MEET THE LMaSTAFF
Bethany Alexis
Bethany Alexis
Progress Tutor
Miss Alexis has a wealth of experience in supporting students pastorally and academically so that they thrive emotionally and achieve their personal goals. She is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University, and draws on the skills and knowledge she developed through her studies to ensure that all voices, but especially those of marginalised and under-represented persons, are heard and respected and listened to. Miss Alexis has worked in pastoral roles in schools and colleges across Leeds, and this, coupled with her own ongoing training as a counsellor, gives her very great empathetic depth: this is invaluable to LMaStudents, and to ensuring our community is strong and safe. Miss Alexis enjoys the Performing Arts and is also accomplished in sewing and crochet. Her designs have brought colour and joy to Leeds and Notting Hill carnivals. We’re looking forward to seeing her designs for the LMaSpring / Summer capsule collection!
Lemar Bailey
Lemar Bailey
Assistant Site Manager
Mr Bailey attended Roundhay Technology College and then studied Surveying and Architecture at Leeds Building College. But he chose not to follow a career in this field: instead he began scriptwriting and script editing, and then he grew his professional network by acting in short films made in and around London. Recently he has been an exam invigilator at John Smeaton Academy and also for the British Council, supervising speaking and reading tests as well as paper-based and online exams. He has decided to return to his first professional passion, buildings, and is joining Mr Free and the facilities team to ensure that our LMaS home works smoothly and safely. Mr Bailey’s hobbies include tuning and restoring classic cars and rehousing reptiles (but not here!)
Jemma Barrass
Jemma Barrass
Student Services & Admissions
Miss Barrass attended Notre Dame Sixth Form where she achieved A-levels in History, Health and Social Care, Philosophy and Theology. With these she began a degree in Sociology and Criminology at Leeds Beckett University, but paused her studies in 2020 to take on a key worker role to support the fight against Covid-19. Miss Barrass has considerable experience in retail and customer services, and so has exactly the skills and qualities to advise and support current and future LMaStudents. She enjoys going to swimming classes with her young daughter and she loves any David Attenborough series – though not the ones with ferocious carnivores if the little one is around!
Claudia Brack
Claudia Brack
Assistant Principal
Mrs Brack graduated with a 1st class degree from Universidad del Pacífico, Lima, Perú. She studied Administración de Empresas and specialised in Finance. She has taught A Level Maths and Further Maths for over 16 years. She joined LMaS from Oldham Sixth Form College, where she led an outstanding faculty as Curriculum Area Leader for Mathematics, Computer Science and IT since 2012. She previously worked as a Course Leader at Huddersfield New College, at Spen Valley Sports College, and at Salendine Nook High School. Mrs Brack enjoys outdoor adventures: in the UK she has climbed Skafell Pike and Benn Nevis; further afield, she completed the four-day Inca trail in the Andes, arriving at sunrise at Machu Picchu. She is a keen yogi, and she enjoys travelling, fine food and Scandi noir.
Natalia Burggy
Natalia Burggy
Teacher of Chemistry
Miss Burggy went to school and sixth form in Leeds and then studied Chemistry at the University of Sheffield, where she stayed for her PGDE in Secondary Science. She taught in Sheffield for two years and then saw sense and left South Yorkshire for West! Miss Burggy is passionate about engaging young people in STEM subjects, and she has previously run STEM clubs and trips. While at sixth form, Miss Burggy participated in an international science fair trip to Japan where she and her team shared their research with schools from around the globe: it was an unforgettable experience. In her free time, Miss Burggy enjoys, crochet, walking, embroidery and baking (the science as well as the art … and enjoying the finished product, of course!).
Laurence Ejraee
Laurence Ejraee
Teacher of Computer Science
Mr Ejraee has long been passionate about Computer Science, studying it at GCSE and A Level and then achieving a first-class university degree in the subject. He spent three years working as a Software Engineer at a local technology company, developing streaming applications for platforms including Disney+, BBC and HBO. He brings this industry experience as well as his enthusiasm for the subject into the LMaS classroom. Mr Ejraee is a keen Formula One fan and enjoys watching sci-fi TV shows and films, particularly Doctor Who. He is also passionate about music, especially grunge, and enjoys playing the guitar. When he isn't watching the Grand Prix, playing guitar, going bouldering or enjoying a new video game, he can usually be found deciding which TV series to start next.
