The Owl 2021
Valete Union and preparing pupils for Oxbridge Health andheSocial Care toto the entrance. In 2003, was promoted the school and for a positionnumber of Head ofofMathematics followingthe Dr role of Subject years, fulfilled Scully’s promotion to Senior Teacher and for Rosemary Helen. worked Leader hard to maintain the high and academic standards within the department, alongside Geoff a man of many contrasts. He went involving pupilsis in the UK Mathematical Challenges. January 2009, atGeoff wasgrammar school fromInbeing a pupil a rural promoted to Senior Teacher and then in in Magherafelt studying Physics at Balliol September 2011 he was to appointed to the positionCollege, of Curriculum Vice Principal. In this Oxford, a college where four British role, Geoff has demonstrated that he is highly Prime Ministers were educated. Whilst at Oxford, organised and efficient, he provides valuable heanalysis has had with two of them – Harold statistical and, encounters through his review of the trackingMcMillan system, he implemented system to (whom he played and BorisaJohnson monitor pupil progress effectively. He football with). theschool impression that Balliol introduced Health and SocialWe Careget to the and for is a number of years, fulfilled thefourth role of prime minister but less than proud of its Subject Leader for Rosemary and Helen.
they can have much to be proud of in reflecting on
Geoff is a man of many contrasts. He went from Geoff’s career in terms of the impact he has had on GEOFF BROWN BROWN being a pupil at a rural grammar school in GEOFF the lives of young people. Magherafelt to studying Physics at Balliol Geoff’s contribution to Belfast Royal Academy College, Oxford, a college where four British over 21 years istosignificant spansAcademy many Although he educated. studied Physics, Geoff’s contribution Belfast and Royal Prime Ministers were Whilst at he teaches aspects of school life. He was appointed to the Oxford, he has had encounters with two of them great educators, over 21 years is significant and spans many aspects Mathematics. And like many school in March 2000 as a teacher of – Harold McMillan and Boris Johnson (whom hefootball carries hisWe intellect lightly. Never arrogant or of schoolMathematics, life. He was appointed school in he played having completedtohisthe teaching with). get the impression practice His Head Department at that is lessGeoff than proud of its prime aloof, takes asfourth much pride and satisfaction March 2000 ashere. a teacher of ofMathematics, having that Balliol time was Dr Catherine Scully, who commented minister but they can have much to be proud of fromonteaching the pupils who struggle to master completed hisrecommendation teaching practice here. Histhat Head ofin reflecting in her to the Headmaster Geoff’s career in terms of the “he will be time a mostwas valuable asset to the thehasbasic mathematical as he does from Department at that Dr Catherine Scully,impact he had on the lives of young concepts people. department and to the school as a whole”. And coaching our Oxbridge candidates. who commented so it came toin be.her recommendation to the Although he studied Physics, he teaches Mathematics. And like many great educators, Headmaster that “he will be a most valuable asset Geoff is a lightly. fantastic problem Geoff contributed to the curricular and extrahe carries his intellect Never arrogant orsolver. Not only in to the department and school as a whole”. curricular life of to thethe school by taking the aloof, class Geoff when takes he as whips much pride out hisandSherlock Holmes pipe involving himself in Scripture satisfaction from teaching the pupils who And so itfootball cameteam, to be. his drawer to puff on when he and the class strugglefrom to master the basic mathematical conceptsareaspondering he does from coaching our a particularly challenging problem Geoff contributed to the curricular and extraOxbridge candidates.
curricular life of the school by taking the football team, involving himself in Scripture Union and preparing pupils for Oxbridge entrance. In 2003, he was promoted to the position of Head of Mathematics following Dr Scully’s promotion to Senior Teacher and worked hard to maintain the high academic standards within the department, alongside involving pupils in the UK Mathematical Challenges. In January 2009, Geoff was promoted to Senior Teacher and then in September 2011 he was appointed to the position of Curriculum Vice Principal. In this role, Geoff has demonstrated that he is highly organised and efficient, he provides valuable statistical analysis and, through his review of the tracking system, he implemented a system to monitor pupil progress effectively. He introduced 8
but when he is writing the timetable. It is not easy writing the BRA timetable from scratch each year whilst meeting the many and varied permutations involving 1450 pupils and 88 staff. Geoff takes pride in coming up with an elegant solution; he was greatly helped by his timetabling assistant Mark Shields and latterly by David Morrison but I think that many of us are unaware of the many hours that Geoff invested in getting the timetable as close to perfect as he can. Geoff has a great sense of fun and he never takes himself too seriously. From participating in the Staff Revue as a member of the Superman Troupe, to the Mathematics Department synchronised swimming team and more recently, Lord Geoffemort in the Harry Potter sketch, Geoff
