Meet the staff

The list of teachers at Cardiff Academy is shown below together with their academic qualifications and the subject or subjects taught. This list includes only those currently teaching at the Academy – the teaching pool upon which we can draw if needed is far wider. To read a brief resume for a member of staff, simply click their name in the list below.

Mr Sajid Ghaffar | CHAIRMAN & PROPRIETOR

Qualifications: LLB Law

Sajid graduated in Law at Cardiff University and during this period also began his career in development. Whilst completing his studies, he completed his first redevelopment project, from which he was able to raise funds and progress to more substantial ventures.
Sajid also spent six years investing in and developing, high end residential property within the heart of Central London. He returned to Wales towards the end of 2010, after which he continued to consolidate and improve the family portfolio and continue with developments across Cardiff. Sajid has now established a scholarship programme worth £250,000 per annum at Cardiff Academy open to students from Cardiff and the surrounding area.

Contact Details: Cardiff Academy, Tel: 02920 409630, Email: enquiries@cardiffacademy.co.uk

Dr Stephen Wilson | ACADEMY PRINCIPAL & BIOLOGY

Qualifications | Ph.D.,M.Sc., B.Sc., PGCE | Subject(s) Taught : Principal / Biology Steve Wilson has a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of Newcastle, a Masters Degree in Oceanography from Southampton University, a B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a PGCE from the University of Greenwich in London. He has published a number academic research papers – mainly on the love-life of lobsters. Steve has over thirty years experience of teaching and lecturing in Biology, Human Biology and Marine Science at University and in FE Colleges, Sixth Form Colleges and secondary schools in both the private and state sectors of education in England and Wales. He has also held numerous positions of Senior Responsibility in various schools and colleges including Head of Biology, Head of Science, Student Admissions Officer, Examinations Officer, Senior UCAS Advisor and School/Industry Liaison Officer. He has in addition worked as an A-level Examiner in Biology for Edexcel, OCR and AQA. Steve Wilson has been the Principal and a Director of Cardiff Academy since its inception in 1999. As such he is responsible, together with the Vice Principal, for running all aspects of Cardiff Academy as a business and educational institution. He is also the designated First Aider, Fire Prevention Officer and Health & Safety Manager at The Academy.

Mrs Jennifer Davies | VICE PRINCIPAL & FRENCH & GERMAN

Qualifications | M.A. (Cantab), M.Litt.| Subject(s) Taught : Vice Principal / French / German
Jenne Davies has an M.A. from Cambridge University in French and German and a Masters Degree
in French from the University of Bristol. She has qualified teacher status and has taught French and
German at all levels in a wide variety of state and private schools and colleges both here in the UK
and overseas for nearly forty years. She has, in addition, held many Senior Responsibility posts
including Housemistress at Clayesmore School for three years and Head of Modern Languages, Head
of Sixth Form and Head of General Studies at The Royal School in Bath for five years. She was also
Head of Modern Languages at New College in Cardiff for four years. Jenne has been an Examiner at
GCSE and A-level in both French and German for many years and has worked for a variety of Exam

Boards including AQA, Edexcel, WJEC and International Baccalaureate. Together with her husband
Paul and the late Anthony Huxley, Jenne is co-author of an authoritative guide to European Orchids
called “Wild Orchids of Britain and Europe”.
Jenne Davies has been the Vice Principal and a Director of Cardiff Academy since 1999. As such she
is responsible, together with the Principal, for running all aspects of Cardiff Academy as a business
and educational institution. She is also Student Welfare Officer, UCAS Advisor and Examinations
Officer at The Academy.

Mr Sajid Hussain | HEAD OF OPERATIONS

Qualifications: Bsc Hons

Sajid has been in the Education Industry since 2011, ultimately gaining experience in Administration, School MIS Systems, IT Systems, Logistics, International student recruitment, boarding accommodation setup, human resource management, staff recruitment. He was part of the management team at Cardiff Sixth Form College (CSFC) and helped establish CSFC as the number 1 independent A Level college in the UK. During his tenure CSFC went from having 20 students to over 300 international students, achieving a turnover of over £12 million.
Sajid has also worked as an International Projects Manager where he was involved in Marketing and Business Development abroad

Mr Matthew Cocks | DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Qualifications : BSc Hons Property Management

Matthew is a qualified Chartered Surveyor with over 15 years Private Practice experience specialising in commercial and residential Investment and Development. Having graduated with a BSc Hons degree in Property Management and Valuation, Matthew has worked closely with high net worth local and Institutional Investors, together with occupiers and end users throughout the UK, on an array of commercial and residential developments.

Mr Tom Beard | MATHEMATICS

Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

Mrs Caroline Williams | CHEMISTRY

Caroline has more 20 years teaching experience in both Biology and Chemistry A Levels as well as all areas of GCSE Sciences. She began her teaching career in Leicester and has taught in South Wales since 1999. During that time she has been Head of Department and Deputy Head of Faculty. Caroline is a principal examiner and currently is on the teams for both GCSE and A Level.