Luke Free
Luke Free
Site Manager
Mr Free joins us from Elliott Hudson Sixth Form College, where he has worked as a core member of the site maintenance team since the college opened. He therefore has invaluable knowledge and experience as LMaS gets established in our stunning home. The opportunity to help set up a brand-new school in a brand-new building, and to make it safe and secure for everyone, was unmissable for him. In addition to his practical and construction skills, Mr Free is also an accomplished designer; he studied Fine Art and Photography before joining the EHC team. Away from work he enjoys hiking, bouldering and kayaking, and he loves a DIY challenge: if there’s ever a PhD offered in DIY, he’s sure he’ll graduate in record time!
Rachel Gray
Rachel Gray
Operations Manager
Mrs Gray attended Bruntcliffe School, studying A-levels in Psychology, Business Studies and Physics. After sixth form college she took a role in the NHS, and that was the start of her 23-year career in operations and administration in the health service: from this, she brings to LMaS a wealth of skills and expertise in business, people and project management. Mrs Gray has a passion for developing efficient and effective systems, having worked for 10 of the 23 years on national improvement programmes across the NHS. Mrs Gray enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their Canaan dog and Tibetan spaniel. She also enjoys reading fantasy fiction and dressmaking.
Andy O’Hara
Andy O’Hara
Lead Teacher of Computer Science
Mr O’Hara is a graduate of Sheffield Hallam University, with a 1st in Computing and a PGCE in Computing Education. He has over 17 years’ experience teaching A-Level IT and Computer Science, first at Outwood Grange Academy and then at Elliot Hudson College in Leeds. He is an examiner for OCR A level Computer Science, specialising in the programming content on Paper 2. For the GORSE SCITT he trains future Computer Science teachers, leading a course he wrote himself. Mr O’Hara is a keen software developer: he has built systems to support all aspects of teaching and learning and student progress, and he has created over a hundred coding challenges to develop his students’ programming competence and logic skills. Students from Elliot Hudson College have twice reached the final of the BAFTA Young Game Developers national competition. Mr O’Hara enjoys rambling in the Yorkshire Moors and along coastal paths, and he is also an enthusiastic player of detective board games.
Josh Jamieson
Josh Jamieson
Teacher of Physics
Mr Jamieson attended school and sixth form in South Shields before moving to Leeds to study for a BSc in Physics at the University of Leeds. His interest in education began during a university module that included a school placement, and he later worked with the Institute of Physics in his final year as an Undergraduate Mentor on the Improving Gender Balance study. After completing his teacher training in the North East, Mr Jamieson began his career as a Teacher of Science at The Morley Academy, from where he joined LMaS. Mr Jamieson is a keen gamer, having competed in several national university tournaments. He is an avid player of Dungeons & Dragons, and he especially enjoys introducing new players to the game and helping them start to explore these wonderful new worlds.
Freya King
Freya King
Teacher of Mathematics
Dr King has a degree in Mathematics and a PhD in Theoretical Physics from the University of Cambridge. During her studies, she had opportunities to engage in the small-group teaching of university students, and she developed a real enthusiasm for this. After volunteering in local schools as part of the university’s STIMULUS programme, she decided to pursue a career in secondary school maths teaching. She completed her PGCE and then taught Mathematics and Further Mathematics at Roundhay School for seven years, from where she joins LMaS. Outside of the classroom, Dr King enjoys singing in a choir and playing football, and she has recently started learning to play the drums.
Christian Marriott
Christian Marriott
Teacher of Mathematics
Mr Marriott went to school and sixth form college in Sheffield, and then studied Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Oxford. He completed his PGCE there as well. He is a keen programmer, and in his degree course he especially enjoyed learning about Statistical Inference and Computational Statistics. He has volunteered with the UK Mathematics Trust, mentoring GCSE and A level students and giving mathematics talks at summer schools. When Mr Marriott was in the sixth form, he taught himself how to programme robots, and then he and a group of friends qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championships. He is a huge fan of Formula One, and he attended the 2022 British Grand Prix: the proximity of Silverstone to Oxford was a very happy geographical coincidence!
Richard Osborne
Richard Osborne
Catering Manager
Mr Osborne is a dedicated hospitality professional with over 12 years of experience in this dynamic and fast-paced industry. Throughout his career, he has gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise in various aspects of hospitality, including both front-of-house and back-of-house operations and also guest relations, team management and service excellence. Mr Osborne joined LMaS to combine his operational know-how with his love for building, creating, and innovating. He is always seeking new ways to blend his professional experience with his creative passions. Mr Osborne is passionate about crafting and enjoys bringing his creativity to life through hands-on projects. His love for making things complements his professional work: he approaches any challenge with a fresh perspective and innovative mindset.
