I completed my Chemistry degree with the Open University. I am fascinated by all science and love that it impacts our lives without us even realising it.
I have been teaching here at Smithdon High School since 2008.
I love passing on my passion for science to the students especially on our KS3 extra curricular events.
I have been teaching Science since 2002! I studied Biological and Medicinal Chemistry at the University of East Anglia and spent a year working for Astra Zeneca pharmaceuticals in their drug synthesis labs. I did my teacher training at Cambridge University and after 2 years working at Branston Community College in Lincoln moved to Smithdon. I have worked in various positions at Smithdon but throughout all of them my passion and enjoyment has been teaching Science. I never fail to be impressed and excited by the wonders of science and love passing that on to my students.
I graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Chemical Analysis and moved on to the University of Hull to complete my PGCE. I have 25+ years' teaching experience here at Smithdon.
I never fail to be amazed at how science is used all around us in everything we do everyday and, maybe more important than Science, I love Formula One .
I spent 5 years working as a deckhand and engineer and then as an instructor on sailing boats in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and the UK. I then studied Oceanography and Marine Biology at Southampton University. I completed my PGCE teacher training and Physics course at the University of Sussex.
I love how Physics helps us understand how everything in the universe works and interacts. I have now been working in teaching for 15+ years.
Vanessa Bartosova
Science Teacher
I’m passionate about teaching science. My favourite topics consist of genetics and inheritance because it helps us to understand qualities or traits that are passed through generations. During my PGCE studies, I became interested in using various teaching and learning methods to promote achievement. It is important to inspire and motivate students, hence my aim is to apply modelling and retrieval practices in each lesson.
I have been working here at Smithdon since 2016, as a Science Technician, and thoroughly enjoy my job. Outside of work, I love music, movies, all animals, and the natural world. Working behind the scenes within the Science department has inspired me to further my knowledge, and recently I have started studying with the Open University. I have a particular interest in Entomology.
Conor McQuaid
Biology & PE Teacher
I have been teaching both PE and Science at Smithdon since 2023. I find it amazing how science is constantly used in everyday life, I am especially interested in how science links to the sporting world.