Beauchamp City teacher wins prestigious award

Dr Carpenter-Warren, who teaches A-Level chemistry at Beauchamp City, was recognised for demonstrating a passion and enthusiasm for Science, something he has also installed in his students.

He received a prize, a medal, a certificate and a place alongside other leading academics who have previously won this prestigious accolade; examples include John B Goodenough and Carolyn Bertozzi, both of whom went on to win Noble Prizes.

This year, Cameron has challenged his A-Level cohort to expand their scientific knowledge beyond the curriculum, working with local universities to provide them with a flavour for studying science at higher level. Students have not only enjoyed using specialised resources in state-of-the-art facilities, they have also attended talks from cutting-edge scientific experts.

Additionally, he has designed a custom course which he delivers as a series of after-school sessions. Each one includes a short talk about a relevant chemistry topic that is not featured in the National Curriculum. Working together, students then enjoy a problem-solving workshop based on the topic.

Not only does this heighten their wider knowledge and increase their passion for chemistry, it also encourages lateral-thinking which will benefit students hugely as they apply for university places and go on to compete in national Olympiad events.

If that wasn’t enough, Cameron has also written two interactive murder mysteries. Students are required to interview suspects and interpret a series of analytical science tests over multiple weeks, only then are they able to identify the ‘murderer.’ This emphasises the real-world application of chemistry and how it can be used to solve complex problems.

“The chemical sciences are at the forefront of tackling a range of challenges facing our world,” explained Dr Helen Pain, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, “from fundamental chemistry to cutting-edge innovations, the work that chemical scientists do has an important role to play in building our future. 

“The inspiration, innovation and dedication of those who work in education is fundamental to the progress of the chemical sciences – shaping the future and setting our young people up to tackle the challenges and the opportunities facing our society and our planet. 

“Dr Carpenter-Warren’s work demonstrates an outstanding commitment to chemistry education, and it is our honour to celebrate their considerable contribution.”

You can find out more about Cameron’s work and read an interview he conducted with the Royal Society of Chemistry by clicking here.

You can also watch a brief video showing Cameron in action here.