Meet the Teacher – Alexei Charkham, Head of Science

How long have you been at Hendon Prep and what did you do before you joined the school?

I have been here for 18 months and have been a primary school teacher for the past 14 years.

What was your favourite subject at school?

Creative writing – I loved reading out my convoluted adventure stories to the class!

What did you want to be when you were a child?

A cricketer. Other than ability, athleticism, a good eye and timing, I almost made it.

Who is your favourite historical figure and why?

Winston Churchill. He held onto his views about Hitler throughout the 30s, and almost single-handedly brought the entire country round, and behind the war effort.

If you could travel to any period in history, where would you go and why?

I think most historical events weren’t as appreciated at the time as we might imagine with hindsight – e.g. the Wright brothers’ aeroplane barely got into the papers. So I’d choose something people really appreciated at the time: England winning the football  World Cup.

What do you enjoy most about teaching? And why did you choose to teach science?

I most enjoy hearing ‘I get it!’ from my pupils. I chose science because I love it and am always fascinated with how everything works.