My Burford - Dr Anthony Bullard

My Burford - Dr Anthony Bullard

Anthony, our Head of Science, reflects on his journey to Burford, his passion for science education, the department’s achievements and the exciting opportunities inspiring our pupils both in and beyond the classroom.

This is my fifth year at Burford, and it has been a really rewarding experience so far. Before joining the school, I had passed it many times on the A40 and often wondered what it would be like to work here. When the opportunity to apply for a role came along at the right time, I decided to find out for myself. I was particularly impressed by the sixth formers who showed me around during my visit; they made a very positive first impression.

Before coming to Burford, I had worked in a variety of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, including grammar, comprehensive and independent schools. I began my career as a Chemistry teacher before becoming Head of Chemistry. I have always enjoyed taking on new challenges and developing my skills, which has naturally led me from one role to the next.

One of my first impressions of Burford was meeting a very energetic Dr Cox, who was the first member of the Science Department I encountered! More generally, I quickly discovered that the department was full of friendly, supportive colleagues who care about both their pupils and one another.

As Head of Science, my job is to make sure the department runs smoothly, to oversee what we teach alongside the heads of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and to maintain high standards. Most importantly, I want pupils to enjoy science, make good progress and achieve examination results they can be proud of. We have a fantastic team, and although the staff have remained largely the same during my time here, we have continued to develop our teaching approaches. One of the main changes has been introducing booklets for our GCSE classes, and I am particularly looking forward to seeing how our first year group to use them performs in their examinations. We are hopeful!

For me, one of the best things about teaching is seeing pupils achieve something they initially found difficult. There is a real sense of satisfaction in watching their confidence grow as they develop new skills and understanding. Science provides plenty of opportunities for these moments, particularly through practical work.

The science practicals I look forward to most are the Year 9 flame tests, which are always a highlight for everyone involved.. I also particularly enjoy the A-level organic synthesis practicals, which offer a real taste of the kind of laboratory work students might experience at university.

There is plenty happening beyond the classroom, too. We have developed a range of trips and competitions to give pupils more opportunities to explore their scientific interests. These include the Explorer Dome experience in Year 8 and, for our sixth formers, the exciting opportunity to visit CERN in Geneva.

One of my proudest memories from my time at Burford was Molly achieving a score that placed her among the top 70 students in the country in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge a year or so ago. It was an incredible achievement and gave the whole school community a real boost. Moments like that remind us what our pupils are capable of and how rewarding it is to see them push themselves beyond what they thought possible.

Ultimately, I hope that every pupil leaves Burford with more than just a set of examination results. I would like them to have enough scientific knowledge to pick up an article or watch a news report in the future and find it interesting. I also want them to be able to interpret a table or graph and understand what it is telling them.

What makes Burford such a special place to work is its sense of community. Both staff and pupils genuinely look out for one another, and that creates a welcoming environment in which people can thrive. If I had to describe Burford in three words, they would be community, exciting and rural.