Teacher Support

Teacher Network North Wales

Andrea Fesmer
Teacher Network Coordinator in North Wales
Email : andrea.fesmer@talk21.com
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic College
Widnes
WA8 7DW

Current Position
I have been teaching physics at Saints Peter and Paul for 15 years, with the last 6 years part-time. Being part time means I get a few days a week to get involved in other projects.

Initial Training
BSc (Hons) degree in Physics from Leeds University
PGCE from Cambridge University

Career
I have been teaching physics for over 20 years, including 2 years in Oxfordshire and 3 years with Voluntary Services Overseas in Kenya. I am education adviser for Spaceport and occasionally work as a liaison tutor for the PGCE course at Liverpool John Moore sUniversity.

Links with other Agencies
I have worked with the 8 secondary schools in Halton and around 20 primary schools locally on various physics projects.  These have included groups working with astronomers or going to deliver forces workshops in schools.

I have strong links with The Astrophysics Institute at Liverpool John Moores, Liverpool University Physics Dept, Daresbury labs and Merseyside Aim Higher.  Most of these are due to serving for many years on the IOP Liverpool and North Wales/ Merseyside branch committees. 

I am on the IOP Women in Physics committee which organises various events around the country and has a particular interest in getting girls to do physics.  Having 2 young sons has made me realise getting children to do anything can be a challenge!

I am now establishing links with science advisers in North Wales, Careers Wales, NEWI, The National Trust and the Education Dept at Bangor University. 

Personal Interests
I am passionate about astronomy and at some point hope to open a mini observatory (shed) for local children. I enjoy a challenge as long as it doesn’t involve elastic ropes or jumping from great heights! I love long walks in the countryside but 2 young children have limited distances in recent years (well that’s my excuse and I am sticking to it!)

Aim/Mission
To make life easier for anyone teaching physics in North Wales, in particular for non-specialist physics teachers. 

So I aim:

• To set up a teacher conference as regularly as possible with the first taking place at Bangor University on Tuesday 3^rd June 2008 - click here to download the programme
• To set up twilight sessions suitable for teachers and pupils as part of other events. The first of these is the ‘Hunting for Asteroids’ workshop and ‘Search for Extra-Solar Planets’ lecture given by astronomers from Liverpool John Moores University as part of the Wrexham Science Festival on Thursday 13^th March 2008.
• To organise events with other organisations such as the National Trust e.g. Trust Physics! at Penhryn Castle during the autumn term 2008. This will involve a day of cross-curricula workshops e.g. the physics of cooking, the physics of conservation, etc for years 5,6 and 7.
• To set up an e-mail list to allow any ideas for physics resources or events to be swiftly passed on to teachers.

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