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About/Bio

I have taught students in HE on a wide range of applied mathematics courses for mathematics and mathematical sciences programmes, and on programmes in other disciplines, and at all levels, for 41 years. I have wide experience of most facets of undergraduate and postgraduate study, and particularly the school-university transition.

I have also reviewed the provision in a range of university mathematics departments as part of activities for QAA, External Periodic Review, External Examining, IMA degree Accreditation as well as External Accreditation for International Degree Programmes.

I have considerable experience of education policy and practice in the pre-HE sector, and particularly Post 16 Mathematics, and on the school-university transition, as outlined below.

I am a Professor of Mathematics and Mathematics Education in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Reading. As well as 43 years’ teaching and leadership experience, my 478 publications span research in numerical analysis, computational fluid dynamics, applied mathematics, mathematics/science education, and teaching and learning.

I was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in The King’s New Year Honours List 2023 for services to Education. (See also The Gazette Official Public Record, University of Reading news story, IMA news story, Mathematical Association news story and the article “Where are they now?” in The Old Burian.)

Appointed as the President-Elect of 153-year old Mathematical Association of the UK, becoming the 107th Mathematical Association President in 2025 in a list comprising some giants in the world of mathematics, including Professor GH Hardy FRS, Professor Sir James Lighthill FRS, Professor Sir Michael Atiyah OM FRS, Professor Sir Christopher Zeeman FRS, former University of Reading Head of Mathematics Professor E H Neville, and more recently Professor Hannah Fry HonFREng, and Professor Nira Chamberlain OBE.

In 2022 I was appointed as the UK representative to the International Commission on Mathematical Instruction (ICMI) for 2022-2027. See also ICMI.

I am a regular invited speaker at national conferences and workshops.

I have reviewed A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics for the Department for Education (DfE) as a member of ALCAB, reviewed A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics for Ofqual, including as Overarching Reviewer for the Accreditation of 16 AS & AL Mathematics and Further Mathematics qualifications. He has also reviewed Core Maths (CM) qualifications for the DfE, including as Chair of the DfE External Expert Advisory Panel advising Ministers on the level 3 qualifications satisfying the Core Maths Technical Guidance for progression, participation, attainment and advanced maths premium measures. I have been a consultant to the Core Maths Support Programme (CMSP).

I am Honorary Secretary of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (IMA) - responsible for Fellow (FIMA) and other Advanced and General Membership levels, and Chartered Mathematician, Chartered Scientist and Chartered Mathematics Teacher designations, including Chair of all relevant committees and sub-groups. I am also responsible at the IMA for Advanced Data Science Professional (AdvDSP) Certification, including as Chair of the Panel of Assessors, all as part of the Alliance for Data Science Professionals (AfDSP), as well as Chair of the AfDSP Data Science Degree Accreditation Group.

I am Chair of the Royal Society’s Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education (ACME) Expert Panel (Committee) for A levels.

I am an External Expert Advisor and External Subject Expert to Ofqual, which includes working on the reforms to AS/A-level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, and Core Maths..

I am a reader (assessor) for The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

I am, or have recently been, a member of the:

I am, or have recently been, working with DfE supporting teacher supply, recruitment and retention, including for:

I have developed enrichment materials which have been put together for outreach activities and events, including: RI Mathematics Masterclasses; Widening Participation Summer Schools; Enrichment Days, and through being a STEM Ambassador for many years. These resources include topics on: prime, transcendental, and Fibonacci numbers; proof; as well as codes, code-breaking, and internet security.

I am a Fellow of the IMA (FIMA), a member of the LMS, a Chartered Mathematician (CMath), a Chartered Scientist (CSci), a Qualified Teacher (QTS), and a Fellow of the HEA (FHEA).

I have been briefing universities on Core Maths, and post-16 mathematics more generally, following an invitation to them from BIS/DfE to find out more about Core Maths. I also supported the work of the DfE/HMT Smith Review of Post 16 Mathematics.

I am also the Immediate Past Chair of The Joint Mathematical Council of the UK (JMC).