Nicola

I am originally from Birmingham in the UK but currently live in beautiful Valencia in Spain with my husband and teenage daughter.

I studied materials engineering at the University of Birmingham, where I graduated at the top of my class with a first-class honours degree. I was awarded a scholarship by GKN and I used this to fund a master's degree, working with Marconi to develop microwave filters for the (then future) 3G mobile phone network.

I then moved out into industry, first as a production engineer making silicon chips for Nokia mobile phones and then to a company developing the materials used in electrical sensors for the aerospace industry.

A PhD at the University of Birmingham came next. I was sponsored by the EU to develop a manufacturing process for a new kind of ceramic loudspeaker, which was eventually tested in the Royal Albert Hall in London. This new technology had many applications, one of which was to make the ultrasound sensors used in diagnosing skin cancer. To secure the financial backing for this research, I spent the last few years of my academic career focussing on the ´business side´ of science, writing research proposals, and perfecting my one minute sales pitch!

It is true to say that I have dedicated my life's work to either learning about or teaching science. My career spans nearly thirty years and has taken me in so many different directions.

Every student and their family is unique, so my priority is to find out the short-term and long-term goals. Together, we will make a plan. This plan could change along the way, but it is important to have an objective and think about how we will get there.

Science can be a challenging subject, even if you enjoy it. We go from learning about cool things like dinosaurs in primary school to abstract concepts like atomic structure in secondary school. We cannot see or touch atoms, but we are expected to visualise them, understand them, and then explain how they work! My job is to take these difficult ideas and transform them into something concrete that a student can work with. Everyone learns differently, so I use lots of different activities and resources in my lessons. My aim is to build a solid foundation of core knowledge.

I have worked with many young people who love science and work hard but just can't seem to get the grades they want in exams. This is frustrating and stressful for both the student and their parents. It can also have a terrible effect on confidence and motivation. I include as much exam practice as possible in my classes, but I do this in a supportive way that builds confidence and improves skills. It is all about balance, I want to find a level that is achievable but challenging at the same time!

When I asked my GCSE and A-level students for their honest views of my teaching approach, they told me that I was positive, patient, and funny. I also ´knew my stuff´ and apparently ´liked science memes a bit too much´. I was also ´really serious about my job´ and wanted them all to do the best that they could. I think that they have me in good measure.

The next few years are going to be quite exciting. In August 2022, I left the classroom to start a two-year sabbatical. I will be studying part-time for a qualification in the Spanish language at the University of Valencia. I still love teaching, and I am confident that I will return to the classroom at some point in the future. For now, though, I would like to develop my language skills, to live my Spanish life to the fullest.

I shall also be putting my engineering skills to the test, as my family is purchasing an old country house in need of restoration. Creating and building bring me lots of joy, and I am never happier than with some kind of power tool in my hand.

In my spare time, I love walking in the mountains and on the beach with my family and two rescue dogs Tekito and Fina. I also enjoy horse riding but, although I try to adopt a growth mindset, after twenty years of trying, I am still rather poor at it.