Our CPD authors

All the courses in the CPD Library and the Governance Library have been written by well-known experts in the field. Read about our growing list of consultants, editors and authors below.

Consultant editors

Martin Barwise

Managing Behaviour, Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing

Martin is an Assistant Headteacher at a large comprehensive school. He has worked in state and private schools in Australia and England. In his current role he oversees staff appraisal, professional development and teacher training through a wide range of Initial Teacher Training providers. He is also co-director of a SCITT. Martin is passionate about personalised professional development and recognises that some of the best professional development is developed by teachers for teachers.

Mark Soames

Effective Communication, Effective Meetings, Managing Change, Managing Your Time, First Year of Teaching

Mark has been a teacher of science in secondary schools for over 30 years. During this time he spent 15 years as Head of Science, leading the department through significant expansion and to an outstanding OFSTED rating. He has written and led training workshops with science teachers locally as well as overseas. In his current role of Assistant Principal his areas of responsibility include whole school CPD, leadership development, Initial Teacher Training and ECT induction. He is an SLE and accredited facilitator for NPQML with extensive experience of developing and delivering middle leader development programmes and mentoring middle leaders. Mark is involved in managing a Science Learning Partnership and national schemes for science teacher recruitment.

Authors and contributors

Albany Associates

Digital Strategy, Media Engagement, Public Speaking

Albany Associates provide comprehensive communications training across a wide range of areas such as strategic communications, countering violent extremism, media development and regulation, effecting behavioural change and journalism and media skills, including interview techniques and communications strategy planning and development. Albany Associates prepare organisations and individuals to engage with the media and communicate with confidence, clarity and credibility, from interviews to advanced strategic campaigns in complex environments.

Bernadette Alexander

Home Learning: Foundations (Co-Author), Home Learning: Strategies (Co-Author)

Bernadette Alexander is one of the founding members of Aspiring for Children along with Marietta Harrow and Karen Berry. Aspiring for Children's mission is to train professionals in the knowledge, insight and practical skills to improve the educational attainment and life chances of vulnerable children. They believe that all children, whatever their background, have the right to a good education in accordance with the 1989 UN convention on the Rights of the Child. Bernadette is a qualified teacher and has many years' experience both in the comprehensive system and alternative provision. Bernadette has served as headteacher of three London Virtual Schools, working with children in care and those who have been in care.

Emma Atterbury

Customer Service (Co-Author)

Emma started working in customer service at her first part-time job in retail and has worked with a variety of internal and external customers ever since. Currently working in further education, her favourite thing about working in customer service is the opportunity to meet different and interesting people.

Harry Banks

Science Practicals, Science Exams, Science Enquiry, Misconceptions in Science

Harry Banks has been a science teacher for 12 years and has been training teachers for 11. His experience includes working as head of department in a large school and as part of a team that has lifted schools out of special measures. Harry is currently a 'lead practitioner' responsible for training teachers at a University Technical College in Hull.

Bernard Barker

Organisational Climate, Middle Leaders, Managing Difficult People, What Makes a Great Head, Team Leaders, How to Pick Winners, When is My Time Up?, Leadership Styles & Climate, Becoming an Academy CEO

Bernard is emeritus professor of Educational Leadership and Management at the School of Education, University of Leicester. He was educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, the University of York and the University of Leicester. He taught History at three Hertfordshire schools before becoming principal of a large community comprehensive in Peterborough. After 17 years at the college he moved to lead Rowley Fields in Leicester out of special measures before joining the university's Centre for Educational Leadership and Management. He became Director of Post-Graduate Studies at the School of Education and taught doctoral and masters students around the world. He has published widely in journals and magazines and his recent books include Education and Social Mobility (with Kate Hoskins, 2014), Transforming Schools (2005) and The Pendulum Swings (2010), all published by Trentham Books (UCL/IoE Press).

Become

Children with SEND

Become is the leading charity for children in care and young care leavers, providing advice and support.

Martin Berry

Songs for Learning (Co-Author)

Martin Berry has been a primary school teacher and an English teacher at a secondary school and a sixth form college. He has been Head of English in a large comprehensive school, Head of the Communications Faculty in another and an active member of the National Association of Teachers of English. He has been in a variety of bands, covering most contemporary music genres, and has lots of experience of performing and recording. Martin has co-written several successful musicals for the Carlton and Central Television Workshops and writes music for young people across a range of ages.

