head of Department. For a number of years I have also been a GCSE examiner in Religious Studies. I decided to write for GCSEPod because I think it is a great way for students to do their revision in a way that is relevant to them."

Tim Bridgeman – RS

"I am a History teacher and e-learning staff tutor at a school in South Yorkshire. I have experience of teaching many different courses to students from age 11 to 18 across the main exam boards. I'm a regular presenter at the Schools History Project conference and love trying out new ways of integrating technology into my classroom environment!"

Doug Belshaw – History

"I am in my 6th year of teaching, having graduated from Newcastle University with a Human Geography degree and then my teaching qualification. I have taught in middle schools and am now teaching in a secondary school in Newcastle, enjoying teaching GCSE to a variety of abilities."

Sharon Richardson – Geography

"My teaching career spans twenty years of successfully steering students through GCSE English, both Language and Literature. I also teach Key Stage 3 and take great pleasure in my Key Stage 5 Literature work. Currently, I co-ordinate all aspects of the English GCSE examination for my department. My interest in writing for GCSEPod was sparked by the fact that it is a new student-centred approach to learning which is flexible enough to be fitted into any teenager's hectic lifestyle and definitely 'on trend.'"

Kym Parnell – English Language

"I qualified as a History teacher in 2003, and have been teaching at a thriving comprehensive in Wiltshire ever since. Each summer, I work for Edexcel as an assistant examiner on the SHP GCSE paper. I find it difficult to shut up about History and jumped at the chance to get involved with the GCSEPod project. As an auditory learner, I used to read my revision notes onto cassettes and listen to them on my Walkman, so I can definitely see the benefits of delivering educational content via new high-tech methods!"

Sally Thorne - History

"I have been a teacher for four years and I work in a Church of England School in Shaw, Oldham. I love my job and the subject that I teach because it is so relevant to today's society. I like the fact that it gives students a chance to express their own opinions, which quite often they are unable to do in other subjects. I chose to become involved with GCSEPod because I felt my knowledge of the examination system would be beneficial to students. I am a team leader for Edexcel and mark three other papers over the summer and so I have a great depth of knowledge which helped me to write the information. "

Samantha Read – RS

"I am currently an English teacher in a large Secondary school in Wales. I teach the whole range of ages and abilities, but particularly enjoy the challenges of teaching GCSE. I have taught English in many different countries but finally decided to stay put in the UK in order to focus on working with young people in British schools. I decided to get involved in this project because I think that learning on-the-go will be an effective and far more realistic approach to revision!"

Nicola Worgan – English

"I am a History teacher in Essex. I have experience of teaching a variety of examination specifications and I’m a regular presenter at the Schools History Project conference. I am known for using a wide variety of techniques to help my students learn and this is one of the reasons why I became involved in the project."

Nick Dennis – History

"I am an experienced teacher of English Language and Literature, currently teaching across the age range in an 11-18 comprehensive school. I think these guides are a valuable addition to the support available for students."

Pauline Hills - English

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