Mr John Price | TECHNICIAN

Qualifications: BSc Hons

Mrs Meirwen Davies | SOCIOLOGY, POLITICS & LAW

Qualifications | B.Sc., PGCE | Subject(s) Taught : Sociology / Law / Politics Meirwen Davies has a B.Sc. in Sociology & Law and a PGCE from Cardiff University. Over the years she has taught Sociology, Law and Politics at GCSE and A-level in a wide variety of schools and colleges in South Wales. Prior to teaching, Meirwen worked for many years as both Deputy Manager and Debt Counsellor for the Citizens` Advice Bureau. She is an Examiner in Sociology for the WJEC Board and has many interests outside academic life including Youth & Community Work, Communicant for the Church in Wales and has supported the work of an orphanage in Bulawayo, for over 20 years and regularly fund raise in order to support their work. Meirwen is, in addition, a qualified teacher of English as a Foreign Language.

Mr John Webb | HISTORY

Qualifications | B.A.[Hons],P.G.C.E.

Teacher of History,Politics and Sociology.

Head of Sixth Form at two different Comprehensive schools for a total of 19 years.

AS/A2 History Examination marker for A.Q.A.

Dr Ronald Barnett | ENGLISH

Qualifications | Ph.D., B.A., PGCE | Subject(s) Taught : ENGLISH Ron Barnett has a B.A. in Philosophy and a B.A. and Ph.D. in History from Cardiff University. Ron took his PGCE with the OU before embarking upon a teaching career. He has over thirty years teaching experience at all levels in secondary schools and Sixth Form Colleges in South Wales. Over the years he has taught both English Language and History to GCSE and A-level. His posts of Senior Responsibility have included ten years as Head of English at Westbourne and ten years as Head of History at Cardiff Academy. In addition, Ron has extensive experience over many years as an Examiner at A-level for History for AQA, Edexcel and International Baccalaureate.

Mrs Elizabeth Evans | PSYCHOLOGY

Qualifications | B.A., PGCE | Subject(s) Taught : Psychology Following many years working in the business and commercial sector whilst also bringing up her family, Liz Evans took her B.A. in Psychology and PGCE at Cardiff University. She has over ten years teaching experience in Sociology and Psychology at GCSE and A-level in a variety of schools and colleges in South Wales. Her interests include research methods in psychology, student guidance/counselling and youth work. In addition, Liz has been an Examiner for AQA in A-level Psychology for a number of years.

Mr. Jeffrey Jones | ECONOMICS, BUSINESS STUDIES

Qualifications | B.Sc., M.Ed., PGCE| Subject(s) Taught : Economics / Business

Jeff Jones has a B.Sc. in Economics and a Masters Degree in Education from Cardiff University. He is also a qualified teacher with a PGCE from Birmingham University. Jeff has over thirty five years experience teaching and lecturing on a wide range of Economics and Business Courses including A-level in many different schools and FE colleges in England and South Wales. He has been an Examiner at A-level in Economics and Business Studies for Edexcel, WJEC and International Baccalaureate for over twenty five years.

Mr Byron Davies | LAW

Qualifications | B.A; LLB; LL.M; PGCE| Subject(s) Taught : Law

Educated at the Universities of Oxford, London and Wales, Byron Davies has Honours Degrees in Classics and Law, a Master’s Degree in Law, and Postgraduate Diplomas in Education and Criminal Justice Studies. He has taught at a variety of Universities and Colleges, where he currently teaches Criminal Law and Criminal Litigation as a Senior Lecturer, as well as sitting as a Deputy District Judge in the Family Proceedings Court. He has carried out the duties of a Deputy Head of a Sixth Form, with a Pastoral Team of 13 teachers, and is an Examiner in Law for both Cambridge International and the WJEC Examination Boards. He has had published numerous Law articles, as well as Degree Student Law Manuals, latterly a Manual of Business Law for the Association of Business Executives.

Miss Fleur Bryan | MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR

Qualifications | B.A Hons Graphic Communication

Mrs Lynne Jones | ENGLISH TEACHER

Qualifications | MA – English Lit / BA English

Mr John Holland | PHYSICS TEACHER, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR NCUK PROGRAMMES

Qualifications | B.Sc., M.Sc. Physics, PGCE | Subject(s) Taught : Physics, Mathematics

John has a B.Sc and M.Sc in Physics from Cardiff University, specialising in particle physics and cryoelectronics, and has a PGCE in FE from the University of South Wales. John has taught at several independent sixth form colleges and academies in Cardiff and the South West, managing and delivering both A-Level and foundation courses for access to undergraduate degree programmes in science and engineering.

Miss Angelika Janiak | EAP - English for Academic Purposes

Qualifications | B.A., PGCE and M.A.

Angelika has a B.A in English Philology and PGCE in TEFL from the Social School of Sciences in Poland and M.A in TESOL from the University of Bath. Angelika has taught EFL in several places in both Poland and the UK, although since graduating from the University of Bath she has focused on English for academic purposes. Teaching pre-sessional courses at the University of Liverpool and the University of Birmingham. Currently, she takes another teaching course Diploma in TESOL (Trinity College London) and works as a Casual Research Assistant at the University of Bath/ Education Department.