British International Education Association

The EYFS Framework, Role of the Key Person

The British International Education Association (BIEA) is a not-for-profit organisation with its head office in London. Their mission is to promote British education to emerging international education markets, primarily in China and UAE, but also in other countries. BIEA works to meet the needs and challenges in the international education market. It is helping to build a platform for knowledge exchange between the UK and other national education services, through direct interaction between policy makers and education professionals.

Anne Borrowdale

Starting Invigilation, Stop Cheat (Co-Author)

Anne is a freelance speaker, writer and trainer, with a background in personal coaching and work consultancy. Her extensive experience as a Lead Invigilator ranges from large comprehensive schools to international schools and supervising Qualified Lawyers Transfer Tests. She helped form Exam Team Development in 2010 to help raise standards of invigilation through innovative, active training courses. Anne Co-Authored When Shhh Is Not Enough, an informative guide to managing candidate behaviour in the exam room.

Debbi Botham

Engaging with Parents (Co-Author)

Debbi has over 15 years' experience in supporting and developing governing boards, and is currently working to promote effective governance across the Diocese of Brentwood. Prior to this she worked as an HR professional for over 20 years, specialising in performance management, recruitment and learning and development. Serving as a school governor for nearly 20 years, at both a large primary school (now Outstanding) and several secondary academies, has given her a deep understanding of the difference effective governance makes to school improvement as well as the challenges faced by governing boards. Debbi is well respected as a school governance expert nationally, serving as joint chair of a regional board of governance support professionals, as well as the Eastern region representative on NCOGS.

Jane Branson

English Leads, Grammar for Writing, Rich Texts

Jane Branson was a lead trainer for two strands of the East Sussex Improving Writing Project. She is passionate about reading, writing and grammar, and brings over 25 years' experience to her work as an education consultant and trainer. She has numerous roles – school governor, education writer, teacher trainer, moderator – and has worked for the DfE and NACE on a range of projects. Also an experienced Philosophy for Children tutor, Jane writes regularly for Oxford University Press and is currently writing her first novel.

Richard Brown

Coaching Fundamentals

Richard's secondary education career spanned 34 years, 18 in senior leadership positions, including two headships. His passion today is training the leaders of tomorrow both for leading training providers and through his own consultancy. A fully qualified Performance and Corporate/Executive coach, he develops individuals and teams in business and education.

Ian Cant

Marking and Feedback

Ian Cant is an English teacher and senior leader who has worked with young people for over 25 years in a variety of settings. As well as obtaining an MSc in Educational Leadership from the University of Leicester, he has written a range of articles on leadership, teaching and literacy, as well as training others in middle leadership and in a variety of areas related to teaching and learning.

George Casley

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Classroom (Co-Author), Teaching RSE

George Casley has thirty years of experience teaching and training teachers in a wide variety of schools. He is also an expert in inclusion and cultural exchange. Outside of teaching he is a trustee of the Peter Tatchell and WOMAD Foundations.

Nick Chambers

Career-Related Learning

Nick is the CEO of Education and Employers, a charity which runs the Inspiring the Future and Primary Futures services, giving schools free access to a diverse range of volunteers. Education and Employers' aim is to give all young people regardless of their background the chance to meet and interact with people from the world of work in order to inspire them, broaden their horizons, raise their aspirations and increase motivation, leading to improved attainment.

Corinne Davidson

Child Protection

Corinne is an Assistant Principal with over 10 years of teaching experience. She has been a Designated Person for child protection since June 2013 and has been the Designated Safeguarding Lead since January 2014, overseeing a team of staff in a large school to ensure the highest standards in child protection. As Inclusion Lead, she works closely with the Local Authority to ensure the wider needs of young people are met by working collaboratively with a range of external agencies.

Geoffrey Davies

Who's Who, Becoming a Trustee, Good Governance, Key Documents, Operational Issues

Geoffrey is a corporate lawyer. He was a partner in Titmuss, Sainer & Webb for 14 years, and in 1991 he set up his own corporate law firm. Geoffrey joined Lewis Silkin LLP as a consultant in 2000. He started to grow the firm's education practice and was involved in establishing over 70 academies. He was in the forefront of the development of academies, acting for many of the original multi-academy trusts, including United Learning Trust, Harris Federation, ARK Schools, Oasis Community Learning and Future Academies. In September 2012, Geoffrey joined Stone King LLP. He is recognised nationally as a significant figure in the education market. Geoffrey is now a director of Bonhams and a trustee of New Schools Network.

