Mr Davies, Acting Head of Mathematics
Name: Mr Davies
My job at the Archer Academy: Acting Head of Mathematics
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: Solving algebraic equations. Being able to manipulate something that looks like gobbledegook to a non-mathematician, and finish with an answer that explains the whole equation is a joy.
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: A chess club or a puzzle club (including things like Sudoku, Tsunami or other logic puzzles)
What I am most looking forward to in the second year of the Archer Academy: Being a full time member of the Mathematics department and leading the team after teaching for 2 years part-time.
Two top facts about me:
- My first language is Welsh. I can pronounce the longest place name in Europe. (Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwirndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch)
- I have a famous father who was a professional footballer (Everton, Swansea, Tranmere Rovers, Wrexham, Bangor City) in the 1970s and 80s and played in goal for Wales 52 times.
If I wasn’t a teacher I would be: A child-minder fulltime (I have been doing this part-time for the last 2 years).
My message to our new Year 7s:
LISTEN. You may miss an instruction or a key piece of information that will help you now or later in life.
Miss Halsall, Teacher of Mathematics
Name: Miss Halsall
My job at the Archer Academy: Teacher of Mathematics
The subjects I will teach: Mathematics
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: All of it! Algebra if I had to pick my favourite.
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: I enjoy puzzle solving so would like to use the opportunity to enter a cipher challenge competition if I’ve any budding code crackers?
What I am most looking forward to this year at the Archer Academy: Getting to work and share ideas with lots of new colleagues and students.
Two top facts about me:
- I love snowboarding and skiing
- I grew up in Greater Manchester, then worked and qualified as a teacher in Scotland.
If I wasn’t a teacher I would be: A Snowboard Instructor
My message to our new Year 7s:
I hope you are all as excited as me about starting at our new campus! I look forward to meeting you all soon!
Mr Naylor, Teacher of Mathematics
Name: Mr Naylor
My job at the Archer Academy: Teacher of Mathematics
The subjects I will teach: Mathematics
The areas of my subject I most enjoy teaching are: Anything to do with shapes and geometry – I like the visual and spatial nature of these subjects. It also helps that my original training was in civil engineering, which applies the mathematical study of shapes to real life structures such as buildings and bridges. I also enjoy teaching data related topics such as graphs, pi charts and questionnaires and how we can use these to understand and interpret real life information.
The enrichment activities I am hoping to run after school: When I was in school a friend taught me how to create computer programs with a programming language called QBasic. I had lots of fun making simple games using just letters, lines and basic shapes. After taking an (extended) break from programming I recently decided to revisit it and teach myself web design using languages called HTML and CSS. I have been running a web design enrichment over the past year which has been a great learning experience, as well as lots of fun, for everyone involved! I hope to continue this enrichment next academic year.
What I am most looking forward to in the third year of the Archer Academy: As a relatively new school, all the members – both teachers and students – are coming together in a collaborative effort to shape the Archer Academy into something fantastic and I’m looking forward to being a part of this continued growth and development. I’m excited to meet my new students and to work with them to succeed and to have fun at the same time.
Two top facts about me:
- I can juggle with three balls and I can play the guitar (not at the same time).
- If I wasn’t a teacher I might be a: Web developer
My message to our new Year 7s:
I look forward to meeting you and getting to know you all. You each have unique talents and abilities which will enhance the school community and beyond so be sure get involved and share them with the rest of us!