Michael Roberts (Head of Biology 1980-82), pre-eminent author of Biology textbooks for schools, died on 12 September 2025, after a long illness. 

The following has been written by Neil Ingram and Chris Rouan (past College staff). An extended version can be found at: www.neilingram.co.uk/mbvr/

Michael was born in Shropshire and educated at Epsom College and Cambridge University, gaining a first-class honours degree in Natural Sciences at Queen's College followed by a PhD in 1960. For his PhD, Michael chose to work on the neurobiology of the earthworm, under Professor C F A Pantin, FRS. He became a demonstrator in the Zoology department, and this allowed him to develop the calm, clear exposition that became the foundation of his teaching and his future writing.

In September 1959, Michael was appointed to Marlborough College, in succession to Sir Francis Knowles, FRS. This was a remarkable achievement for a 24-year-old taking up his first teaching post. The College records that he was a ‘brilliant teacher’ with a ‘pleasant teaching style underpinned by meticulous preparation.’

In 1962, Michael became a Fullbright Scholar in the University of California, Santa Barbara. Here he became acquainted with the reforms that were developing through the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS). Michael brought these ideas back to Marlborough and became immersed in curriculum reform at local level and with the Nuffield Science teaching project. He contributed his own research on earthworms to the Nuffield A-level Study Guide and practical guides.

A new course requires a new textbook, and Michael began writing. The first edition of his A-level textbook, Biology: a Functional Approach appeared in 1971 and was an immediate success. It ran through four editions and sold over a million copies. Its accessible style, simple diagrams and clear text were welcomed by students across the world. It had a remarkably long shelf life. Its successor, Advanced Biology, written with Michael Reiss and Grace Monger, did not appear until 2000. There are many people who claim that ‘Roberts’ got them their A-level grade.

Michael moved to London in 1976 and began to write for the new Biology GCSE. He became a tutor on the Post Graduate Certificate of Education at the, then, Chelsea College. Ann Fullick, herself now a prolific textbook writer, recalls Michael as being, ‘incredibly supportive and mindful of the challenges and joys of teaching in inner London comprehensive schools.’

Michael became Head of Biology at Cheltenham College in 1980, and appointed Chris Rouan. Under Michael’s mentoring Chris became a successful author and a lifelong friend.

Biology for Life was published in 1981 and was immediately popular, enabling Michael to become a full-time writer in 1982. Biology for Life ran to two editions. Dual Award Science caused Michael some soul-searching, but Biology, written with Neil Ingram (2001), did have the look and feel of Biology for Life’s ‘little brother.’

Michael had become a publishing industry: teachers’ guides, practical guides, classroom resources all followed. Michael was an international author, teacher and examiner. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and sat on its publications committee.

It was Michael’s tenacity and patience that generated such quality textbooks. The move towards examination awarding bodies approving textbooks for use on their courses, brought the end to the universal textbook and led Michael to consider a gentler retirement and his wider interests. Travel, music, good company, food and wine, painting and sketching all filled his days, until his final illness took its toll.