Katie Oxley
Katie Oxley
Administration Officer
Mrs Oxley attended Swallow Hill Community College, after which she completed an Apprenticeship in Business and Administration with the Probation Service. This experience, combined with her voluntary work with the Youth Offending Service, sparked her passion for working with young people while at the same utilising her considerable administrative skills. She joined the Farnley Academy, where she worked for five years. Her roles there further strengthened her communication skills with parents and carers in a school environment while she developed the knowledge and skills, in particular in HR and Finance, which she brings to LMaS. Outside of work, Mrs Oxley enjoys spending time outdoors with her young son and her dog Marley, a New Zealand Huntaway Cross. She is a keen follower of Formula 1, rugby and darts: her perfect weekend would include watching all three.
Janis Pozemkovskis
Janis Pozemkovskis
Teacher of Mathematics
Mr Pozemkovskis moved to UK from Latvia at the age of 15. Inspired by his teachers, he discovered his love for Mathematics. This led him to complete a Masters in Mathematics at University of Leeds. He explored teaching as a career while studying at Leeds: he worked with the Tutor Trust in a variety of secondary and sixth form schools across Leeds, where he became one of few Advanced Tutors within the Trust, and then he studied for a PGCE. Mr Pozemkovskis has focused on working with sixth form students: first at Elliott Hudson College, then Trinity Sixth Form Academy in Halifax, and now at LMaS. He wants every LMaStudent to achieve beyond what they believe is possible. Away from the classroom, Mr Pozemkovskis likes to hike and explore the outdoors, and also challenge his mind in strategic video games.
Joanna Rhodes
Joanna Rhodes
Vice-Principal, DSL & SENDCo
Not only does Dr Rhodes have a master’s degree and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Oxford (where she won the Unilever Prize for Practical Physical Chemistry), but she also qualified as solicitor (and won Hammick’s Legal Prize) while working at the prestigious London law firm, Slaughter and May. She was Head of Science and then Assistant Principal at Shelley College, and then was Director of Sixth form at Wakefield Girls’ High School before joining LMaS for our opening in September 2023. Dr Rhodes is co-author of Oxford Chemistry Primers Foundations of Science Mathematics, she is a regular contributor to Teach Secondary magazine, and in 2021 she was one of 523 women (out of 22,500 applications!) invited to participate in astronaut training. She hasn’t travelled into space … yet.
Fiona Richardson
Student Support
Fiona Richardson
Teacher of Mathematics
Student Support
Ms Richardson has a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Leeds (and Lyon). She worked in industry before starting her teaching career at Benton Park School. She qualified as an Advanced Skills Teacher at Carlton Bolling College; in this role she worked closely with Bradford University, other schools in the area and the Senior Leadership Team. Ms Richardson then joined the core team of an academy trust, line managing and supporting mathematics departments across the area from Scarborough to Keighley. She joined LMaS from Springwell Academy Leeds, a specialist provision for children with Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs, where she ensured that every student achieved a mathematics qualification. Out of school Ms Richardson reads, plays Bridge, sews and tends to her houseplants. She has landscaped her garden and made pieces of furniture, but eating tasty food with her family and dog can't be bettered!
Olga Rowe
Jonny Sherwood
Jonny Sherwood
Vice-Principal, Quality of Education
Mr Sherwood studied Mathematics at Warwick University, from where he graduated with a 1st. He trained on the Teach First programme at Goole High School, before moving to the Caribbean to teach in the Dominican Republic. There he taught Mathematics from Y9 to Y13, he coached both the Maths Olympiad team and the girls’ football team, and he was also the guidance counsellor. In 2019 he joined Elliot Hudson College in Leeds, where he was Subject Leader of Mathematics, then Director of STEM Faculty, and then Director of Social Sciences Faculty. Before LMaS opened he was our Director of Outreach, leading Masterclass and Axiom Maths Circles programmes for students in Years 7 to 11, and he was promoted from that role to Vice Principal. Mr Sherwood enjoys playing football, walking his excitable Labradoodle Daisy, and productively struggling with a complicated board game.
Pavandeep Singh
Pavandeep Singh
Director of Mathematics
After A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, Mr Singh earned a mathematics degree from the University of Warwick. He has taught mathematics in UK schools and also abroad, including in Kenya and Togo, which has given him fascinating cross-cultural teaching experience. Before joining LMaS, Mr Singh was Head of Mathematics at Ossett Academy and then in the Outwood Trust, leading curriculum development and raising student achievement. He is passionate about inspiring all students, and he brings his own love of maths to every classroom. Mr Singh is learning to play the piano and enjoys long-distance running: currently he is training for his first marathon.
Fleur Siswick
Fleur Siswick
Lead Teacher of Physics
Miss Siswick achieved a 1st class degree in Natural Sciences then Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge, and then qualified as a Science teacher through the Teach First programme. She taught for eight years in Leeds schools, specialising in teaching Physics. She joined LMaS from Dixons Trinity Chapeltown, where she was Head of Science for five years. Miss Siswick especially enjoys creating challenging curriculum resources and crafting powerful explanations that support LMaStudents to master difficult concepts. In her spare time, Miss Siswick runs, rows and walks in the Yorkshire countryside, and reads and solves puzzles if the weather’s too grim!
