Samantha Drewett – Head of Science
Samantha.drewett@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Samantha graduated with a Masters in Chemistry from the University of Warwick and a PGCE from Oxford. After university, she taught International Baccalaureate chemistry in China before working as a Cyber Security Consultant in London. After a number of years working across projects in many different industries, she decided to return to her love of teaching in Oxfordshire.
What Samantha enjoys the most about chemistry is problem solving. It’s a subject where you don’t need to rote learn every single fact, because you can apply what you do know to many unfamiliar situations. This makes chemists brilliant problem solvers, a skill that can be applied to many careers – not just the ones in science!
Alison Finerty – Second in Science
Alison.Finerty@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Alison studied Biological Sciences at Oxford University, before moving into teaching. Alison particularly enjoys sharing her understanding of how evolution and different environments interact, and how this results in the hugely biodiverse world we see around us. Alison spent a short time researching ecosystems in the tropical rainforests of Australia and Borneo, which cemented both her love of biology and of sharing it with other people.
Katrina O’Malley – Science Teacher and STEM Co-ordinator
Katrina.Omalley@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Katrina gained a BSc in Physics from Imperial College, The University of London and an MSc in Medical Physics from The Open University. After a short time working in the field of TV data (which was no fun at all as there was no Physics in it) she completed her PGCE at Oxford University and has enjoyed teaching Science and Physics for more than two decades now.
She would really have loved to have been an astronaut, but she views encouraging younger generations to explore and understand the Universe further as the next best thing!
Chris Bridge
Christopher.bridge@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Chris read Biochemistry at Bristol University and spent a number of years in research before completing his PGCE also at Bristol University. Whilst studying for his PGCE, he started his first company, a recruitment agency. Several companies later, Chris was seconded to the Government to set up the “computers for work” scheme. Spending lots of time with schools rekindled his enthusiasm for teaching and he returned to the profession in 2012.
Chemistry is the science at the heart of everything that we do and as such plays a vital role in all aspects of life on earth. Chemists spend their lives solving problems and Chris spends most of his time in class encouraging students to think and work independently to solve problems. Chemistry is valued highly by employers because it equips student with skills that are transferable to virtually any career.
Chris Curtis
Christopher.curtis@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Chris graduated from Oxford University with a BA in Physics, followed by a PGCE. His first placement school was Bicester Community College, as was his first teaching job. In 2011, he left to go the Lord Grey School in Bletchley, before returning to The Bicester School in 2015 as Second in Science.
At school, Chris’s favourite subject was Maths, although by the end of his A-Levels he realised that it was the application of logical thought processes and mathematics to real world situations that he enjoyed the most. Physics uses mathematics to explain how the universe works on every scale, from the expansion of the Universe to the forces holding individual atoms together.
Chris loves teaching when students start to become curious as to why things happen. Once you start to recognise the basic patterns and rules that govern one process you realise that you can apply the same logic and thinking to other subjects as well.
Amanda Cooper
Amanda.cooper@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Amanda graduated with a BSc in Environmental Biology from Swansea University and worked for several years for the Princes Trust managing education programmes in London. She later did an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College and worked for NGOs on environmental education projects.
Always wanting to be in the classroom rather than behind a desk, she did a PGCE when she moved to Oxford in 2016. She started out at Princes Risborough and moved to Bicester in 2020.
Gareth Ladd
Gareth.ladd@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Gareth graduated from Sheffield University with a Masters degree in Zoology in 2003. Following a brief spell working in banking, he completed his teacher training at the University of York in 2006 and moved to work in Bicester the same year. He has held a variety of roles while working at Bicester, including Head of Year and Head of Faculty.
Gareth has a love of the natural world and enjoys doing anything that involves being outside.
Rachel Hutchin
Rachel.hutchin@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Rachel graduated from Southampton University with a degree in Biochemistry. After many a summer spent as a volunteer leader on youth camps she decided to head straight into a career working with young people. TBS is her third school after stints in Southampton and Belgium.
Outside of school, Rachel is usually found outdoors, spending time with her family or playing music.
Rebecca Jerram
Rebecca.jerram@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Rebecca graduated from Bath Spa University with BSc in Biology and also completed her teacher training at the same university. During her time at as an undergraduate, she developed a particular interest in human pathophysiology, and food and nutrition.
Rebecca enjoys reading in her spare time and has a keen interest in nature.
Bethany Nash
Bethany.nash@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Bethany graduated from Lincoln University with an MChem in Forensic Chemistry having spent four years in chemistry labs and crime scene houses. After 10 years volunteering with youth groups, Bethany decided to go into teaching and completed her PGCE at Oxford University.
Bethany enjoys reading and knitting during her spare time.
Wayde Vardy (Assistant Headteacher)
Wayde.vardy@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Wayde graduated from Kingston University with a BSC in Analytical Science. He then worked in the field of pharmaceuticals for 10 years. Wayde qualified as a teacher in 2004, spending a year at The Cherwell School before moving to the Bicester School, where he has occupied a number of posts, including Head of Year and now Assistant Head.
Wayde has a passion for teaching and is an innovative practitioner and thinker. In 2013, he started the successful Saturday School, which offers all students in year 11 the opportunity to complete extra studies and catch up on coursework and revision.
Wayde grew up in Woodstock. He is married with three children and has a passion for travelling.
Hayley Greer
Hayley has worked in educational establishments since the age of 17. She has worked in various roles including Secretary to the Director of Planning and Resources at the University of Oxford.
She moved into the secondary school setting when she had her two daughters and has worked in various roles from Pastoral Manager, Post 16 Assistant to the Director of Studies, Behaviour Manager and Alternative Provision.
In late 2018 Hayley retrained to gain her HLTA status and since qualifying has been attached to the Science Department primarily working with KS3.
Hayley has since taken on the roles of Assistant Head of Year and in 2023 she was awarded the role of Head of Year and is currently Head of Year to Year 8.
Hayley says this has been an amazing experience so far – not without its challenges – but one which she is thoroughly enjoying and learning from all the time.
Yvonne Goodson (Technician)
Yvonne arrived at The Bicester School in 2003, following a career in accounting and retail. She was made to feel at home right from the start.
Yvonne enjoys working here, as the staff and students are a great community and she finds it very rewarding to be a part of something that is so worthwhile.