I initially trained as an English and Drama teacher and taught for 12 years in a number of secondary schools in Somerset. As my career progressed, I held several positions of responsibility including six years as a Head of Department before I moved into teacher education in 1996. I lectured in English in Education at Birmingham University for two years before leaving to undertake an MA in The Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing at Cardiff University where I subsequently taught Creative Writing. I then returned to ITE as a Lecturer in English in Education at Edge Hill University where I was co-director of PGCE English and director of the Flexible PGCE programme. In 2003, I moved to Keele University as Course Director for PGCE English, and in 2014 became Director of PGCE. I then worked as Director of the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Programme at Keele where I additionally led the Academic Professional Apprenticeship programme. From 2018-19, I held the position of Director of Learning and Teaching for the School of Social Science and Public Policy, and in my last two years at Keele I was the Director of the BA and MA degree programmes in Liberal Arts. I joined Staffs University as Course Director for Initial Teacher Training in June 2021.
Professional memberships and activities
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Academic qualifications
A in the Teaching and Practice of Creative Writing, University of Wales, Cardiff
BA (Hons) in English and American Literature, University of Kent
PGCE English and Drama (Distinction), Queens University, Belfast
Diploma in Drama in Education, RSA
Post-Experience Certificate in Counselling Skills, Birmingham University
Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring, ILM
Expertise
The teaching and practice of Creative Writing
Drama as a medium for learning
Coaching and Mentoring
Research interests
I have research interests in Creativity and Creative Practice with a special interest in Writing, and in Drama as a medium for learning. I am also interested in Dialogic Coaching and Educative Mentoring.