Eureka Explorers Team

 

Educational Content

  • Valsa founded the Brunel Able Children’s Education Centre (BACE) at Brunel University London in 1995. It was the first university-based Centre for Talent Development. She has supported hundreds of children, teachers and parents to identify and nurture children’s gifts, talents and potential. She was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen in 2019, for her contribution to education for many decades. Valsa is passionate about helping all children reach their full potential. She has written 21 books on talent development and mathematics education, published widely in international academic journals, and presented at numerous national and international conferences. Valsa is most proud of her work aimed at raising the aspirations and achievement of children who live in challenging circumstances.

  • Susan is an Emeritus Professor at Brunel University London, where she was the Head of School of Sport and Education for many years. She has been involved in supporting the development of a health and wellbeing programme for both staff and students at Brunel University. In the last 40 years, Susan has worked in physical education. She gained a BEd degree and taught both physical education and geography in secondary schools in Wales and Hong Kong. Following completion of her PhD and a year lecturing in the USA, Susan returned to the UK to take up a post in higher education, where she worked in initial teacher education, both in physical education and in general professional studies. She has continued to teach and research in this area ever since.

  • After completing her first degree in Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Alexis worked all her professional life in education. She taught across the secondary age range, including examination level, in south-west London for 16 years, holding the position of Head of Department. She also held the pastoral role of Head of Year, which involved much interaction with parents. At Brunel University London, Alexis was responsible for initial teacher education and the development of partnership with schools, as well as the Masters and Doctorate of Education programmes. She has sustained experience of teaching, examining and supervision of several students at up to doctorate level.

Design

Our amazing, wonderful and talented print designer!

  • Charlotte enjoyed drawing from a young age, and her love of creative arts later led her to pursue a degree in graphic design at Plymouth University. She has worked as a designer and illustrator since graduating in 2014, gaining a range of experience working for large agencies as well as small businesses and local clients. She now works as a freelance designer and enjoys a range of creative activities in her spare time, from film photography to sewing. Charlotte also has experience in an educational setting, having worked as a teaching assistant with a focus on art therapy at a school for children with extra social, emotional and mental health needs.

Advisory Team

  • Jane trained as a chemistry teacher and has taught chemistry and science in various parts of the UK. She moved into university-based teacher education in 2002 and has trained teachers at the University of Keele, Brunel University, and now works at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). Her professional focus and research subject is inclusion in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Her primary focus is students with learning difficulties but she has actively worked on initiatives to challenge a wide range of exclusionary factors and recognises that very similar issues affect all those who are under-represented in STEM education and employment. Her work has encompassed a wide range of activities, ranging from running inclusive and accessible chemistry festivals to leading initiatives to enhance the diversity of trainee science teachers. The scope of her work was recognised in her award of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Inclusion and Diversity award in 2019.

  • Marcia Taylor was Deputy Headteacher at Oldfield Primary School in Ealing, London.

    She gained her Bachelor of Education (Hons) at the University of North London specialising in Early Years, Health, Recreation and Physical Education. In 2018, she was awarded the National Professional Qualification in Senior Leadership (NPQSL) for her project on developing Mathematics in school.

    She has 28 years of primary teaching experience and has taught in 8 different schools across London. Throughout her career, she has been Foundation Stage Leader, KS2 Leader and Maths Subject Leader. She has led workshops for parents in the Foundation Stage to help them give their children the best possible start to school life. Prior to her teaching career, she was a senior youth worker with an outdoor activity organisation. She holds coaching qualifications in kayaking, rock climbing and football.

  • Daniel Bishop is the proud head teacher of Chase Bridge Primary School in Twickenham. He was previously head teacher at Alleby Primary School in Ealing and Brookside Primary School in Hillingdon. He thinks that being a head teacher is the best job in the world: he gets to work with amazing children, staff and families every day and has the privilege of becoming part of their lives. He is keenly interested in the development of the whole child and the wider community and firmly believes that every child deserves to excel, express their talents and ensure they look after and care for others around them. He is proud of the progress children make at Chase Bridge and believes that barriers or challenges can be overcome and should never stop someone from achieving.

Special Adviser

  • Charles Desforges is an emeritus professor of education in the University of Exeter with special interests in teaching, learning, parental involvement, and school leadership. He was the lead author of a landmark study for the Department for Education and Skills on the impact of parental involvement on student achievement (2002).