Alex Coope

Alex Coope joined the British School of Bucharest in 2013 and is Head of Maths. Alex studied Maths at Leeds Carnegie before completing a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) at Sheffield University.

Following graduation, Alex’s first teaching post was with a large comprehensive secondary school in the UK, teaching Maths, Physical Education and ICT. After four years there, he moved to Alexandria, Egypt, where he was the Head of Mathematics and ICT for eight years. Alex later worked in Kuwait for three years before moving to Romania to join our school.

Natalia Buckley

Natalia Buckley joined the Mathematics Faculty in 2022.

She graduated from Lancaster University after studying Mathematics and obtained her PGCE from Leeds University.

Natalia was the mathematics subject leader at two primary schools before gaining international experience teaching the IGCSE and IB curriculum at an international secondary school in Hanoi. During her career, she has taught Mathematics at multiple academic levels from Year 2 to Year 12.

Ben Shuttleworth

Ben Shuttleworth rejoined the British School of Bucharest in 2020.

He graduated from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, with a first-class Master’s in Mathematics, followed by a PGCE from the University of Warwick. His first teaching post lasted five years at Hereford Sixth Form College, UK, where he spent five years specialising in the teaching of A level Mathematics and Further Mathematics. Ben then taught here at the British School of Bucharest for five years before taking a year’s sabbatical to teach in Vietnam. In 2020 he returned to the British School of Bucharest to teach both Mathematics and Computer Science.

Millie Jeffery

Millie joined the Mathematics Faculty at BSB in 2024. She graduated from Greenwich University with a combined undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Computing, as well as a PGCE in Mathematics.

Millie spent three years teaching Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 at a school in outer London. She was also an active participant in the extracurricular programme, where she taught Archery, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, and Maths Escape Room.

Radu Cobianu

Radu joined the British School of Bucharest in 2024 as a Mathematics Teacher. He lived in the UK for 17 years being schooled entirely in English and studying Computer Science at the University of Warwick before completing his PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) at Newman University. Prior to joining, he taught Mathematics, Computer Science, and Science in schools in the UK.
Radu believes that the most important aspect of education as a student is taking ownership of your work. He emphasises that working hard and putting in the effort will be the key to success, not only at school but in life.

In addition to his academic role, Radu has a strong passion for volleyball, a sport he has played for a decade since he was in Year 9. He enjoys the sport immensely and has experience coaching at both junior and university levels. If he had to give one piece of advice to any student, it would be that problem-solving is the most essential skill to develop.

Jessica Ockenden

Jessica joined BSB in 2024 as a Mathematics Teacher. She studied Mathematics and Statistics at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London. A desire for new experiences led her to volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), where she taught Maths in a secondary school in rural Zimbabwe. Having discovered her passion for teaching, she returned to the UK and completed her PGCE at Liverpool University.

Jessica taught in the UK for 15 years at various schools before deciding to venture onto the international scene in 2008. She taught in Bahrain and Penang before moving to Sharjah English School, where she spent 11 years, first as Head of Key Stage 4 and subsequently as Pastoral Head of Sixth Form.