Qualified and experienced teacher of Computer Science (up to GCSE), with 15 years of experience and 15 years working in the IT industry.

Find out more about Omar

• 1) Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  My first experience was with a BBC micro computer back in the 1980's. This was the one of the first home computers sold for mass consumption. This computer was very much used for games but it also gave me the opportunity to understand and experience hardware upgrades and operating a command line operating system. I also programmed in basic to produce graphics and animated graphics.

• 2) What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  I started working in the IT industry in 1994 where desktops and networks were rolled out en masse to corporate environments. I worked for a blue chip company and grew with the industry experiencing technologies at every level.
  Around the year 2000 the internet was taking off in a big way and companies were looking to use this to gain a competitive edge. At the time I was working for an IT consultancy that focused on small to medium sized business. I designed, configured and installed networking infrastructure including email, firewalls and switches. These were exciting and interesting times. All of this has given me a solid and experience basis to teach this knowledge in schools. Next technical turning point that will change how industries work will be the incorporation of AI technology to provide corporate solutions. This will shake up most industries with regards to existing job roles being made redundant but also provide new job opportunities related to AI.

• 3) Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  My expertise is teaching GCSE computer science, taking what I have learnt in the IT industry and providing young people an understanding of the technology used around them and how companies use this. I love teaching how this technology enables their day to day lives as well as to understand the world about them. I love helping students who are inspired to build their own computers or program a project that they are interested in. I want to see my students achieve and excel. When breaking down concepts and seeing my students achieve that "Ahhh, i see it now" moments are the best. Eventually my students will be part of the next technology revolution that will make our world a better and more convenient one.

• 4) Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  I have had many role models over my time. These tend to be the colleagues that I have worked with that have helped me develop as a professional and a better person. When working in the IT industry I learned to be methodical, practical and to always do my best for the customer/team/company. In the teaching industry I have learned to be patient, understand misconceptions a young person may typically have and to break down complex problems to the individual level of the student that I am teaching. My role models have been people that I constantly interact with, learning and growing from their experience and expertise.

• 5) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  My students at my school did a class exam. When a question was asked about components found in a computer / internal components of a CPU some of the students wrote that a "ghost" is a component found in the CPU/computer. I found this amusing and confusing at the same time. After some investigation I found that this was written in the CGP revision guide as a joke to try and keep the content amusing and interactive. I learnt that students will do their best when given a safe space to learn and to identify and counter as many misconceptions when teaching content.

• 6) What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  As an experienced teacher of computer science this is a common problem. I have learnt that this typically is from a combination of "fear of failing" compared to their peers or there is too much information they cannot digest. So breaking down information or actions to allow them to achieve success in small steps, praise and feedback to encourage. Understanding that failing is a good thing is a hard step for many - but this is how we learn. Building confidence and resilience is key.

• 7) What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  I enjoy spending time with my family and working out as often as I can. I love riding my motorcycle. I try to travel to different countries every year on my motorbike. This helps as the Easter and Summer holidays as a teacher allows me to do this. I also love to hike with friends or my wife.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  My 15 years experience in working in IT and 15 years as a teacher gives me the ability to understand how a student thinks and how best to explain concepts to them. I have built up a huge amount of resources that have been tried and tested. In 2024 the national statistics for students achieving grade 7 to 9 was 28.1% - my inner city school 2024 cohort was 53%. My school is located in a low socio-economic area where pupil premium (school meals provided for free) is about 63%. I work with some of the hardest students in the country and have achieved excellent results. My teaching is student focused to resolve the misconceptions they may have. Part of my strategy is working through GCSE questions and explaining what the GCSE examiner is expecting. I create a safe space where there are no stupid questions or allow students to feel that they are inadequate.