Huw Davies

Primary PE

Huw Davies (Cert Ed, Dip Ed, MA) has had a long and successful career in education. He has worked as a primary school teacher, an Ofsted inspector and in higher education as a lecturer in PE (EYFS, KS1, KS2). He was a senior lecturer in PE at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol (1999–2013). Huw is the founder and Managing Director of Physical Education Primary Ltd, a company that produces high-quality PE teaching and learning resources for primary schools.

Mark Deacon

First Steps in Leadership

Mark Deacon is first and foremost a teacher. He has worked at every level in both primary and secondary schools and is well aware of the challenges of leadership and management. After 30 years working in schools, Mark now works in university-led Initial Teacher Training. He also teaches those studying for an MA in Education or an MEd in Education Leadership and has a consultancy practice supporting school leaders.

Liz Elks

Supporting SLCN: Early Years, Supporting SLCN: Primary (Co-Author)

Liz Elks is a speech and language therapist who set up Elklan Training in 1988. She has worked with children with a wide range of communication needs in mainstream and special schools across the UK. She works full time as a Director of Elklan.

Ed Elliott

Supporting HE Applicants (Co-Author)

Elliot is Head at The Perse School, Cambridge, having previously been Head of Sixth Form. He has worked with a number of admissions tutors on university selection procedures and runs training courses nationwide to help teachers manage the university applications process. He is a registered ISI inspector.

Mark Enser

Leading Departmental CPD

Mark Enser is Head of Geography and Research Lead at Heathfield Community College. He has been teaching for 15 years, first in an inner-city all-girls school and then in a Church of England all-boys school. This was not as much of a change as he expected. He is the author of Making Every Geography Lesson Count and Teach Like Nobody's Watching, as well as a regular contributor to Tes.

Rhian Evans

Developing an ICT Strategy

Rhian Evans is a member of EVR Consulting, a respected firm of ICT Consultants working both in the UK and abroad. Their experience ranges from advising small primary schools to supporting governments in their strategies for ICT.

Eileen Fursland

Understanding the Child

Eileen is an independent researcher and influential writer on social issues, children, care and adoption.

Paula Gladwin

Broader Curriculum: Early Career, Broader Curriculum: Subject Lead, Broader Curriculum: SLT, Primary History, Primary Science, Primary Geography

Paula Gladwin has more than 20 years' experience as a highly experienced teacher training/CPD course designer and Executive Director of a range of ITT programmes and academic qualifications. She has worked in and across a wide range of educational contexts for over 30 years. Her roles include School Development Adviser for Primary Schools, Ofsted Inspector and External Moderator for range of ITT partnerships.

Emily Gould

Managing Learning Anxiety

Emily Gould holds a leadership position in the same school where she began her career. Emily trained through the Teach First programme whilst continuing to study, and has accumulated a PGCE, PCES, NPQML and MA. Throughout her career she has utilised her personal interest in research to improve her own, and others', classroom provision.

Linda Gower

Designated Teachers (Contributor)

Linda, now retired, was previously Educational Achievement Manager for the Virtual School, Suffolk County Council.

Susan Greetham

Customer Service (Co-Author)

Susan started work as a Clerical Officer within the NHS, moving to Further Education after a few years. While working for several years within the College in various support roles, she has gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience which has been put to effective use when writing material for the Customer Service CPD course. Susan also works part-time as an exams invigilator.

David Gumbrell

Being Resilient, Considerate Form Tutor, Effective DSL, Resilient Leaders, Compassionate TA, Cognitive Load, Reflective Practice, Effective Lesson Planning, Managing Time, Retrieval Practice

David Gumbrell has been a teacher in Surrey for over 20 years, in five different schools across the county. He worked his way up from ECT to headship, holding positions of responsibility for Maths, ICT and mentoring along the way. Throughout his career, he always endeavoured to develop a team, to nurture an individual teacher's career and to protect the wellbeing of children and staff.

Joe Hales

Teenage Life

Joe has been teaching for 20 years and has, in that time, been a teacher of pupils with SEND, head of two different departments, head of faculty and head of year. He has worked as an advisor for Essex Local Authority and is currently on the senior leadership team of an Outstanding OFSTED school having been the Head of Department for PSHE and Citizenship. He recently completed his Masters in Education.

Kamal Hanif OBE

Preventing Radicalisation

Kamal is the executive principal of Waverley School, an outstanding school in Birmingham. He has presented nationally and internationally on community cohesion and preventing radicalisation. He is also a National Leader of Education and has received national awards for teaching and school leadership.

