Meet our staff! We have been busy recruiting great teachers and support staff for UTC Cambridge - you can find out more about each individual below.
Melanie Radford
Principal
Melanie Radford has worked in education for 20 years, and before that was a biomedical scientist for 10 years. She trained at the London Hospital and was a Fellow of the Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences - now Biomedical Sciences. She worked for the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service in Australia where she was the first person to use microtitre plates to genotype donors and manufactured a monthly diagnostic red cell panel for all hospital laboratories to identify patient antibodies. As an educator, she has taught science in the USA, England and Australia. As a Principal, she has established two successful academies and turned around three failing vocational colleges. Later, in a more corporate role, she was Director of Operations over multiple vocational colleges across the USA. She is now the first principal of the new UTC Cambridge, which opens in September. She wants the college to be nationally recognised as an outstanding centre of excellence for teaching biomedical and environmental science and technology, and is aiming to have 100% of UTC students progressing into work, an apprenticeship or university.
Danielle Pacey
Acting Deputy Principal
As the Acting Deputy Principal at UTC Cambridge I am part of the leadership of this innovative science school. I completed my undergraduate degree in Pathobiology at Reading University and went straight into teaching. I have extensive experience in science education and leadership. I have been teaching for 18 years and have led science faculties for 11 years working in a number of different schools and led them through a number of outstanding Ofsted inspections. I am really excited at the opportunities UTC Cambridge will provide for students with a passion for Science and I am sure this will be my most enjoyable post to date.
Alistair Easterfield
Head of Science
I am very excited at becoming part of the UTC Cambridge team. I have a longstanding interest in the use of vocational education in Science derived from over 15 years’ experience as a biomedical research scientist with responsibility for supervising undergraduate research projects. I completed my undergraduate degree at Bristol University in Cellular and Molecular Pathology before moving to London to complete a Ph.D. in reproductive immunology at St. George’s Hospital Medical School. I subsequently spent over 10 years as a research scientist at Cambridge University in the field of transplant immunology before moving into teaching. My interest in vocational education in science has continued to develop through my current role as a Head of Biology and Triple Science. Furthermore, I have explored the field academically through an M.Ed. at Cambridge University. The unique opportunities provided by UTC Cambridge will provide an unparalleled opportunity for students to gain a true understanding of biomedical and environmental sciences at a professional level. This innovative approach to science education will also place students in an exceptionally strong position from which to launch a scientific career. I am really looking forward to helping develop such an inspirational school.
Colin Bashford
Coordinator of Core Science and Physics Teacher
Prior to becoming a teacher I worked in industry for over 8 years in the laser and fibre-optic industry and spent the 3 years before that involved in research into High Temperature Superconductivity. My main interests outside of science are skiing, rugby and cricket, although almost any sport will do!
Nneka Smith
Chemistry Teacher and Head of House
Hello, I am originally from London but I studied Chemistry and Sports Science at Loughborough University before becoming a teacher. Since beginning my teaching career, I have been lucky enough to teach in a variety of school across the country, gaining experience teaching Science, ICT and coaching sports teams. I have taught in London, the Midlands, the North West and now Cambridge. I am very excited to have the opportunity to teach at such an innovative and ground breaking school as I love Chemistry (it’s everywhere and fascinating!). Outside of teaching I love to watch and play a variety of different sports but my favourite is Netball. I have been very fortunate to play at a high standard and to support Manchester Thunder who won this year’s netball super league but I am looking forward to supporting and watching my new local team, Marvericks who are based in Hertfordshire. Catch me at lunchtimes and I will happily discuss any sporting results from the weekend, (apart from golf and snooker!)
Rachael Verney
Coordinator of Applied Science and Biology Teacher
Hello! I studied Medical Microbiology at Leeds University, where I completed my dissertation on dermatology conditions resulting front infection by the yeast Malassezia furfur. After graduation I worked on various research projects within the Medical field. One of the most exciting was the study of how the human immune system responds to metal fatigue from artificial joints. By reducing the immune response patients can enjoy longer lasting joint replacements, and not have to face the thought of undergoing more surgery later in life. It’s a great privilege to be able to use your scientific knowledge to help others! Alongside my research projects I taught PhD and undergraduate students so the progression into Secondary Science Education was inevitable and I never looked back. With rapidly advancing technology and a seemingly endless array of scientific paths to follow, there has never been a more exciting time to be a science student. I look forward to meeting you in class.
Alwyn Whitaker
Maths Teacher
My 30+ years of experience have so far been split roughly equally between the technology industry and education, most recently teaching GCSE and A level, Maths and Further Maths, in another Cambridge school. I am really looking forward to getting stuck into this new challenge, with a group of students who I’m expecting to share my pioneering spirit. I totally believe that combining the traditional exam course syllabuses, work experience and projects driven by employers will prepare our teenagers in the best possible way for the future. I personally have always loved variety and challenge, and each year I try to do something I’ve never done before. In recent years I have flown in an air tunnel, sung on stage for the first time, completed my CISCO CCNA qualification, started to learn Portuguese, and got a dog – a beagle called Woody! I look forward to boring the students with tales of his misdemeanours!
