Mathematics & Double Mathematics

The aim of the Mathematics Department is that pupils enjoy the subject and are continually encouraged and challenged. Pupils are asked to think about Mathematics in a creative way in order to appreciate clear and succinct mathematical argument.

All pupils take Edexcel IGCSE Higher Level Mathematics at the end of Fifth Form (Year 11) and the top two divisions also take OCR Additional Mathematics. Full details of the curriculum are available in the Under School (Years 9-11) Curriculum and Sixth Form Curriculum sections.

Pupils are also encouraged to take part in both the UK Intermediate and Senior Mathematics Challenges, with considerable success.

Many continue to study the subject successfully in the Sixth Form and beyond. Universities and employers value Mathematics, particularly in the fields of Law, Computing, Science, Engineering and Economics.

There are twelve full-time teachers of Mathematics in the department. They are graduates of Oxford, Cambridge, Bristol, Durham, Exeter and Southampton and their interests include Astro-Physics, Statistics, Coding, Mechanics and various branches of Pure Mathematics.

As well as teaching, members of the department run various football, hockey and cricket teams. The Combined Cadet Force Royal Marines and RAF and Pioneers are all run by Mathematics teachers, as well as the diverse Sub Aqua, Chess, Cryptic Crossword, Table Tennis, Badminton clubs and the Christian Union.

Mr Martin Elston BSc - Head of Department

After gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Mathematics at Bristol University, Mr Elston taught at Sevenoaks School for three years before joining Charterhouse. He took over as Head of Department in 1986 and since then has overseen numerous changes to the Mathematics curriculum. He also writes the school timetable and manages the options system as well as being a tutor in Girdlestoneites.

Mr James Silvester BSc, PGCE - Head of Under School Mathematics 

Graduating from The University of Exeter with First Class Honours in Mathematics, Statistics and Operational Research, Mr Silvester has been a member of the Charterhouse Mathematics Department since 2007. He started his role as Head of Under School Mathematics in 2016. He has experience of delivering the IGCSE, Pre-U and IB Mathematics Curriculum across all age levels and abilities. In the Specialists, he has taken a lead on teaching the IB Mathematical Studies course since its inception at Charterhouse in 2010, as well as teaching the statistics components of the Pre-U Further Mathematics course. 

A talented sportsman, Mr Silvester represents Great Britain in Racketlon and has competed at both the European and World Championships. His recent successes include winning silver in the European Team Championships in Prague before winning gold in the World Team Championships in Copenhagen as well as a World Tour Title in Latvia in Summer 2016. He continues to travel regularly around Europe to compete. He plays county tennis for Buckinghamshire and competes in the national tennis leagues in both Great Britain and France. He also coaches sport to a high level; holding qualifications in coaching tennis, football and badminton. He is the Master in Charge of Tennis, the U15A Football Coach and also assists with the Charterhouse Badminton programme. A keen runner, Mr Silvester has also competed in various marathons both within the UK and abroad.

Pastorally, he has been Master of the Removes and Assistant Housemaster of Fletcherites for five years, and currently he is the Assistant Housemaster of Hodgsonites. 

Miss Louise Batty, BSc

Miss Batty was educated at The Maynard School, Exeter and gained a BSc in Mathematics and PGCE at the University of Durham before joining Charterhouse in 2005. She spent six years as the Assistant Housemaster of Gownboys and is also heavily involved in running outdoor educational trips, taking overseas expeditions with World Challenge to Madagascar, Tanzania, Bolivia, Ethiopia and India. Miss Batty coaches both the boys and girls Hockey and Tennis teams.

Mr Rich Castro, BSc, MDiv

Mr Castro grew up in Surrey and was educated at George Abbott School before earning his BSc in Mathematics at Exeter University. He taught at Christ’s Hospital for 15 years, eight of which were as a Housemaster. Mr Castro attended the Reformed Theological Seminary in 2012 to undertake his Master of Divinity, which he completed in 2015. His interests include badminton, The Telegraph crossword and the Christian Union.

Mr Andrew Hunt, MA

Mr Hunt graduated from Cambridge with a Degree in Astrophysics in 2004. After a year teaching English in Laos, he returned to the UK to teach Mathematics at Emmanuel College, Gateshead, where he had been a pupil, and then taught at Oundle for three years before joining Charterhouse in 2009. Andrew took up the post of Housemaster of Lockites in September 2016 having previously held the posts of Assistant Housemaster of Gownboys, Head of International Pupils and Weekend Provision, Head of Peer Support and Head of Under School Mathematics. 

