A TEACHER at an Alcester Academy persuaded the British author Simon Singh MBE to write a guest post on her blog.

Melanie Muldowney, is the associate leader of maths at the school and writes a blog supporting maths teachers.

Mr Singh, who specialises in writing about mathematical and scientific topics, produced a post about teachers who influenced him.

Melanie said: “When he agreed to a guest post I have to admit to being a little nervous, yes but also starstruck is the wrong word. It’s just weird to think that someone who I’ve admired in terms of his ability to write about maths in such readable way, had agreed to write something for my little old blog.

“I was both honoured and humbled when asked and suggested that maybe he could write something about his recollections of a teacher that made a lasting impression on him.

“I am genuinely fascinated about the impact that we, as teachers can, and do have on our students."

During the blog post, Mr Singh reflects on his Maths teachers, notably Mr Stephens, who taught him for seven years at Wellington School in Somerset.

Mr Singh said: "Without doubt, he gave me the solid platform I needed for my physics degree and the PhD that followed.

“He delivered seven years of lessons that were a mix of playfulness, inspiration and of course, hard slog.

“One day he might be telling us about an irrelevant bit of maths, such as the four-colour map problem and the next day he might be chatting about his master’s degree, which involved the magnificently named field of ‘magneto-hydrodynamics.’

“Either way, every day had its fair share of dense blackboards, scribbled transparencies and problem sheets.

“Sadly, while today’s curriculum may work for the majority of students, my fear is that it fails to satisfy the most able mathematicians.

“Whenever I discuss this with teachers, the number of nodding heads implies that I am close to the truth.

“By the time I left Wellington School, my brain hurt, thanks to Mr Stephens and his further maths.

“I appreciate his major migraine maths now, and I even enjoyed it at the time. With more money, more resources and more terrific online opportunities, it seems absurd that twenty-first century British geeks are not suffering nearly as much brain ache as their 1970s ancestors.

“There has rightly been a great deal of effort in recent decades to support and encourage the middling and struggling maths students, but it is now time make sure that schools also stretch the best.”

To see the post visit justmaths.co.uk/2014/12/02/mr-stephens-made-my-brain-hurt-simon-singh.