The team

John Booth

Secondary Science Adviser at Birmingham City Council

Founded the Physics Factory in Birmingham by thinking up with a model which brings together the need for specialist teacher training and extended provision for GCSE Physics in neghbouring schools.

Jim Whittell

Founder

Physics Factory originator

Trained as a physicist, Jim Whittell founded the Physics Factory project in November 2006 following a plea from The Royal Society on BBC Radio 4's 'Today' programme for action to halt the decline of physics in schools. Before that he worked for the British Council for 26 years, of which 12 were spent overseas. Whilst in London, he served as Secretary to the Council, was responsible for the Council's operations in Europe and was seconded to Prime Minister Thatcher's Efficiency Unit for a scrutiny of a major part of the British Council's work. He was made an OBE in 1984 and CMG in 1998. On retirement in 1999 he founded the Interstate Programme, an annual event in Brussels enabling students from top business schools in the US and Europe to debate current global and trans-Atlantic issues with EC policy makers.

David Perks

Head of Physics, Graveney School, London

Founded the Physics Factory in London.

I have been a physics teacher in state secondary schools in Britain since 1987. I currently run a successful physics department at Graveney School a comprehensive school in Tooting, South West London. I am a passionate defender of academic science education. I wrote a highly critical response to the new GCSE science curriculum "What is science education for?" I came up with the original idea for the Institute of Ideas Debating Matters competition now a highly successful schools debating competiton. I write regularly on science and education.