SCIENCE Virtual Learning Environment

Greg Hughes
Head of Physics & Assistant Science College Director, Lead ICT in Science Practitioner

Greg Hughes has been a Physics teacher since 1990. Originally from Liverpool, Greg studied at University College London (UCL) for a degree in Astronomy & Physics, then took a PGCE in Physics/Science teaching at Liverpool University. He has since taught at a variety of schools, both comprehensive and selective.

Greg has been head of Physics at Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls since 1998, and is very proud of the achievements of the physics staff and students in improving the achievement and popularity of the subject. There are usually around 30 – 50 students taking A level Physics in the sixth form with a variety of backgrounds and other subjects. In 2005 he was awarded the Salters-Horners A level Physics teacher of the year prize.

In 2001, SCGSG was granted Beacon School status, and Greg was one of the main teachers involved in outreach work for partner schools, including projects in science datalogging, Photoshop (ICT and Art) and creative ICT with small groups. He was Beacon Schools manager from 2003 until 2004.

Greg was heavily involved in writing the successful bid for Specialist School status, and later became Assistant Science College Director, responsible for community work. He has led and managed work with a variety of schools around Birmingham, including primaries, secondaries in challenging circumstances and a behaviour support unit. SCGSG is also involved in projects with science technician training and local hospitals.

Since 1996 Greg has been using ICT enthusiastically in a variety of ways in Science lessons, and in 2006 he was awarded status as Lead ICT in Science practitioner for the West Midlands region (shared jointly with Jo Garvey). Greg has also been involved in a number of other projects, including teacher training with BASS (Birmingham Advisory) and the local LiG group of schools, a Best Practice Research Scholarship study on using ICT to help students’ understanding of gravity at key stage 3 (for the Department of Education) and liaison with the Birmingham Grid For Learning (BGFL) on using video conferencing and virtual classrooms. He has even found time to contribute to the notorious SCGSG staff band!