Chair: Deb Gajic

Deb Gajic is the ATP Chair (and temporary membership secretary) and a Chartered Psychologist. She is Head of Psychology at The Polesworth School. On a personal level she enjoys travel, shopping, wine and Zumba. She also enjoys spending her time with her family (husband Nik and two grown up daughters, Sophie & Emily and, of course, Colin the cat). Professionally she is interested in active learning techniques, coaching to improve teaching and developing psychology as a science. She occasionally pops up in Onlineclassroom DVDs.

Vice Chair: Dorothy Coombs

Dorothy Coombs is recently retired from teaching Life Sciences at a sixth form college in North Yorkshire. Her degree is in Biology with Education and she has taught psychology for 15 of her 30 years in teaching. She has recently been honoured with an award from the BPS for her outstanding contribution to the teaching of psychology. One of the few times that this award has gone to someone who teaches at pre-degree level. Dorothy represents the ATP on the board of the European Federation of Psychology Teachers’ Associations and her interest in red wine is purely a rumour! Dorothy also runs the ATP helpline and is always happy to give advice to members on any professional issues.

Secretary: Morag Williamson

Morag Williamson is ATP Secretary. She teaches psychology at West Lothian College and Napier University, and is an examiner for SQA Psychology Higher and Intermediate. Her special interests are developmental psychology, research methods and data analysis in psychology, and learning, teaching and assessment in the social sciences. Active in ATP Scotland, she is also keen on fostering links with our European colleagues in EFPTA. Sunny days will find her out hill walking, or visiting ancient stones, preferably rounded off with an evening of live jazz.

Treasurer: Janet Brennan

Janet Brennan is the ATP Treasurer. She teaches Psychology in London. She did an MSc in intelligent systems and continues to have an interest in human and machine intelligence. She also has a strong interest in research methods and cognitive psychology. When not stuck in a classroom, she likes to travel, attend musical events, read, and do DIY.

Committee Members

Helen Gibb

Helen Gibb is currently Head of Psychology and Sociology at The Bland ford School in Dorset. She is also a member of the sixth form management team in her role as Achievement and Attainment Co-ordinator. The school environment is relatively new to Helen as most of her 23 years in education have been spent teaching psychology in the college sector. Her academic interests, lie mainly within social psychology with particular focus on in and out group behaviour in its many guises. This is linked to a lifelong passion for the promotion of equality of opportunity, having served on a number of equal opportunity committees and working parties. Helen enjoys walking and cycling, and she has something of a  reputation amongst her friends for hosting never to be forgotten parties.

Jackie Moody

Jackie Moody studied for her psychology degree with the Open University whilst serving overseas in a clinical capacity as a Senior Welfare Worker.  Jackie retired after 25 years service and was fortunate to be offered a GTP route into teaching.  She teaches at an International School in Luxembourg. Jackie sees herself as an eternal student and is thoroughly enjoying her ‘new life’ in teaching in particular developing the scientific aspects of psychology. Her main passions are travelling, walking, food and wine and a new one to the list is attending the ATP conference.

Gail Ward

Gail Ward is the Head of Psychology at Durham 6th Form Centre, where there are currently 18 groups of A level students, and 8 members of psychology staff. Her academic interests are self esteem and self efficacy, her MA dissertation was on the impact of target grades on the self esteem of 16 year old students. When she is not teaching, planning or marking (!) she likes travelling, immersing herself in foreign culture and music; she attends a local gym where she does pilates, spinning and salsa dancing, and since the recent ATP conference, belly dancing! She also enjoys relaxing with friends, sharing good (veggie) meals and drinking wine.

Wendy Wood

Wendy is getting on and has taught psychology since the days when there was virtually no one to teach psychology (ten practicals was it?!). She is currently head of psychology at a little comprehensive in Co Durham – Roseberry SCC. When I am not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, climbing mountains, playing music in a community band and, more recently, gardening at our new allottment.

Newsletter Editor: Laura Rudd

I am currently an Assistant Head of a Boarding House and teach A-level Psychology (OCR) in Lincolnshire. I am also the Editor for the ATP magazine and have been editing and organising advertising it for the past two years, a task I thoroughly enjoy. Occasionally I mark for OCR (not quite sure how I manage to fit all of these things in!). I am interested in Educational Psychology and Teacher Education. When I do have spare time (ha, spare time, who am I kidding!?!). I enjoy socialising, reading, writing, rock & mountain climbing and swimming. I can speak some Polish (but badly, but would like to learn Russian.

Heather Taylor

Heather teaches at Prior Pursglove College and, as an Assistant Manager of Life Sciences, heads up a team of five Psychology teachers there. She has a passion for environmental issues, and has a  Biological background, working in agricultural development in Zambia, before starting to teach science. She recently completed an M.Ed. with the O.U. and loves singing and Zumba. She is starting teaching FSMQ as support for statistical side of Psychology and has taught a cohort and examined I.B. Psychology.

Helen Kitching

Helen Kitching is a Senior Teacher in Psychology at a 6th Form/FE college in East Sussex. She teaches both A-Level and GCSE (to students who have failed to meet the entry requirements to allow them onto the A-Level courses). She is a Chartered Psychologist and is a committee member of the Division for teachers and researchers in psychology (DTRP) for the BPS. She has mentored many teachers new to GCSE psychology across the South East and whilst coursework existed she was an internal moderator. She recently won an LSIS research grant and undertook research into engaging male learners with the use of technology. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, writing Romance novels, travel, reading chic lit and crime novels and working as a Freelance Photojournalist.

Karen Duffy

I was Head of Psychology for 15 years (with 100% pass rate !!) and have been a team leader for AQA A psychology since 1992.  I am a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University for the Psychology PGCE. I am currently conducting research for my Ed. Doc. on stress levels experienced in initial teacher training.

The next ATP committee meeting is: –

24th September 2011 – Sheffield Park Inn, Blonk Street

28th January 2012 – Aston University, Birmingham

28th April 2012 – London Venue TBC