'Astrogazers began with basic astronomy. The defining moment came when a student asked, "Can we go to space?"'

Why King’s?

I thoroughly enjoyed astrophysics, maths and physics at school. King’s offered a unique blend of all three and I was drawn to the ethos and atmosphere. Central London was the perfect spot for me to grow as a young adult.

What’s your favourite memory of King’s?

There used to be a communal area below the Quad known as ‘the Black Hole’. My core memories are of spending time there with my friends.

Beyond ‘the Black Hole’, I have fond memories of a residential trip to Juniper Hall in Surrey for my PGCE. I really bonded with my fellow teachers-in-training and I’m still friends with many of them today.

What’s a key lesson you learnt at King’s?

I learnt the importance of friendship. I went through some difficult experiences as a young adult and my friends were there for me in a way I’ll never forget. I’d also like to thank Professor Mark Green, who played a key part in supporting me.

Professor Mairi Sakellariadou was a big academic inspiration. I still use her colour coding system religiously in my classroom.

You’re the Head of Physics at Croydon High School for Girls. How did your teaching career take off?

It all started at King’s. In my final year, Professor Gordon Davies announced to our cohort that they were offering a scheme called the Undergraduate Ambassador Scheme. This involved teaching in schools for ten weeks. I’d done work experience in a nursery and school, so the programme sparked my interest.

By the end, I’d fallen in love with teaching and I decided to do my PGCE at King’s. I’m very grateful to Dr Alexandra Manning, who shaped my teaching style.

You also launched Astrogazers, a student stargazing club. How did this come about?

I’ve always loved space and the cosmos. As a child, I was often told I couldn’t do engineering or astronomy because I was a girl. I feel passionate about breaking those barriers for girls in STEM.

Astrogazers began with basic astronomy, looking at constellations and the phases of the Moon. The defining moment came when a student asked, ‘Can we go to space?’ It wasn’t a serious question, but I felt strongly about proving it was possible. So, I responded, ‘Yes, let’s do it!’

This simple exchange inspired Mission Aspiration. Our aim was to launch a weather balloon to the edge of space. We kept track of the weather balloon using a GPS and used a data logger to measure altitude, temperature and air pressure. We launched it in Bath and it landed in Oxford. It was very nerve-wracking, but we achieved our mission on the second attempt, reaching an altitude of 32, 380 metres.

Speaking of groundbreaking achievements, you’re the winner of our STEM Award. How does it feel?

It’s an honour to be recognised by King’s. I re-read the email several times to check it was real!

I’ve been fortunate enough to win several awards over the past few years. These include the 2024 Royal Astronomical Society Award and the Institute of Physics Teacher’s Award last year. My students are the driving force behind everything I do, but receiving these awards also means a lot to me personally.

Have you faced any challenges?

On the first Mission Aspiration attempt, the balloon came crashing to the ground due to strong winds. It was really disappointing, but I was determined to persevere.

I gathered the girls together and told them about NASA’s failed rocket launches. I told them that they didn’t give up, so neither would we. We spent the next few months preparing for a second attempt, where we launched two balloons consecutively.

The second attempt was a triumph. We attached cameras to the balloons, which captured some breathtaking images. We could see the sun and the curvature of the earth. To think that we did that is truly something special.

What’s next for you?

My students and I are working on Mission Pegasus, which involves designing, building and launching our own satellite into space. We started in 2024 and we are about three-quarters of the way through the mission. I’m on maternity leave, but I’ve been working behind the scenes.

We’re currently building an engineering model for the satellite, which we’ll test to find out whether it’s suitable for space flight. When we pass, we’ll build the final model for launch. If we succeed, we’ll be the first girls’ school in the world to do this. So, no pressure!

Any advice for alumni pursuing a similar path?

Don’t let rejection or discouragement stop you from pursuing your goals. Often when one door closes another opens, giving you opportunities you never anticipated before. The challenges that make you question yourself are the ones that help you grow the most. The obstacle is the way!