Roger Martin Shalom SILVERMAN
Education
1956-8: Mercers School, London EC
1958-62: University College School, London NW3
1963-7: University of Sussex (School of European Studies)
Qualification
1967: BA Honours (Upper Second) in Russian and European Studies
Employment (full-time teaching)
1967-73: Teacher of Russian at Holland Park School (Inner London Education Authority)
1994-7: Temporary posts teaching English
1997-8: Teacher of English at Albany School (Enfield)
1998-2000: Teacher of English at Rush Croft School (Waltham Forest)
2001-2: Teacher of English at Rokeby School (Newham)
2002-11: Teacher of English at Lister Community School (Newham)
2011-12: English intervention teacher, Lister Community School (Newham)
2012-13: English intervention teacher, Castle View School (Essex)
2013-14: Teacher of English at Royal Docks Community School (Newham)
2014-Jan 2015: Teacher of English at Caterham High School (Redbridge)
Jan 2015 onwards: Supply teacher for agencies, mostly on extended placements
Employment (part-time teaching)
1993 onwards: Private tutor in English Key Stages 3,4 and 5 (for Top Tutors Ltd. and independently)
2010-15: Part-time enrichment teacher at Newham Sixth-Form College
2013-14: Part-time English intervention teacher, Forest Gate Community School (Newham)
Employment (journalism)
1965-6: Translator/editor, Progress Publishers, Moscow
1973-93: Freelance journalist, publisher and editor
1992-8 Contributor to Far Eastern Economic Review, Hong Kong
1993-4 International Editor, Topic Books, Somaiya Publications, Mumbai, India
2015-6 Author, Defiance: Greece and Europe (Zero Books)
* * * *
I am an experienced and successful teacher of English. I always devise original creative lesson plans tailored to the specific needs of my students. Over nine years at Lister Community School my mixed-ability classes spanning the full spectrum consistently achieved English and English Literature GCSE pass rates of more than 80%, with many students exceeding their targets by two, three or even four grades.
In 2003 I launched CARBOLIC, an independent student magazine. This won acclaim from Benjamin Zephaniah, Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Rosen, John Agard and many others. In 2008 it was the subject of a three-page feature article in the Times Educational Supplement, which called it “a work of editorial genius” and “the best school magazine in the country”. From 2010 to 2015, this magazine was sponsored by Newham Sixth-Form College, which employed me part-time to run its editorial collective.
In 2010 I was awarded the Jack Petchey Leadership Award for Outstanding Services to Young People.
I have more than twenty years’ experience as a private one-to-one tutor up to GCSE, AS and A2 levels.
I am an experienced journalist, with a book due to be published later this year (DEFIANCE: Greece and Europe).
I have established popular daily lunchtime chess clubs at every school where I have been employed.
I lived for one year in Russia and for several years in India, and am well suited to a multi-ethnic cultural environment.
Despite having reached beyond the standard retirement age, I am in good health; my attendance record is exemplary; and I have plenty more still to contribute.
REFERENCES ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
Roger Silverman, June 2016
Roger Silverman 
Amazing. I was a graduate student at the University of Sussex 1963-1967. What a pity we did not meet then; we share political views.
Just to thank you for your excellent letter in the Guardian. Your father was one of my childhood heroes and it’s wonderful to learn that his son is still fighting the good fight. But horrified to read about your expulsion. Have they let you back in?
Hi Robert. I’m amazed you tracked me down! It’s surprising we didn’t meet at Sussex – I was very active there, in the Socialist Club. Anyway, let’s keep in touch. My e-mail is RSilver100@aol.com.
Thanks, Andy. Until you wrote, I hadn’t realised the Guardian had published my letter at last! Yes, I’ve kept fighting for the cause, one way or another, all my life. And after a very entertaining telephone “interview”, my suspension was lifted. I haven’t touched my website for ages, it’s time I updated it. Keep in touch – my e-mail is RSilver100@aol.com.
Mr Silverman I was a student of yours at Rush Croft,I wanted to thank you for your help whist being my English teacher. I doubt you will remember me it was that long ago, I was the Asian kid that actually listened and did the work!