Menu
Rugby School is an award-winning institution, having recently been presented with the TES ‘Best use of Technology’ award. Adding to this over 450 years’ leading education experience, Rugby School Online is the ideal place to ensure your top A-level grade.
We are proud to introduce our team! Our teachers are highly qualified, experienced, and talented in their respective fields. They have a deep understanding of the subject matter and are able to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Learn more about our team by clicking on the profiles below:
Jonathan studied Medicine at Imperial College London before completing a PGCE at Roehampton University. Since then, he has taught Secondary Science for over a decade in inner London state schools, an international school in Malaysia and prestigious independent schools, including St. Paul’s School and Godolphin and Latymer School.
Jonathan has taught Biology across all A-Level examination boards and the International Baccalaureate. He has also been a moderator for OCR and IB.
Jonathan has a deep passion for Biology, and 14 years after leaving university embarked on a Master’s degree in Biomedical and Molecular Sciences Research at King’s College London. Not only did he graduate with distinction, but the findings from his research project confirmed the presence of a previously unknown genetic cause for the high mortality and morbidity rate of asthmatic patients when they contract the Common Cold.
Jonathan has held various positions of responsibility, including Head of 6th form Science, Head of Biology, 2nd in Charge of Science Faculty, and Lead for G & T.
Furthermore, Jonathan has considerable experience in supporting students applying for biomedical-related courses such as medicine, dentistry and veterinary science as well as win places at Oxford and Cambridge.
Ilia Kurgansky graduated from Imperial College London with an MSci in Theoretical Physics. He has since worked at Wellington College as a Maths teacher, where he also set up a successful Computer Science department.
While there, he also participated in the introduction of the Harkness learning method to the Mathematics department, co-authoring a workbook on Mechanics.
Ilia moved on to teach at a prestigious international school in South Korea, where he also delivered seminars on digital learning to a professional audience.
Returning to the UK, Ilia has taken up the role of Head of Computing at Rugby School, while teaching A Level Mathematics.
He is currently the Director of EdTech and is heavily involved with course development for Rugby Online.
William has been teaching students across the 11-18 age range for eight years, with the last two years at Rugby School where he now teaches mostly A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, as well as working to develop and teach our IB programme.
He enjoys teaching students with a wide range of abilities, from potential Oxbridge candidates to those who work hard for a Grade 6 at GCSE; he feels the task of developing and building understanding is the same for every student.
Outside of the Mathematics Department at Rugby, he runs the Wednesday afternoon beekeeping activity, plays the organ and assists the local bands of change ringers.
Ashley Ellis is currently a Teacher of Physics and Housemaster at Rugby School.
He helps to run the co-curricular Astronomy programme for the department, as well as organising the various Olympiad and Experimental Project competitions throughout the year.
His students know him as an Isaac Physics enthusiast, as he persists in helping them improve their problem-solving skills.
Yogesh began his teaching career at Audenshaw School, where he taught Science before moving on to Welbeck College – the Defence Sixth Form College – where he became a teacher of Physics.
Yogesh is a firm believer in the value of extracurricular activities for students. He has been heavily involved in the CCF of all the schools he has served, and has coached a variety of sports, including Rugby, Soccer, Athletics, Triathlon, and Hockey.
Richard studied Physics at the University of Birmingham before completing his PGCE at Oxford University. He went on to teach in India, then Turkey, latterly delivering weekly Physics A level lessons to multiple schools as part of a community outreach program.
He joined Rugby School in 2016 and quickly progressed to become Head of Physics.
Richard’s goal is to provide a learning environment where students can self-motivate, develop and flourish of their own accord. He hopes to convey the excitement of science to the next generation and help students build a sense of wonder about the natural world, seeing its relevance in their lives and developing moral and ethical views about some of the issues which affect its future.
Dr Stephen Belding is an experienced teacher and Head of Chemistry at Rugby School. He attended St John’s College, Oxford University, where he completed a degree in Chemistry (MChem) and a DPhil in Computational Electrochemistry in which he was awarded a North Senior Scholarship for excellence in research.
In 2012, Dr Belding began his teaching career at d’Overbroeck’s College in Oxford, a top-performing independent school. After two years, he moved to Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, a boys’ boarding school, where he served as an Assistant Housemaster.
Dr Belding joined Rugby School in 2017 and became Head of Chemistry in 2019. He currently serves as an A-level examiner and a PGCE mentor. In 2022, he completed an MEd in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Buckingham. His dissertation was entitled ‘What insights can a holistic study of inspection reports provide for the improvement of independent senior schools in England?’. As well as his role at Rugby School, Dr Belding also delivers training courses for Heads of Department in central London for Keynote Educational.
In 2022, he became a Governor at Ashlawn School in Rugby and is responsible for monitoring data and pupil premium funding. Outside the classroom, Dr Belding is the Contingent Commander for the Rugby School Combined Cadet Force. This is a national organisation dedicated to developing personal responsibility, leadership, and self-discipline in young people.
Dr Mike Thompson initially followed his Chemistry PhD with a career in research, working alongside Nobel Prize winner Sir Fraser Stoddart, Sheffield, UK, & completing Postdoctoral work with Professor George R Pettit at the Cancer Research Institute, Arizona, USA.
He gained a PGCE from Birmingham University in 1995 and is a highly experienced teacher, having worked in 3 state schools & 5 Independent Schools.
Roles he has held include KS3, KS4, and KS5 coordinator, Head of Chemistry & Head of Science. He co-authored the Pre-U Chemistry syllabus for Cambridge International exams and had a best-selling Chemistry textbook published and used by students around the world. He has run a Chemistry online forum for Cambridge Assessment since 2009.
An experienced A-level examiner and writer of exam papers and mark schemes for Cambridge Assessment and ISEB, he has delivered A-level revision lectures since 2012 at UK universities including Imperial, Warwick and Salford.