Outreach

Sam Waterfield is an experienced post-16 maths educator, currently teaching A level Maths and A level Further Maths in the award-winning maths department at Durham Sixth Form Centre. Sam holds the role of Maths Outreach Lead for the wider trust of Providence Learning Partnership, where he designs and delivers programmes of masterclasses, enrichment and supercurricular mathematics competitions to students across the North East region.

Additionally, Sam works as the Post-16 Lead for both Archimedes NE Maths Hub and Great North Maths Hub, where he organises opportunities for collaborative and sustained professional development of post-16 maths teachers across the region. He is particularly interested in the development of maths pedagogy through the use of technology and the psychology of learning. He draws upon his years of experience and action research in the classroom, alongside his engagement with wider research literature, including his work with the Chartered College of Teaching, the Advanced Maths Support Programme and the wider Maths Hub network.

Sam works closely with schools, universities and industry experts to showcase progression in mathematics as a viable, tangible and desirable option to young people from all backgrounds. He seeks to develop ambitions and nurture positive attitudes towards mathematics to drive the achievement and uptake of the subject in the UK.

Sam holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Glasgow, a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics from Newcastle University and a Master’s in Education from Leeds University. He is an NCETM Accredited PD Lead and a Chartered Maths Teacher.

Sam was appointed in the first cohort of Fellows of the Academy for the Mathematical Sciences.

Martyn Edwards is a Lead Practitioner in Computer Science with 22 years of teaching experience in ICT and Computer Science spanning KS3 through to Post-16, most recently with Durham Sixth Form Centre. He holds a Master of Engineering degree in Electronic Engineering from Newcastle University and began his career in the IT industry as a Systems Developer and Designer, specialising in Java systems and Rapid Application Development. This foundation continues to shape his real-world approach to Computer Science education.

Since 2012, Martyn has focused on Computer Science with a passion for equipping students with the creative thinking and practical problem-solving skills that modern industries demand. He believes that Computer Science is not a subject in isolation but has connections with many industries and professions and he works hard to make that tangible for every student in the classroom.

As a former CAS (Computing at School) Community Leader, Martyn played an active role in building and supporting the computing education community across the North East. He organised and ran professional development events for teachers covering subject knowledge, pedagogy and practical classroom ideas. He has also worked with the National Centre for Computing Education as a Subject Knowledge Expert, contributing to the development of teacher training resources and delivering professional development to support educators moving into or deepening their practice in Computer Science. He holds a BCS-accredited certificate in Computer Science Subject Knowledge.

Martyn has cultivated strong links with technology firms across the North East, working collaboratively with industry professionals to bring authentic workplace practices into the classroom. This includes supporting students with their projects, demonstrating real industry workflows, exploring the realities of working in technology, and examining professional practices such as requirements capture, design and testing in ways that students can directly apply to their own work. Martyn has also worked with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, developing educational resources and delivering training and events to enthuse teachers and students about the power of computing.

As a result of this industry-focused approach, many of Martyn’s students have gone on to study Computer Science at the degree level, with several progressing to PhDs in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Cyber Security.