Staff & teaching

At CATS Canterbury you will enjoy being taught by tutors with high academic qualifications and rich life experiences. Here are just a few of them...

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Principal

Jonathan Ullmer, MA LRAM F . Coll.P ACP Dip Arts NPQH

Jonathan took up the role of Principal at CATS Canterbury after 2 years as Vice Principal at CATS Cambridge. For six years previously he was involved in College leadership and development at a College in Brentwood, along with the welfare of 1,000 students. He has led school development work involving schools and colleges, and been involved in UK-wide national education projects. Previous roles have included internal and external relations, marketing and promotions and he has headed both Pastoral and Curriculum teams in schools. He has also led  Citizenship and Enterprise Programmes which involved students working with local businesses.

Tell us about yourself?
I have a passionate belief in the power of education to change lives and have enjoyed working with a range of schools and colleges in the UK and overseas on teaching methodology and approaches for over 25 years. It's great to still be in touch with so many students and hearing of their success and achievements, as young people lie at the heart of everything we do. I have enjoyed publishing work and helping schools and students alike win a range of national awards and feel very privileged to work with so many young people who will become the leaders of tomorrow.

I also enjoy sailing and have studied at universities in France, Canada and the UK. I am married with two young children and very much look forward to meeting you in Canterbury.

What do you like most about your job?
Working with staff and young people and helping to make CATS an amazing place for everyone.

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College Ambassador

Marie-Louise Banning

Tell us about yourself?
I have worked in international education for over 30 years, 16 of those as Principal of schools in Cambridge and Canterbury. I have three adult daughters; my eldest lives in Australia and my second daughter works in Vienna, so I understand how parents feel when their children are studying far away. I enjoy the Arts, playing the piano and attending concerts.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Working with students and parents from all over the world and an outstanding team of colleagues.

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Vice Principal

Nick Goodman

Tell us about yourself?
I have been working in education for over twenty years, both in the British state system and major international IB schools and utilise that experience at CATS Canterbury. On a personal level I live at the seaside with my wife and music collection, and spend any spare time working on creative projects.

What is your job?
As Vice Principal, I work closely with the Principal in the development and everyday running of the college.

What do you like most about your job?
The best part of the job is using my experience to create a quality memorable learning experience for our students. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful students at CATS Canterbury!

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IB Co-ordinator

Lynn Weston

Tell us about yourself?
Having returned to the UK from Switzerland, where I was Principal of my own School of English, I joined CATS Canterbury as Director of Studies. I have written several English-German textbooks for the publishing house Langenscheidt and in my free time enjoy reading – I run a Book Club – and keeping fit at the gym.

What do you do?
I am responsible for the operational running of the curriculum for our programmes of study.  I’ve been involved with the development of the College as an IB World School since our initial authorisation, and am very proud of the way the IB has grown, especially the CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) side of the programme, and often join the students in, for example, a beach clean-up, or a cultural evening.

What do you like about the College?
I love the nationality mix of the students, and the way one can learn so much about different cultures and traditions through them.  The College has a warm and friendly atmosphere, and it is easy to get to know the students.

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Head of Business

Leanne Hitchmough

Tell us about yourself?
I graduated from Keele University (Staffordshire) in 1994 with an Honours degree in Economics and Russian and have taught at various schools including Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Clarendon House Grammar School and Canterbury College. I am married with one daughter and live in an old Fisherman’s Cottage by the Kent coast. I have lived for extended periods of time in Tver, Russia and in New York State. I am originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

What do you do?
I am Head of Business at CATS, which involves co-ordinating the Foundation and Advanced Level Accounts and Business Studies courses, as well as IB Economics. I support the staff members in my department and help them to deliver the best possible standards of education for the students on our courses.

What do you like about the College?
I enjoy the daily interaction I have with my students, helping them understand a subject that I myself find fascinating.  As well as teaching, I enjoy my role as mentor to my students, giving them career guidance and advice. I feel a real sense of pride when they graduate from CATS and move on to the next stage of their academic career at universities across the country and the world.  Their time at CATS helps to build up the skills they need to be successful undergraduate students and members of society. The international community here encourages tolerance and friendship, across a wide range of nationalities.

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Head of English

Derek Sellen

Tell us about yourself?
My many interests include art, theatre, reading, cricket  -  and I also write poetry, short stories and plays. Over the years, I've been lucky enough to win or be commended in several national or international writing competitions, most recently the Bristol International Short Story Award (2nd place, 2008) and Leicester University Fellows Poetry Competition 2009. I've given poetry readings in many places, including universities in the UK and in Germany. As well as publishing a book of my poems, I've written coursebooks and readers for foreign students, published by Black Cat Editorial in Italy. My first textbook, 'Skills in Action', was used in universities as a coursebook for students of academic English for many years.

What do you do?
I am Head of English at CATS Canterbury and oversee the English language courses here. I teach on various courses, including IB English, A-level and the Pre:Programme course in Drama and World Literature. I'm also a personal tutor, checking on the progress and welfare of a small group of students. I work with a team of committed English teachers involved in the preparation of students for the IELTS examination, which provides an entry qualification for British universities. The use of interactive self-study software and Interactive whiteboards is creating new ways of delivering English in the college.

