An independent day and boarding school for girls, 2-19, Nr Guildford and Godalming
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Mathematics
Welcome to Mathematics at St Catherine’s. We want you to enjoy your lessons and achieve highly. We will make sure that you have all the Mathematical skills you will need for your other studies. We hope that you will have fun with all the puzzles and problem-solving that we do and that as you grow up you will begin to share an appreciation of the power and the beauty of the language of Mathematics.
Here are some of our favourite mathematical quotations:
There are things which seem incredible to most men who have not studied Mathematics. Aristotle
Go down deep enough into anything and you will find Mathematics. Dean Schlicter
The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God. Euclid
I had a feeling once about Mathematics- that I saw it all. Depth beyond depth was revealed to me – the Byss and Abyss. But it was after dinner and I let it go. Winston Churchill.
Mr Alasdair Wright - Head of Mathematics
email: alasdair.wright@stcatherines.info
Has enjoyed teaching for 30 years in variety of schools and countries. Apart from enjoying Mathematics, he is a keen football fan, and enjoys enlightening his classes with a weekly round-up of the weekend’s action!
Mrs Laura Hill - Second in Department
email: laura.hill@stcatherines.info
Joined the Maths department in 2010. She has a particular interest in different learning styles and brain types, and how these affect teaching and learning. Laura enjoys Maths puzzles and often spends evenings doing sudokus, kakuros, futoshikis and other number puzzles as well as playing many a board game.
Mrs Davina Byrne
email:davina.byrne:stcatherines.info
Has taught at St Catherine’s since 2009 in the ICT & Computing department and was a pupil at the school from 1988 to 1993. She retrained into teaching Maths from 2019 and has integrated herself into the department with an aim to help students achieve their full potential. Outside of school she enjoys completing puzzles of various kinds.
Ms Pritika Fernandes
email: pritika.fernandes@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine’s in 2022 after starting her teaching career in India. Enjoys the hunt for ‘Ah-ha!’ moments from students when on a crusade against all fears that studying Maths may sometimes bring with it. Apart from enjoying being a teacher, she loves to spend time wandering in nature, learning about foraging, and befriending animals of all shapes and sizes.
Mrs Andrea Fuller
email: andrea.fuller@stcatherines.info
Spent ten years working as a project manager for a satellite communication company and at Roehampton University. Joined St. Catherine’s in 2009 and was instantly welcomed into the special community of the school. Particularly enjoys seeing the girls' confidence and enjoyment in Mathematics grow.
Mrs Nabila Gordon
email: nabila.gordon@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2016. Mrs Gordon studied Statistics and Economics at University and has previously worked in both the Aerospace and Financial sectors. She relishes bringing her experience into the classroom when teaching, especially when answering the “when are we ever going to use this?” questions. She loves seeing the girls’ curiosity grow as they begin to see Mathematics as a way of thinking and a tool to problem-solve. Outside school she enjoys visiting art galleries, travelling with her family and playing tennis.
Mrs Sheila Kelsall
email:sheila.kelsall@stcatherines.info
Formerly Head of Mathematics and currently the School Administrator. Favourite topic in Mathematics is Fibonacci. Loves to show students how different topics link together, especially with pictures and diagrams. Enjoys going on school trips, particularly Lasham, Somerset and the annual ski trip. Outside school, she is a moderately keen but believes herself to be a spectacularly unaccomplished gardener! Favourite pastimes are long expeditions in the Surrey Hills with the Kelsall pack and long summer camping trips in Europe.
Mr Son Nguyen
email: son.nguyen@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine's in 2017. A formidable mathematician and an enthusiastic chess player, he has made a terrific impact within the department, not least with his contribution to the students' mathematical enrichment.
Dr Jennifer Taylor
email: jennifer.taylor@stcatherines.info
Read Maths and Philosophy at Oxford as she has always been fascinated by the connection between the two subjects. She was determined she would never become a teacher as her mother, aunt and grandfather were all teachers, so after graduation she joined Unilever to work in finance. Despite the temptation of free ice cream, Dr Taylor decided she missed the academic life and returned to study for a PhD, also tutoring undergraduates in Philosophical Logic and Metaphysics. Somewhat to her surprise she discovered that she loved the teaching more than the research, so she decided to retrain as a teacher. Dr Taylor joined St. Catherine’s in 2011.
Mrs Caroline Willis
email: caroline.willis@stcatherines.info
Joined St Catherine’s in 2011 after starting her teaching career in the Midlands. Has a particular passion for all things ‘Statistics’ and thoroughly enjoys a good game of Mathematical Bingo in her classes. Her main aim in the classroom is increase the girls’ confidence in their mathematics and transfer to them her love of the subject. Outside of school, she is a mum to 2 children and enjoys playing netball.
Studying Mathematics enables you to think logically and reason effectively. You learn the importance of independent thought and what constitutes proof. Everyone now will study both Statistics and Mechanics as part of the course
Mathematics is a much respected academic subject, combining well with both science and arts A levels, and valued by universities and employers alike.
A-Level Course Content
Year 1: The course consist of Pure Mathematics topics and include algebra, co-ordinate geometry, sequences and series, calculus and numerical methods. Alongside this, you will study both Mechanics and Statistics.
Year 2: The balance of the course remains the same, and the topics become more challenging.
nrich.maths.org
Nrich have an enormous collection of resources, activities and games that get you to use your mathematical brains
www.ukmt.org.uk
Home of the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Maths challenges which all of our students will sit at some point. You can access past papers and access other mathematical activities.
