Gary Newport

Gary is an experienced teacher specialising in computer science, mathematics and astrophysics. With more than twenty-five years of teaching experience, he has worked with diverse groups of students and has held senior management positions.  

Gary’s enthusiasm for mathematics began in childhood, inspired by his father’s love of logic puzzles and problem-solving. A ZX81 home computer, given to his older brother one Christmas in the early 1980s, unexpectedly sparked Gary’s lifelong interest in computing and technology.  

Before entering the classroom in his thirties, Gary worked in the electronics and computing industries. He went on to gain a BA in Mathematics with QTS and an MSc in Astrophysics. He is currently pursuing a part-time PhD in astrophysics at the University of Kent under the supervision of Dr Michael Smith. His research focuses on computational models of the early evolution of massive stars, tracing their development from gas cloud to protostar and beyond. 

Gary is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of the Institute of Physics. In the classroom, he aims to inspire curiosity by encouraging students to ask questions and explore their own lines of inquiry, fostering a deeper and more independent engagement with the subject.  

Outside of his academic work, Gary is a keen distance runner and has completed several ultramarathons, including the London to Brighton 100km.