We have put together a team of expert professionals in their fields to ensure the very best education for our students, and our track record proves their success.
John Wilson
Principal, BA (Hons), MA (Oxford), PGCE (Cambridge)
John Wilson is the Principal at Acorn House College. Prior to Acorn House, John was the Director of Studies at prestigious Sixth Form College in Kensington, London a position he held since 2005. During his tenure, he led the academic staff and oversaw unprecedented improvement and success in its A Level results, helped the school reach an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted evaluation for the first time ever in 2010, built pastoral programmes and saw a doubling in student recruitment.
John was educated at state schools and colleges in the North East of England before graduating from Oxford University with honours in Biological Sciences. John has spent a significant proportion of his career as an adviser to students in the UK and throughout the world on making the best possible university choice and the strongest possible application. Having attained a PGCE in secondary science from Cambridge University he is also a qualified and experienced teacher of Biology and Science specialising in sixth form/tertiary education at A Level.
John is a lay member of the university admissions panel for medical school undergraduate entry at UCL (University College London) and has also performed this role at Imperial College and Queen Mary University in London.
John has been invited to speak on a number of occasions in Hong Kong by the British Council to share his knowledge and experience of the British education system and on making applications to British universities. In particular he has made presentations on how to choose a university and how to make the best possible application to British universities.
John is passionate about education and the opportunities it can create for young people.
Rebecca Rudd
Head of Business and Head of Years 9, 10 and 11, BA (Hons) Dip IDM
Rebecca was educated at Leeds University and Kings College London, working as a marketing practitioner in business and industry for many years. This was for both for a leading London agency and also as a director of her own consultancy. Her own clients ranged from 11 Downing Street to British Airways.
She decided to teach what she had learned over 25 years in the industry and became Head of Business Studies and acting Head of ICT at an independent school, Ibstock Place. She joined Acorn House in 2011 and combines two roles, as Head of Business Studies and Head of GCSE. Rebecca has promoted a principle that student academic success is helped by a strong college/home partnership and has been able to create solid relationships with parents at Acorn House. Her knowledge of business and industry continues to benefit her teaching, both at GCSE and A Level.
Donovan Mason
Head of Careers and Head of Chemistry, BSc Hons
Don is a passionate Chemistry specialist, beginning his career in the industry as a Research Chemist and an Analytics Chemist, before going on to gain over thirty years of vast and varied teaching experience. Having previously spent a decade at the College, he is currently in his second period with Acorn House rejoining in 2014 as Head of Careers. Don draws on his broad experience, not only in teaching his subject, but also as an examiner for A Level and GCSE Chemistry, a UCAS adviser and a Careers adviser, preparing and delivering comprehensive careers advice to students throughout the College.
Don is a keen sportsperson and a black belt martial artist. He uses his skills in this field to help deliver sports and PE lessons to students in years 9, 10 and 11.
Dr Francis Choi
Head of Mathematics, BA (Hons), BEng (Hons), BSc (Hons), MMath, MSc, MSc, PhD
Francis not only possesses an impressive number of first-class degrees, but is also a brilliant communicator of Mathematics to groups of students of mixed ability. He has been at Acorn House since it was founded, and regularly produces excellent results in students of A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Every student who has taken Further Mathematics has achieved an A (or recently A*) grade. Students are unanimous in describing Francis’ teaching as “brilliant”.
Akhil Merchant
Head of English
Akhil studied English Literature at Oxford University before training as a teacher at Cambridge. He subsequently taught abroad in Mumbai, specialising in drama examinations and then in university preparation for an international education consultancy. After gaining more experience as a private tutor, he taught English at the prestigious Latymer Upper School, where he remained for nine years. During this time he has mentored pupils for Oxbridge, edited the school magazine and broadened students’ horizons by promoting extra-curricular English events. He has also supported the London Challenge, which assists GCSE students across London with intensive revision activities.