Marietta Harrow

Home Learning: Foundations (Co-Author), Home Learning: Strategies (Co-Author)

Marietta Harrow is one of the founding members of Aspiring for Children along with Bernadette Alexander and Karen Berry. Aspiring for Children's mission is to train professionals in the knowledge, insight and practical skills to improve the educational attainment and life chances of vulnerable children. They believe that all children, whatever their background, have the right to a good education in accordance with the 1989 UN convention on the Rights of the Child. Marietta is a qualified teacher and has many years' experience both in the comprehensive system and alternative provision. Marietta is currently Assistant Headteacher of a London Virtual School and has extensive experience of training young people, parents and carers in how to be effective learners.

Catherine Harwood

Engaging with Parents (Co-Author), Curriculum for Governors

After starting her career as a Chartered Surveyor, Catherine Harwood then spent 20 years working in three different primary schools (14 of which she spent in senior leadership in an inner London school). During this time, she worked extensively to engage hard to reach parents and carers. She now works as a Primary School Link Adviser for the Diocese of Brentwood.

Paul Heery

Managing Wellbeing

Dr Paul Heery is the CEO of a multi-academy trust and has almost 20 years' experience of headship, including at primary, middle and secondary level. He has extensive experience of leading schools in challenging circumstances, including taking over a school in special measures and taking it to Good. He is a lead inspector for Ofsted and inspects both primary and secondary phases, and has a master's degree and a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Gareth Honeyford

LGBTQ+ Inclusive Classroom (Co-Author)

Gareth is a former primary school teacher and has worked in education for over 25 years, working in areas of economic disadvantage, with traveller families, pupils excluded from mainstream education and care-experienced young people. He is passionate about inclusion, improving the lives of young people and their families, ensuring the best outcomes for all irrespective of background. He has a strong interest in the LGBTQ+ community and considers himself to be an ally. Gareth is a fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and the Royal Society of the Arts and a Mental Health First Aid Instructor for adults and youth. He is currently working on projects on levelling up, lifelong learning and Covid recovery.

Kate Hoskins

Socially Inclusive Classroom, Gender Equal Classroom, Racially Equal Classroom

Dr Kate Hoskins is a Reader in Education at Brunel University. Her research focuses on education policy, identity and inequalities in relation to FE and HE opportunities and experiences. Her most recent publication, STEM, Social Mobility and Equality: Avenues for Widening Access, examines the role of the family in intra- and intergenerational social movement. Her most recent research project is funded by the British Academy and examines how doctoral researchers make the transition to early career research and any associated challenges.

Kendra Houseman

Understanding Street Gangs

Kendra Houseman has been involved in gangs, exploitation and CSE for 26 years. She has both an academic understanding and 'streets' knowledge of how gangs, exploitation and CSE affect young people today and those surrounding them. She has studied criminology at an extensive level, gained a degree and has worked for many years in one of the most gang entrenched areas in England, Brixton in SW London. She founded Out of the Shadows, delivering training and workshops about gangs and exploitation.

Kate Hurley

Primary Computing

Kate Hurley has been teaching for 20 years, both in the state and independent sectors in the UK and internationally. Her interest in teaching computing initially came from working in the IT sector. For the last ten years, she's been exploring how computing skills and computational thinking can support pupils' wider learning through the St Peter's bespoke skills-based Baccalaureate curriculum. The SPBⓇ facilitates cross-curricular coding opportunities, allowing pupils to develop transferable skills need for the technological world. Kate is Assistant Head and Head of Computing and Drama at St Peter's Prep School, Devon. She teaches KS2 and KS3 Computing. She is an Overseas Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate, holds a PGDip in Education and about to enter the world of education consultancy. In her spare time she enjoys singing with a choir, offshore rowing and running.

Roger Hurn

Beat Bullying, Storytelling, Songs for Learning (Co-Author)

Roger has been a primary school teacher, a deputy headteacher, a headteacher, a university lecturer and a teacher trainer. He has also been a consultant advisor to the Home Office and the Children's Directorate on how to help children develop a positive attitude to school. He was involved with On Track and Sure Start when working as an advisor to the Home Office and also did some sessions for the Dads and Lads initiative. He is now a full-time writer and storyteller with over 60 books published for children. As a storyteller, he has told stories with an anti-bullying theme in schools.

Juniper Education

Becoming a Governor, Chair of Governors, Phonics for Parents

Juniper Education works with schools nationally to improve educational outcomes. Juniper provides a range of world-class school support services, including services in academy conversion, clerking, education finance support, education HR, education visits, governor services and school effectiveness.

