I trained for four years at the University of Cambridge, qualifying with QTS in 2008. I taught across the whole primary age range in schools in the UK, where I was a subject leader in English and humanities. I was Assistant Primary Principal at an international school in Thailand, with responsibilities for curriculum leadership and line management of the primary teaching team.
I have worked in Initial Teacher Education since 2016, where I was senior lecturer in primary education across the primary undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University of Huddersfield. I was course leader for the Primary PGCE, as well as subject lead for science, art, DT, and module leader across the wider curriculum. I implemented academic writing support across both programmes as well as developing a critical intervention relating to enterprise education in partnership with the university's enterprise team. I was PGCE admissions tutor, as well as enrichment lead, organising educational visits to the Houses of Parliament, the National Coal Mining Museum and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
I teach on a range of modules on our primary ITE courses, including English, science and the wider curriculum. I am passionate about supporting student teachers to make strong links between literature and practice, and believe that the role of universities is to provide critical, reflective spaces for teacher education and development.
I am in the process of completing my PhD, where I have studied reflective practice in ITE, looking at how student teachers make connections between their university-based training and their teaching practice in the foundation curriculum subjects.
I am actively involved in research. My research interests include:
- Developing student teacher reflection and reflexivity
- Strengthening student teacher understanding of the relationship between literature and practice
- Developing critical enterprise education practices within the primary curriculum
