Chair of the Association
The Chair is a vital role to our Association and the elected chair provides an authoritative voice for the thousands of members ASE supports and the wider science education community. Elected candidates remain part of the chair trio for three consecutive years. The roles are assumed from the 1st August each year.
The Chair Trio
ASE Chair Elect: David Allen
David worked in primary schools for over twenty years as a teacher, senior leader and Deputy Head teacher. He is currently Associate Professor in Learning and Teaching at The University of Hertfordshire where he leads the teaching of science and art to the undergraduate and postgraduate trainee teachers. David is also an author and educational consultant at Creative Primary Science (https://www.creativeprimaryscience.com/) working with teachers and children on science, drama and art projects in primary settings across the United Kingdom and internationally. David is currently Chair of Publications at the Association of Science Education.
ASE Chair: Jane Oldham
Jane studied chemistry at what is now Derby University, while employed as a Laboratory Technician in the Research and Development facility of a multi-national chemical company. After graduation, her career continued as a project team leader and technical specialist.
She joined The de Ferrers Academy in 2005 as a Science Technician specialising in Chemistry. As Senior Technician, then Lead Science Technician and Trust Leader for Science Technicians Jane oversaw the set-up of laboratories and introduced new working practices and systems to improve operation of the practical support to the science departments within the de Ferrers Trust.
As the immediate past-chair of the ASE's Technician committee Jane has been committed to raising the profile of all school and college technicians. She is passionate about the importance of practical science within education and the role technicians play to support this.
ASE Past Chair: Alex Sinclair and Leigh Hoath
(The position of the Past Chair is a joint one)
Dr Alex Sinclair is Science Lead at St Mary’s University, Twickenham for their primary Initial Teacher Education courses. Previously he taught science in schools for 13 years. His interests are how science can promote equity, diversity and inclusion. He writes regularly for the ASE’s Primary Science journal and has co-authored 'Superhero Scientists' and ‘Standing on the Shoulders of Giants’. He is also member of the Primary Curriculum Advisory Group formed on behalf of the RSC, RSB and IOP.
Professor Leigh Hoath is Deputy Dean and Professor of Science Education at Leeds Trinity University where she leads science education across the primary and secondary age phases. She had an established career as a teacher before moving into HE. She is a regular conference presenter, author of science related articles and of primary and secondary books. Leigh also works as an education consultant to both the BBC on their science education campaigns and the world’s largest chemical industry, BASF, developing their outreach provision.