Meet Our staff

Dr Jamal Ibrahim

Dr Ibrahim is determined to make his Chemistry and Biology lessons as engrossing and hands-on as possible.  With seven years teaching at a medical school in Malaysia, seven years research into HIV-AIDS at an Oxford laboratory while helping to train Oxford PhD students and through his Post Grad Cert in Education as well as teaching science in a previous secondary school, he understands the importance of bringing his subject to life.  “I make sure my lessons are always laced with a heavy dose of bench experiments and demonstrations in the lab.”

Born in Malaysia, Dr Ibrahim first came to England in 1972 to finish his secondary school education on a Malaysian scholarship. In 1978, as an international student of six years experience, preparation for his own science career began in earnest at the University of Oxford where he studied until 1986.  All those years as a foreign student in England has developed in him a thorough understanding of what international students need to know.

“I am 48 this year and have now studied and lived in England for a total of more than 25 years! I was stunned when I first arrived in England aged 14, and was amazed at the city of Oxford as a freshman undergraduate aged 20. My experiences as a foreign student have really enabled me to understand what my students are experiencing. I’m able to help.”

Outside of school, Dr Ibrahim plays the guitar as a hobby and acts as general advisor to the Bellerbys-Embassy College Student Music Society and Band.  "I enjoy photography, cooking, watching movies with my son and following Arsenal football club in the English Premier League.  Sometimes I even get asked to play guest guitar in the Bellerbys Student Band!”