1950 at King's Heath,
Birmingham

2006 in Dean's Yard,
Westminster

I am Head of Science at Westminster School in London, now teaching Chemistry though I have taught all of the Sciences at some time in my career. My responsibilities cover Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Technology and Electronics. Prior to Westminster I taught at Sherborne School in Dorset.

I am Chief Examiner in 'A' level Chemistry for Edexcel. I originate many of the questions, and have responsibilities for marking and awarding. The rationale behind some of the questions, and some hints for improving answers, are explained in the exam questions page of this site. There are four books linked to the London Modular Scheme, published by Thomas Nelson. These books are co-authored with the late Alan Jarvis and with Brian Chapman. I also wrote Revision Guides 1, 2 and 3B for the Edexcel specification for Philip Allan Updates, who published my Essential Words Dictionary in 2000.

Examining experience started with Cambridge Overseas Physical Science and O level Chemistry in the mid-1970's; then I did O&C A level Physical Chemistry and MEG GCSE Chemistry until the Edexcel appointment.

I was born in Birmingham in December 1943. After King Edward's Camp Hill School for Boys, I worked firstly in the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Birmingham, then in the Electronics Laboratory in their Physics Department. After a time as a school technician I went to the University of Aston to study for Grad.R.I.C. I then did a biochemical PhD which is probably why I like natural product chemistry.

I am interested in amateur radio, in railways, in the Birmingham canals – my first book was 'Along the Birmingham Canals' (Tetradon 1981) - Renaissance art, and the Victorian novel. Some of these figure somewhere in these pages.

Little Dean's Yard and Ashburnham
House, Westminster School.

Burlington's Arch, Westminster School.
Watercolour by David Gentleman