Cyrille Bouché
Maths Teacher and Head of House
I graduated from Nantes University, France in Chemical Engineering with a speciality in Water treatment. I then went to London to study for a Degree in Chemistry and thereafter joined the French Marines for a year, serving as a saxophonist in the marine band. After returning to London, University College, I undertook an MSc in Chemical Process Engineering and worked for a developing water treatment company based in Peterborough as a commissioning engineer then account manager for France. The company later on became GE Water & Process Technologies. I later moved to work for Kraft Foods R&D where I took on roles as Product Development Engineer and Process Development Engineer working with Business Units and Processing plants across Europe. I achieved a PhD in Computer Aided Process Engineering (CAPE) specialising in the scale up of Chemical Reaction in the pharmaceutical industry through the use of Evolutionary Multi-objective optimisation techniques under uncertainty. During this time I also taught tutorials at UCL for first year students and took the opportunity to take entrepreneurial electives at London Business School. I qualified from the Institute of Education with a PGCE in Mathematics teaching and taught in a North London School, Alexandra Park School before moving to a St Benedict’s in Suffolk. I believe in the power of Mathematics and the ‘code’ to solve problems and feel that as Bertrand Russell said: “Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty—a beauty cold and austere, like that of sculpture, without appeal to any part of our weaker nature, without the gorgeous trappings of painting or music, yet sublimely pure, and capable of a stern perfection such as only the greatest art can show.”
Hillary Davies
English Teacher and Coordinator of Literacy
Hello, I studied English and Sociology BA (Hons) and Women’s Studies MA at the University of Kent at Canterbury. I then worked in publishing before training to teach English at the University of Bristol. From 1995 I taught English and Drama at Secondary level in Hertfordshire and have some experience of working in the Primary Sector. With an interest in psychotherapy, I completed a Diploma in Counselling. I have a number of years’ experience as an examiner of GCSE English. I am delighted to be able to set up English at UTC. This opportunity offers the chance to work creatively in the subject area: harnessing the scope of state of the art technology to develop new ways of building literacy skills, exploring current internet media and literature to meet the interests of young people today; working closely with the cross curricula team of teachers, tailoring literacy input to enhance the specific requirements of the unique Challenge Projects; building links with local schools, colleges and arts providers to bring the most exciting opportunities to students at UTC Cambridge. I feel very lucky to be in at the start of this new project for Cambridge and I am especially looking forward to working with students who have the energy and vision to choose a new route forward.”
Soraya Uranga-Edroso
Spanish Teacher
¡Hola! I am from the Basque Country in northern Spain. In 1986 I decided to come to England and have lived in Cambridge ever since. I worked as a nurse for ten years before I studied English BA ( Hons) at Ruskin University in Cambridge and completed my PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages at Cambridge University. I taught Spanish and French in a variety of schools and sixth form colleges in Cambridge until 2000 when I started to work at the Cambridge University Language Programme until 2011. Since then I have taught Spanish from KS2 to post-18 as well as being a supervisor at Cambridge University and a teacher at the Cambridge Spanish Centre.
I am delighted to be given the opportunity to be part of this fantastic project and to set up Spanish at UTC. Working in such a wonderful and innovative setting gives us the chance to build up a vibrant and exciting environment where students feel learning Spanish language and culture is relevant and interesting. We will liaise with colleagues in Spain, visit Spanish companies in the area and much more.
Apart from teaching which I love I also like music, dancing, reading, walking our dog Monty, skating and playing tennis.
Sarah Graham
Geography Teacher
[email protected]
I studied Human and Physical Geography at Reading University and worked as a Transport Planner for a few years after graduating. Since completing my PGCE at Oxford University 10 years ago, I have taught in schools and sixth form colleges in both the public and private sector. For 5 years, I led my own Geography Department and prior to this was a Gifted and Talented student coordinator. Despite having a wealth of experience in education, the opportunity to teach in this brand new setting presents a unique and exciting challenge. I am delighted to be a part of UTC Cambridge and look forward to meeting all of my students in September.
Shiree Gilday-Burns
Lead Lab Technician
I have been a Technician at a local school for 13 and I love my job. I look forward to a new challenge of working at UTC Cambridge, meeting and working with new staff and students and helping to build a great new department. I have a Biology degree from Imperial College, experience of working in the research industry and also a customer based service industry; a useful background for the UTC Cambridge. I enjoy wildlife, walking my two dogs, cooking and singing.