Biology Department Staff

James Foster is Head of Science as well as Head of Biology. He studied at Worcester College, Oxford, before going on to Cambridge to take his teaching qualification in 1973. He moved to St Dunstan’s College in 1986 from St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington. He has a wide range of experience as a teacher and as an examiner at both GCSE and A level. He is married, with three sons, all of whom have been through St Dunstan’s. His oldest is now a graduate of Edinburgh University (in Physiology), and his youngest left St Dunstan’s Upper Sixth last year.

Other members of the Biology Department:

Margaret Lipton BSc graduated in Biological Sciences from Birmingham University and then completed her PGCE at Bristol University. After two years spent experiencing life in New York, she took up her first teaching post in Essex and later moved to Northern Ireland and Wales before finally arriving in London. She now divides her time between teaching Biology throughout the senior school and coping with the demands of her role as Head of Sixth Form. Four years ago, she qualified as an Independent Schools Inspector, a role which has so far taken her to Bryanston and Manchester Grammar, and she also sits on interview panels for UCL Medical School.

Liz Emes MSc is a graduate in Biochemistry from Edinburgh University, and she initially worked as a Forensic Scientist with the Metropolitan Police, where she became part of the research team, developing new forensic techniques. During this time she studied part-time at Chelsea College for an MSc in Biochemistry. After a break to enjoy the privileges of motherhood, she arrived at St Dunstan’s College, where she was initially responsible for Science in the Prep Department, but she has since become a Head of Year in the Middle School.

Sudip Burman-Roy BSc is one of the youngest members of St Dunstan’s staff, having recently completed his degree in Natural Sciences and his PGCE, both at Churchill College, University of Cambridge. His main non-academic interest is sport and he competes for Blackheath Harriers in the British League. At Cambridge he was President of the University Athletics Club, chaired the Blues Committee and was a Blue thrice over. At St Dunstan’s, apart from Athletics, he is also Master in Charge of Basketball and takes a Year 9 Rugby team. Sudip has recently become Head of Stuart House, Oxbridge coordinator and is in charge of Lower School Charity Morning which has raised over £8000 for good causes in the last two years.

Tricia Furner BSc studied Microbiology at Bristol University, and she then joined a team researching into DNA uptake by white blood cells. After a career break to raise her family, she has worked as a laboratory assistant, first at Mayday Hospital and then in schools. She has been providing technical support and advice for St Dunstan's Biology Department since August 2000.