Alan holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University. After working in France and Switzerland he kick-started his career in mathematics teaching by gaining a BSc in Mathematics at Kingston University.
Alan Benson
Alan has held posts as a teacher of mathematics and school leadership, leading mathematics curriculum projects across a range of schools. His experience informs his contribution to the PGCE course at London Met where he was awarded a doctorate in 2018 for his thesis: 'Migrants becoming Mathematics Teachers: Personal Resources and Professional Capitals'.
The course at London Met prepares students to teach all pupils with a particular focus on Key Stage 3 and 4. Students engage in mathematics tasks and use research to help them to reflect upon their own learning, in order to develop a wide repertoire of teaching approaches during school placements. Integral to the programme of experiential professional learning is a commitment to social justice that draws upon the experience of the diverse student cohort and is reflected in assignments throughout the year. Alan makes good use of school and alumni networks to ensure that practising teachers present workshops and share their own experience. This helps students prepare for demands of their career as they move forward into their first teaching posts.
Authored
- 'Superdiversity in a global city: workplace constraints', (2013) London: CiCe.
- 'Where do you come from? How trainee teachers from outside the UK are recognised and develop an authoritative voice in London schools', (2014) Rekyavik: Netla.
- 'Migrant teachers and classroom encounters: Processes of intercultural learning', (2019) London: London Review of Education 17(1).
Conference papers
'The PGCE training of mathematics teachers for a super diverse teaching workforce', (2017) Centre for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED), Kings College, London
Dr Alan Benson
Course Leader for Secondary Mathematics PGCE
E: a.benson@londonmet.ac.uk