Esther Smith
Esther Smith
SEND Officer
Miss Smith left France, where she grew up, to study Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Cambridge. After a career as an interpreter and translator, she worked at a Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre and completed a PGCE at Leeds Trinity University. She taught languages, PSHCE and functional skills, and managed a tuition centre as Director of Learning and Engagement. She also worked for the SEND Assessment Team in York. In 2021 she started working with The GORSE Academies Trust, as a consultant, providing careers education, information, advice, and guidance. She now has her role with us and a similar role at Hillcrest Primary Academy, one of our closest GORSE ‘neighbours’. Miss Smith enjoys high-octane sports, from rafting and kayaking to mountaineering and Via Ferratas. She loves to travel and explore new cultures.
Molly Smith
Molly Smith
Teacher of Mathematics
Miss Smith went to school and sixth form in Wakefield and then studied Mathematics at the University of York. While teaching in Wakefield she worked with the UKMT and Axiom Maths running afterschool maths clubs, and she created a Cryptography School for her students during the COVID lockdowns. Miss Smith has loved teaching A level since she qualified and is passionate about sharing her own very great enjoyment of Maths with her students. Outside of the classroom, Miss Smith spends her time reading, knitting, playing board games (which she picks up at conventions throughout the year) and completing escape rooms with her friends from university: their team has not failed a room yet!
Deborah Stringer
Deborah Stringer
Teacher of Mathematics
Mrs Stringer studied Mathematics at the University of Leeds. She graduated with a 1st-class degree and began her teaching career through the Teach First programme. She has taught for a decade in schools in the Dixons Trust: most recently, at Dixons Sixth Form where she taught Mathematics and Further Mathematics and was also Head of Department. Mrs Stringer is passionate that all students have the highest-quality maths teaching, and so she trained with the West Yorkshire Maths Hubs to become a Teaching for Mastery Specialist. In this role she led professional development for maths teachers, supporting them to embed research-informed best practice in their classrooms. Away from LMaS, Mrs Stringer enjoys spending time with her young son and her lively labrador, and the occasional trip to the theatre.
Emma Tariket
Emma Tariket
Attendance & Exams Officer
Originally from rural Suffolk, Mrs Tariket has lived all over the UK, and also spent five years in the Far East. She has had a wonderfully varied career, from picking tomatoes in The Netherlands to selling jewellery on the streets of South Korea. She has worked on magazines in Hong Kong and Singapore and promoted language courses in Central Asia. She started working in schools and education in 2020, and here she has found her true passion: working with young people, supporting them to achieve. In her role as Attendance & Exams Officer she accompanies every LMaStudent on their journey from Year 12 Induction to Year 13 Results Day. Mrs Tariket is passionate about travel, particularly by rail. She has visited 58 countries (so far!). She is an avid reader and geocacher, a keen baker and also an escape (room) artist. She enjoys embroidery, spending time with her family, and planning her next adventure.
Thomas Wadsack
Thomas Wadsack
Teacher of Physics
Mr Wadsack attended school and sixth form in the seaside town of Skegness before studying Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leeds. He graduated with a 1st class MPhys degree, which he achieved at the same time as volunteering regularly at MathsCity, supporting school students and the public to discover their love of maths. He qualified as a teacher of Physics and Mathematics through the Gorse SCITT, training at several schools within Leeds. Like many of the LMaStaff, Mr Wadsack is an avid fan of Formula One: he counts down the days until the Grand Prix on as Sunday, and then cheers on the McLaren team in their papaya colours. He enjoys playing the bass guitar, and is learning songs from a range of artists from Stevie Wonder to the Arctic Monkeys. When the LMaS band needs a guest artist for a ‘collab’, they know whom to ask!
Robert Wilne
Robert Wilne
Principal
Mr Wilne has a 1st class Mathematics degree from the University of Cambridge. He has taught A-level Maths and Further Maths for over 25 years, most recently before LMaS at King’s College London Maths School, the most successful sixth form in the UK and the winner of The Sunday Times’ “Sixth Form of the Decade” award. In his role there as Lead Teacher of Outreach he taught enrichment lessons to students in local secondary schools who were aiming for a top grade in their GCSE Maths, and he led highly regarded professional development programmes for maths teachers. More about Mr Wilne’s career can be read here. Away from school, Mr Wilne loves Japanese films, Harris tweed and Spanish tapas, though not usually at the same time.