Chris Jones

Curriculum Efficiency

As Chief Executive of SMARTcurriculum, Chris Jones has supported schools for over ten years in curriculum development, budgeting and strategy. Previously a teacher and senior school leader for 25 years, Chris is now a DfE-approved provider of the Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning methodology. In 2018 Chris created SMARTcurriculum®, an impressive online tool enabling senior leaders to assess, analyse and model the efficiency, effectiveness and ethics of their curriculum. Chris brings his education and business expertise to the role of governor and director for several school and charity boards, having served as a chair of governors, parent and teacher governor and trustee, CEO and board chair in several charitable organisations.

John Kane

Embrace Challenge

John Kane has been a teacher for 24 years and is currently the Director of Leadership, Learning and Teaching for the Challenger Multi Academy Trust. Whether as a teacher, leader of education or consultant, he has strived to help schools to improve quality first teaching in classrooms, believing that the key to raising standards and closing the achievement gap lies with the teacher.

Joanne Kelly

Trauma and ACEs

Joanne Kelly is currently Deputy Head of Virtual School Kent and has been championing achievement for children in care for over eight years at VSK. Her particular interest and one of her strategic leads at the school is training multi-agency practitioners in ACEs/trauma and attachment. She has been working closely with a national charity to roll out nurture training across the county so that nurturing environments can be developed for vulnerable learners.

Jacqueline Lamb

Relaxation

Jacqueline is manager of the primary behaviour support service for Essex, having previously worked as a teacher and as a lecturer at the University of East London. She has completed training in relaxation skills at the Centre for Stress Management and carried out extensive research on the impact of stress on pupils' learning and the value of relaxation in schools. She has also delivered relaxation training to schools to support staff with their own stress management and to enable them to deliver training to pupils and parents/carers.

Matthew Mannas

Active Reading, Adaptive Teaching, Assessment for Learning, Assessment for Learning: TAs,Collaborative Learning, Computer Science at KS3, Engagement, Improving Writing, Independent Learning, Inspiring Images, Lesson Design, Positive Behaviour: TAs, Resilient Learners, Speaking and Listening: TAs, Supporting Literacy: TAs, Talk for Learning, Technology for Teaching.

Matthew studied a computer science degree and worked in the IT industry for a number of years, before deciding to train to become a teacher. He has been teaching at Comberton Village College for over a decade and is an advanced skills teacher (AST). More recently he has been accredited as a specialist leader of education (SLE) due to his contribution to staff continued professional development. He has written courses for cover supervisors, SCITT trainees, newly qualified staff and highly experienced staff.

Anne Marquess

Managing Cover Lessons, Year 7 Transitions, Vocational Courses

Anne Marquess entered teaching after a first career in publishing. Anne's employment at Comberton Village College began in 2005. As Comberton grew and became the Cam Academy Trust, Anne has been involved in development work with other schools joining the trust. As a chemist, Anne's main subject is science but she has welcomed opportunities to teach other subjects and leads Health and Social Care. This diversity of experience within and across schools prompted Anne to take a closer look at learning outcomes in cover lessons and develop a programme to raise standards in this domain.

Darren Martindale

Promoting Inclusion

Darren Martindale (BA, PGCE, MA) is a Virtual School Head for children in care and other vulnerable pupils for the City of Wolverhampton Council. He has 15 years of experience in this area of work, having spent several years as a secondary teacher beforehand. He works regularly with Ofsted on raising awareness of the needs of LAC and disadvantaged pupils. Darren has contributed to statutory guidance on the education of children in care and those who have left care and writes regularly for the Tes and other publications on education inclusion.

Manar Matusiak

Understanding Autism

Manar is Managing Director of Living Autism, helping people with autism and their families to find the most appropriate support for their needs. Manar provides training for care providers, employers, families and professionals across the country. She also offers coaching to individuals on the autism spectrum. Manar has over 20 years' experience at director level in the specialist care and education sector, in particular in the field of autism. Manar holds a Masters Degree in Education Management and she helped to set up and develop the first transitional residential service in the country for young adults with autism and complex needs. Manar is passionate about helping people on the autism spectrum to enjoy a good quality of life and reach their full potential.

Cherisse Macsorley

Alternative Education (Co-Author)

Cherisse Macsorley is an Education graduate who has worked for several years in a variety of management positions within the Inclusion teams of Children's Services.

