![A smiling woman with curly dark hair and glasses is positioned in the foreground against a plain white background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1780912818/whitgiftcouk/ab2n5qlh2z2rpszkpnsy/2f20f09e-2e9d-42a8-b0e0-961ba1243d82.jpg","width":120}])
My name is Dr Denise Henriques and I am thrilled to be joining the Team this Summer and teaching the Academic Enrichment Science Course. Born and raised in London, I am second-generation Portuguese, with both my parents coming from Portugal - Portuguese was my first language - and I consider myself lucky to have had an upbringing in such a vibrant, multicultural city as London. It was such an exciting place to grow up and I went to school with so many other people from many other backgrounds and cultures.
During my BSc Chemistry degree at UCL, I won an Erasmus scholarship which allowed me travel to conduct a Chemistry Project at the Università degli Studi in Palermo, Sicily – having studied abroad, while immersed in the local culture, I know firsthand how exciting and rewarding this experience can be. I have so many wonderful memories and I can even still remember how to speak some of the Italian that I picked up while I was there!
After completing my PhD in Biochemistry, I worked for a while in academia and then in business, eventually retraining as a teacher. I have been teaching Science and Chemistry for over 17 years in the UK and joined Whitgift in September 2022.
Beyond lessons at Whitgift school I also run the Senior Chemistry Club - where pupils are encouraged to explore their interests and conduct experiments beyond the syllabus; the Advanced Chemistry Society - where pupils are stretched and inspired to pursue Chemistry beyond a school setting; and various competitions such as the Internationally renowned RSC Olympiad, Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and the RSC Schools’ Analyst Competitions.
With Chemistry as my passion, I am keen in providing pupils with opportunities to do practical work, where pupils learn by discovering for themselves through experimentation, a vital part in developing the skills and knowledge that will provide an excellent foundation for their GCSEs. I am excited to be devising a series of engaging lessons across the three disciplines and incorporating how science works and STEM activities into the program.
I am really looking forward to meeting you all and watching your interest and understanding grow, whilst building a solid foundation for your future Science studies with the Academic Enrichment course.