Andrew teaches Mathematics, is in charge of the Christian Union and is keen on all sports, particularly tennis. He is a keen musician and plays jazz and classical piano, violin and bass guitar. 

Dr Graham Kemp, MSc, MMath, PhD

Dr Kemp was educated at King Edward VI Five Ways School in Birmingham. Following this he studied Mathematics and Physics at Manchester University before doing a PhD in Mathematics at Loughborough University in the areas of Differential Geometry, Representation Theory and Mathematical Physics. He did further research on Quantum Integrable Systems and Special Functions before joining Charterhouse. He runs the Barrow Society (School’s Mathematics Society named after Isaac Barrow, OC), he is Master in Charge of Badminton and does tennis in Cricket Quarter. He is a House Tutor in Fletcherites.

Dr Philip Langman, PhD

Dr Langman gained BSc and PhD in Mathematics from the University of Southampton. He spent a few years working in logistics and engineering before moving into teaching. Dr Langman's first role was working with young people who were not in education, employment or training, or at risk of offending. He came to Charterhouse to teach Mathematics, and since then have held various other roles including Master of the Yearlings and Assistant Housemaster. Dr Langman is currently Housemaster of Girdlestoneites.

Mr Charles Marsh, MA 

Mr Marsh was educated at Giggleswick School, Yorkshire and the University of Cambridge (MA & PGCE). In-between completing his Mathematics Degree and PGCE, he spent a year working in a Cambridge church. Before starting at Charterhouse he went back to Giggleswick and taught there for three years. His teaching utilises his love of puzzles and he frequently draws on these to enable pupils to develop thinking and problem solving skills. Outside School he is usually found either baking cakes or dancing ballroom, folk or Morris. He and his wife attend several folk festivals a year and also perform with a Morris dancing side in varying locations across England. He is a House Tutor in Verites and is involved with cricket, fencing, chess, and Remove Pioneers.

Dr Stephen Marshall, MMath, DPhil

Dr Marshall completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Oxford, gaining one of the highest first class results in his year. After completing his doctorate, Dr Marshall stayed at Oxford teaching undergraduates, as a college lecturer, before moving on to the investment bank, Goldman Sachs, where, among other things, he wrote computer programs to help to price commodity derivatives and manage risk. Subsequently, Dr Marshall decided to return to his first love, that of teaching, joining Charterhouse as a Mathematics teacher. Dr Marshall is now second in charge of the Mathematics Department, and has special responsibility for organising IB Mathematics. He is also involved with Pioneers, swimming and water polo, as well as House chess, and he is a Tutor in Bodeites.

Mr Richard Peacock, BSc 

Mr Peacock joined Charterhouse from Cheltenham College where he taught for seven years. He was educated at Homewood School in Kent before attending the University of Bristol. He worked as a Chartered Management Accountant in the financial services sector before deciding on a career change into teaching. Mr Peacock completed his PGCE in Mathematics at the University of Bath in 2010. His interests include cycle touring, mountain biking and snowboarding; he has been involved in Duke of Edinburgh and is a trained Mountain Leader. He also enjoys football and tennis.

Mr Ed Reid, MMath

Mr Reid took up the post of Housemaster in Verites in September 2015. He is an Old Carthusian (g 1989 - 1994) who read Mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, where he was awarded a First Class Honour. He taught at Radley for three years, during which time he was a resident Assistant Housemaster and Master in Charge of Racquets. He returned to Charterhouse as a teacher in 2001; since then he has held various positions, including Master of the Yearlings and Master of the Under School. Mr Reid also helps to run the Christian Union and coaches football, hockey and tennis. He is married to Jean and they have two young children. As well as his sporting interests, Ed enjoys reading, music and theatre and is an active member of Binscombe Church.

Mr Timothy Reynolds, MA, MSc

Following a Mathematics Degree at Oxford University, Mr Reynolds joined the Royal Navy as an Instructor Officer and subsequently specialised in meteorology and oceanography. He left the senior service after twenty three years to join the Mathematics Department at Charterhouse. He and his wife are joint Wardens of the Stainers Girls’ Hall of Residence and he is also Assistant Housemaster of the Daviesites Boarding House. He is extensively involved in extra-curricular activities, especially tennis and football and he heads the Royal Navy section of the Combined Cadet Force. Mr Reynolds is also an examiner for the IB. 

Mr Binit Shah, BA, MMath

Mr Shah studied Mathematics at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. He worked in financial services for six years and commenced teaching at Charterhouse in 2015. His interests include computing, technology, football, hiking and photography.