Amanda McGough

Stress and Wellbeing

Amanda McGough BSc (Hons) RGN MSc is a qualified Senior Nurse and Manager who has 30 years of clinical and managerial experience in the NHS. She delivers health and wellbeing training into schools, colleges and organisations across Teesside, Durham and North Yorkshire. Amanda specialises in wellbeing for staff and students and brings her clinical experience, together with up-to-date knowledge of research and evidence, into her training.

Catherine McKenna

Preparing for Ofsted

Cathy McKenna taught for over 30 years mainly in secondary schools across the country but also had experience of all phases of education. She moved through to senior leadership and is currently working as an adviser at the Diocese of Brentwood where she supports secondary schools. She has an MPhil in Education.

Henrietta McLachlan

Supporting SLCN: Early Years, Supporting SLCN: Primary (Co-Author)

Henrietta McLachlan is a speech and language therapist who set up Elklan Training in 1988. She has worked with children with a wide range of communication needs in mainstream and special schools across the UK. She works full time as a Director of Elklan.

Tracy McPhail

Stress and Wellbeing

Tracy McPhail BEd (Hons) has 30 years of primary school teaching experience in a variety of senior management, leadership and teaching roles. Tracy has taught in a number of primary schools in inner city, suburban and rural settings. She is the Wellbeing Lead at her current school and is working with Stockton Borough Council on the Future in Mind project, training to be a Mental Health school champion.

Gail Meads

Customer Service (Co-Author)

Gail has always worked in customer service, mainly in the hospitality industry which relies on exceptional customer service. Gail started working in FE almost 20 years ago in the Customer Service Team at Heart of Worcestershire College, and has seen many changes but the principles always remain the same.

Livia Mitson

Primary Maths, Supporting Numeracy: TAs

Livia Mitson teaches secondary maths. She has worked in education for about 20 years, originally training for secondary maths before spending some time in primary schools working with various different groups such as pupils with SEND and gifted and talented pupils. She then moved back into secondary and following a teacher exchange to Shanghai, has also spent time working with teachers and pupils in Ghana at a collaborative maths summer camp. She is interested in ways of teaching mathematics that enable all learners to access and experience an authentic way of doing maths.

Sheila Mulvenney

Reading and Phonics, Resilience in Children

Sheila Mulvenney spent many years as a teacher and was drawn to phonics as she encountered so many older children who struggled with reading and spelling. After initially training in phonics over a decade ago and using the approach with groups and individual students, she trained as a Sounds-Write phonics trainer in 2015 and now runs regular courses in schools to train teachers and school staff to use the approach.

Matthew Nall

Safe Information Handling, GDPR Toolkit

Matthew has worked in the education sector for forty years as a practising teacher and in schools IT support in a large local authority. He now advises schools on the use of ICT and how to make the best use of their investment in technology. He is experienced in data protection and works closely with other professionals in this field. Over the last year he has done many presentations to schools in the eastern region on the topic of GDPR.

James Nwaogwugwu

Alternative Education (Co-Author)

James Nwaogwugwu has worked in a management position within Children's Services for over 20 years, having initially trained as a Solicitor. James is currently a self-employed consultant and a Youth Magistrate.

Sarah Parfitt

Customer Service (Co-Author)

After achieving an NVQ qualification in customer services, Sarah started working in the FE sector and has been employed by Heart of Worcestershire College for the last ten years. Sarah finds the customer service aspect of her job rewarding and enjoys the many challenges that it offers.

Christine Chen and Lindsay Pickton

Developing Stronger Writing, Reading into Writing

Christine Chen and Lindsay Pickton are well-established primary education advisors and co-authors based in Greater London. A happily married team, Christine and Lindsay support schools, specialising in primary English and curriculum development, across the UK and beyond. As primary school teachers, they were nominated as Leading Teachers before becoming trusted Local Authority Advisors in Surrey/Kingston and Richmond upon Thames. From 2014, they opted to support schools independently and have, since then, worked with thousands of teachers and many respected educational organisations, federations and alliances.

Marie-Claude Poulin

International TA

Marie-Claude Poulin is a qualified teacher who specialised in Early Childhood and Primary Education and who has worked in international schools for the past ten years. She was Head of Primary at an American international school in Taipei, Taiwan and is currently Head of Early Years at a British international school in Bangkok, Thailand.

Michael Punt

Supporting HE Applicants (Co-Author)

Michael is Headmaster of Chigwell School in Essex. Previously he was Deputy Head (Curriculum) at The Perse School, Cambridge, having also been Head of Sixth Form. Over many years, virtually all students from Chigwell and The Perse have gone on to selective universities and Michael has worked with UCAS teams to ensure that all students receive the best help and advice to maximise their chances of success.