What do you like about your job?
I enjoy meeting and teaching each year's new intake of international students. It is a great opportunity to get to know young people from a wide range of countries in different continents. The IB is a wide-ranging course which makes it interesting for me to teach and, I hope, for students to take part in.

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Head of Mathematics

Peter Kolinsky CPhys CEng MInstP

Tell us about yourself?
I graduated with first class honours in Applied Physics at Brunel, University of West London and followed this with a PhD in Molecular Electro-optics. I spent 20 years working as an industrial research scientist involved in the investigation, design and characterisation of new optical materials for both defence and commercial applications. I have published over 30 scientific papers. I am married, enjoy walking holidays, listening to music, astronomy and cosmology.

What do you do?
I joined CATS Canterbury in 2000 as a teacher of both physics and mathematics and am currently Head of Mathematics and Assistant Examination Officer having also been Head of Science from 2004 to 2008.

What do you enjoy about the college?
I enjoy using modern technology and ICT in teaching and relating the curriculum to the needs of commerce and industry.

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Head of Humanities

Christabel Dunbar

Tell us about yourself?
I'm from Scotland originally and graduated from Edinburgh University. I am married with two cats, I love writing and reading, and my favourite interests are cooking, movies, games and animation. 

What do you do?
I'm the Head of Humanities and the Media Studies teacher, as well as being a UCAS adviser.  I am responsible for the students and teachers in the Humanities department, with its 8 subjects, and teach Media Studies at A-level and Foundation.  I also advise students on their UCAS applications and help them to reach their chosen university destinations.

What do you enjoy about your job?
I love working with the students we have and helping them to get the best out of their time here; I love my subject and in particular introducing students to documentary film and media ideology.  I feel lucky to be in a department of so many different subjects and to learn from each of the teachers and students in the department.

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Residence Hall Manager

Andrea Milner

Tell us about yourself?
I have been a Manager for 10 years mainly working in the hospitality and customer service sector; I worked for Canterbury Cathedral as an Events Manager before taking my position here. I currently live on the coast in an old Victorian Cottage which I have spent years restoring. When I am not doing DIY I like to go for walks on the beach and see my friends.

What do you do?
I am the Residence Hall Manager for CATS Canterbury so I look after all the student accommodation and manage the Residence Hall Supervisors. I am also involved in room allocations and student moves.

What do you like about the College?
The college is a lovely environment to work in and I am lucky that we have great students and staff. I love working in the City of Canterbury apart from the traffic!

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IB Language Tutor

Lixin Liu BA(hons), MPhil

What do you do?
I teach Chinese language, literature and culture on the IB programme. The IB is a great programme. It’s challenging and encouraging; the students gain more skills from it. It encourages them to continue their literature study, develop powers of expression and broaden their perspective. The students will benefit from it for their whole life.

I also mentor our Chinese students, providing advice and assistance when necessary. I understand first hand what it is like to move from China to the UK and enjoy being able to help students make the most of the opportunities around them.

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IB CAS Co-ordinator

Phoebe Nyaywa MSc

Tell us about yourself?
I was born in the warm country of Zambia, educated first in Africa, and then in the UK. I graduated from the University of Leicester with a Master’s degree in Finance. I taught in three different state schools in the UK over the last 6 years before coming to CATS Canterbury College.

What do you do?
I am responsible for coordinating the IB CAS programme at the college. As well as teaching ICT and IB ITGS, I also co-ordinate the PSHE modules, and the Educational Visits for the college.

What do you enjoy about your job?
I love working with the students we have and helping them to get the best out of their time here. This is both with the activities and their academic studies.

What do you like about the College?
The college is a lovely environment to work in and it is easy to get to know the students. I love the nationality mix of the students, and the way one can learn so much about different cultures and traditions through them. I find the multicultural aspect of the college life to be an inspiration.

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UCAS Officer & Business Studies Tutor

Dawn Merriman

Dawn Merriman is a graduate of Kent Law school, trained for the English Bar and a pupil at local chambers in Canterbury. Specialising in Contract Law with a specific interest in Public Law particularly Inquests, Dawn qualified in teaching in 1995 and went on to take a Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Management.

Ms Merriman has led a varied and diverse career including developing post-16 education for young adults to media projects working with TV companies on miscarriages of justice cases. Previous posts have included lecturing at Kent Business School (Kent University), postgraduate and CIPD Employment Law at Christ Church University, Canterbury and examiner for A level law.

Now the UCAS Officer and Business Studies tutor for CATS Canterbury , Dawn says, "CATS is a unique place to work, the students are wonderful here. The best part of my job is helping our students get to the Universities they want to go to. CATS students are very special and they are my main motivation.

I have met some truly talented students since I have been here. The hardest part of my job is saying goodbye to our students, but I know when they leave us they are going on to fulfil their ambitions and that is all of our reward here at CATS."

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Please contact the College if you would like further information about the number of teaching staff and a summary of their qualifications.