Lisa Rockley

Staff Induction

Lisa Rockley has taught for over 20 years, and is currently Deputy Head with a responsibility for Teaching & Learning and CPD development across a Trust. Her previous roles have included head of English, AST and SLE, giving her the opportunity to work in a diverse range of secondary schools in Nottinghamshire. Lisa is committed to supporting her colleagues in the pursuit of high quality teaching and learning and firmly believes in the power of sharing good practice. She strives to ensure that teachers constantly learn from each other in order to raise standards and improves outcomes for students.

Richard Robinson

Grey & Invisible Students

Richard is currently an Assistant Principal at a large secondary school in Kent and is also the SENco there. He has 19 years' teaching experience and has a diverse portfolio of experiences. Richard has been leading CPD sessions on the grey and invisible student since 2007 and many of the ideas included in his publication are the results of the sessions he has conducted.

John Rutherford

Online Safety

John Rutherford has over 20 years of experience of working in education. He is the winner of three national education awards for innovation and founder of the Online Safety Alliance, providing online safety education for pupils and staff in schools across England.

Henry Sauntson

Rosenshine in Practice

Henry has been a teacher in South Lincolnshire and Peterborough for 15 years. He has held a number of roles in middle and senior leadership, with a main focus on teaching and learning. He is now the Director of a SCITT and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, and also facilitates the delivery of NPQ courses and the newly launched ECF. Henry has always looked to foster dialogue and collaboration above all, as well as ensuring that time spent developing practitioners' ability is not time wasted; context is key to all we do.

Louise Selby

Understanding Dyslexia

Louise Selby is a teacher with extensive experience in assessing and supporting learners with specific learning difficulties (SpLD) and dyslexia. After a number of years of class-based teaching, supporting teaching of pupils with English as an additional language and SENCO experience in primary schools, Louise has spent the last ten years working for Hertfordshire Local Authority as a specialist advisory teacher for SpLD. She also works freelance in assessing for dyslexia.

Kate Simpson-Holley

Supporting EAL Learners, Academic Literacy

Kate has been teaching English for the past 17 years, has been a Head of English, Assistant Headteacher and is now Deputy Headteacher at a large inner-city comprehensive in Peterborough. Her particular interest is in EAL learners and how multilingual young people learn.

Carl Smith

Low Level Disruption

Carl Smith is Principal of Casterton College, Rutland, shortlisted for Secondary School of the Year in 2019. Carl has been nominated for Headteacher of the Year 2021, and was the UK's first Advanced Skills Teacher in 1998. Carl has worked as a teacher and school leader in the state sector for over 30 years and written on a wide range of educational topics and issues.

Helen Snelson

Secondary History

Helen Snelson is the PGCE History Secondary Course Leader at the University of York. She was a history teacher and subject leader in 11–18 schools for over 20 years. Helen is a Fellow of the Historical Association and a Chartered History Teacher. She regularly presents and writes for history conferences and publications in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Nicky Spencer-Hutchings

Attachment (Co-Author)

Nicky is a mental health occupational therapist specialising in children and young people with SEMHD. She is a Thrive trainer and practitioner and an adoptive mum of two boys.

Paul Stevenson

Mentoring Trainee Teachers

Paul Stevenson is a Teaching School Director and Education Adviser with wide experience of working strategically with schools and settings. Paul has worked across the Primary and Secondary sectors with roles in teacher training, professional development, mentoring and coaching.

Erica Stillwell

Study Skills

Erica Stillwell holds an MEd in Specific Learning Difficulties. She has taught students with special educational needs at primary and secondary levels in the United States and the United Kingdom. She is currently an Academic Support teacher at Mander Portman Woodward, London.

Lucie Swannell

Supporting HPA Students

Lucie Swannell has been teaching for 18 years and is currently a Lead Practitioner in the English Department of Jack Hunt School. She has completed research in student/teacher collaborative inquiry and is now working with a team in a school on a motivational project for students with high prior attainment.

Kim Taylor

Equality and Diversity

Dr Kim Taylor is a National Leader in Education and serving special school Headteacher in Cambridgeshire. In October 2013 she was awarded an honorary doctorate in education by Anglia Ruskin University. Kim has made a huge contribution to schools in the Eastern region and values their commitment to equality and diversity.

Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster

Understanding ADHD

Elaine Taylor-Klaus, PCC, CPCC, and Diane Dempster MHSA, PCC, CPC, are parent educators and certified coaches with six complex kids between their two families. Recognising that there was a lot of support available for kids with ADHD, they created ImpactADHD® to provide much-needed support for adults.

TP Fire & Security

Fire Safety

TP Fire & Security provides fire safety solutions including installing and maintaining industry standard fire protection equipment and offering fire training courses and fire risk assessment.

Penny Todd

Supporting Adopted Children, Parenting Adopted Children

Penny Todd has been the Headteacher of the Buckinghamshire Virtual School for the last ten years and prior to that worked with vulnerable learners in her role as Deputy Head in a London Comprehensive school. She also coaches and delivers training to middle leaders in challenging schools as part of a national leadership programme.

David Turner

Active Questioning

David has been involved in education since 1991 and has served as a classroom teacher in six schools. Alongside his classroom practice, David has worked in subject leadership (History), KS4 achievement, industrial relations and governance. He has also served as a senior leader in two schools, with responsibilities for self-evaluation, school improvement, teaching development, sixth form, languages, design and technology and performing arts.

Unitas

Exploring Youth Justice (Content Provider)

Unitas is a charity registered in England and Wales which provides training to youth justice practitioners. Unitas also offers the Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate, an approved learning programme for both current youth justice professionals and those who wish to work in youth justice.

Rama Venchard

Evolution of a MAT

Rama Venchard has a background of over twenty years in business change management, process improvement and strategic planning within the retail, hospitality and banking sectors. Since 2005, he has worked with schools and trusts to facilitate the set-up of academies, university technical colleges, studio schools and free schools. He is a trustee on two multi-academy trust boards, has assisted in the set-up of several multi-academy trusts and is the preferred Project Manager leading on Academy conversions and free schools for over ten academy trusts.

Iain Walker

Active Reading, Adaptive Teaching, Assessment for Learning, Assessment for Learning: TAs, Collaborative Learning, Engagement, Improving Boys' Writing, Improving Writing, Independent Learning, Inspiring Images, Intervention in English, Lesson Design, Positive Classroom, Positive Behaviour: TAs, Resilient Learners, Speaking and Listening: TAs, Supporting Literacy: TAs, Talk for Learning, Teaching the Class Novel, Teaching Creative Writing, Teaching Poetry, Teaching Shakespeare, Teaching Non-Fiction, Teaching Note-Taking, Technology for Teaching, Whole School Intervention.

Ian has worked in a number of different schools, both inner city and rural, taking on various roles within English departments including Head of English and Literacy Co-ordinator. He spent five years working as English Consultant for the National Strategy where he developed and delivered professional development courses for English colleagues and senior leaders. He is currently an SLE (specialist leader of education) at Comberton Village College where he has worked for five years. Iain's SLE role has allowed him to co-write and deliver a range of CPD courses.

Chris Wardle

Developing Comprehension

Chris Wardle is an experienced primary years teacher and also Head of Pre-Prep at a school in Surrey. Previously he was a Leading Literacy Teacher for Cambridgeshire County Council and has taught across the primary age range in both the state and the independent sector. Chris has written for a range of educational publications covering topics encompassing English, mathematics and science.

Gareth Williams-James

Designated Teachers

After ten years as Suffolk Virtual School Head and having established one of the first Virtual Schools for children in care, Gareth started working independently in September 2015 to provide interim management and support to local authorities and other agencies including schools. He has been interim Virtual School Head in several authorities.

Felicia Wood

Attachment (Co-Author)

Felicia is the Training Director at Kate Cairns Associates. She was previously a Research Associate and Lecturer at Bath Spa University and is a founding member of Emotion Coaching UK. She taught in schools for 16 years and also worked as a secondary pastoral manager, supporting vulnerable pupils and their families.

Steve Wood

Health and Safety

Steve Wood is an experienced independent health and safety training provider and education consultant with a background in operations management and health and safety consultancy.

Barbara Wynn

Starting Invigilation, Stop Cheat (Co-Author)

Barbara's work in education extends over 40 years: from social priority schools in inner London to 14 years as a headteacher in West Berkshire. Her international consultancy work in both education and industry includes wide-ranging work on examinations and invigilation, leadership and behaviour management. She helped form Exam Team Development in 2010 to help raise standards of invigilation through innovative, active training courses. Barbara Co-Authored When Shhh Is Not Enough, an informative guide to managing candidate behaviour in the exam room.