Meet the team
Voluntary Team
Our voluntary team are all English teachers. They contribute to the work of the charity through:
- sharing Litdrive’s provision with local networks
- planning and delivering events or online CPD
- compiling our member bulletin and social media posts
- updating and sharing resources
- sourcing excellent guest blogs from members and other experts within the sector
- capturing our impact and sharing this with the wider sector.
If you are an English teacher and would like to become a volunteer with Litdrive, please get in touch.
Central Team
KAT HOWARD
Founding CEO
Kat founded Litdrive in 2018, and led the organisation to achieve charitable status in 2020. Kat is the also Executive Director of School Improvement at a Multi Academy Trust, and was previously Director of a Teaching School Hub serving over 200 schools.
Nikki Carlin
Strategic Director
Nikki Carlin is Strategic Director for LitdriveUK. Having previously held a range of leadership roles in schools, she has been an English teacher since 2008 and has extensive knowledge and expertise that offer a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges offered to English teachers and leaders.
CLAIRE HILL
Director of Standards
Claire Hill is Strategic Director of Steplab. She is a former Trust Director of Improvement and an Expert Advisor for Ambition Institute’s suite of NPQs. Claire is co-author of ‘Symbiosis: The Curriculum and the Classroom’ with Kat Howard and contributes to a number of education publications.
Zena Chadwick
Director of Programmes
Zena is Faculty Leader for English and Performing Arts at a school in Staffordshire, overseeing whole school Literacy as a part of her role. In addition, Zena is experienced Team Leader for AQA, examining GCSE Literature.
Rosie Booker
Mentoring Lead
Rosie is an English Teacher and Second in Department at a secondary school in Norfolk. She is an experienced mentor and coach who thrives with supporting others as they progress through all stages of this wonderful career path of teaching…
Rhys Denham
Insights Lead
Rhys is an ex-Head of English, with 11 years of teaching experience. He is currently a PR account executive for an automotive agency having made the decision to try something new in 2022.
Regional Leads
Anna has been teaching English for over ten years and is currently head of KS4 English at a secondary school in outer London. She’s undertaken various responsibilities over the years, including leading whole school literacy initiatives and teaching and learning sessions. Her most current role has lead to organising external CPD for schools in her local borough, and she is particularly interested in keeping teacher workload down whilst keeping standards high. She is also an examiner for GCSE, both for Language and Literature.
Becky Johnston is a Head of English at a secondary school in Hull, with experience in both pastoral and curriculum roles prior to this. Having been a ‘tweacher’ for many years, Becky is passionate about upskilling colleagues she works with through CPD as she firmly believes that the sharing of excellent practice is the key to a successful school.
Chloe, Lead Practitioner for English, has a love of booklets, visualisers and all things teaching and learning; she has passionately shared her pedagogical approaches at the most recent national Litdrive conference influenced by the magnificent work shared within the English teaching community and beyond. An avid reader and theatregoer, she looks forward to working with the Litdrive community.
Chris is an Assistant Headteacher and Head of English at a Welsh-medium comprehensive school in Swansea. He also has many years experience as an examiner and team leader for A level English Literature. Chris also leads the research team within the school where current focuses include the development of oracy and vocabulary, in addition to a new project focusing on developing independent learners and the value of homework. He recently graduated with an MSt in Advanced Subject Teaching (from the University of Cambridge) where his thesis focused on the teaching of Welsh Writing in English and its implications within the new Curriculum for Wales. He has also had work published in NATE's Teaching English magazine which explored the place of Shakespeare within the curriculum. He can be found on twitter by the handle @athrosaesneg (which translates to the English teacher)
Evan Grieve is Head of English in a secondary school in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Up until taking this role, he has 6 years of experience leading across both KS3 and KS4. He is interested in subject-specific CPD, curriculum and T&L, and advocates the role that Litdrive has in being able to develop this through their offer.
Hetty Hughes joined the profession is 2015 as an English and Theatre Studies teacher and has experience as a Teaching and Learning Champion, subject mentor and examiner. Hetty’s most recent challenge is a PhD in English Literature (blood in Shakespeare!) which she is undertaking alongside teaching part-time. You can find her @HettyHughes tweeting all things Shakespeare and the early modern, dog walks and her baby girl.
Holly is Head of KS4 Literature and Subject Leader of A Level Language and Literature at a secondary school in leafy Cheshire. She has been an examiner for a number of boards throughout her practice. Holly has led CPD sessions ranging from effective RM+F to BfL across the school as well as leading content based sessions for the faculty. Holly has also been an ITT and NQT mentor for five years – thoroughly enjoying the role as she works to develop the next generation of teachers. She has a great passion for teaching, reading and can often be found at the rugby, theatre or a musical enjoying a Saturday matinee. She believes in the power of Litdrive to truly empower and inspire English teachers and cannot wait to work alongside a dynamic team from across Britain.
Hailing from Ireland, John is Head of English, teaching KS3 to KS5, in Southampton. He has taken a leading role in CPD delivery at his school, and is an experienced Team Leader and examiner with two awarding bodies. When not baking or at a theatre, he is most likely watching a film or reading education research.
Lyndsey has been teaching English at Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 for 13 years. She is a former Head of English, Literacy and Reading Leader, Associate Assistant Principal, Strategy Leader, and has examined and moderated for various different examination boards. She has mentored both trainee and newly qualified teachers and is a graduate of Teaching Leaders (now Ambition Institute).
Having completed both NPQML and NPQSL, she knows that her true passion is in the classroom and in developing subject knowledge both in teachers and students and is committed to ensuring her classroom resources remain freely accessible to all.
Marcus is an English Teacher at an academy in Colchester, with a heart to see young people grow and flourish. As a Teaching & Learning Lead, Marcus works with the Deputy Headteacher: Quality of Education to deliver CPD to his colleagues, with a focus on vocabulary in his working party - seeing staff develop their pedagogy and practice to improve outcomes.
Samantha Dickinson read English Literature at Cardiff University and completed a Masters in Victorian Literature. Having taught for 16 years in different schools through a range of roles such as: Basic Skills Coordinator, Literacy Coordinator and KS3 lead; she is now a senior examiner Head of English and Lead Practitioner. As a mother of two young children she understands the importance of time and work life balance. She is passionate about literature and learning; she looks forward to sharing thoughts, research and ideas with fellow English teachers as a Regional Advocate and Mentor.
Sam Duffy is an English teacher and Teaching and Learning Outreach Lead at an independent school in Sheffield. Sam is interested in supporting teachers connect and share subject knowledge. Outside of teaching, Sam is currently working on a YA novel inspired by Shakespeare.
Shabs is a Head of English at a secondary school in Suffolk. She is currently working across two sites and shaping a progressive curriculum from KS3 to KS4 at a school which hasn’t previously had Year 7/8 students. Shabs has held roles such as: Assessment and Curriculum Coordinator, KS5 Head of Year, and Raising Standards Lead. She has a keen interest in habitual learning, routines and reducing cognitive overload for students (and staff) in order to help them achieve the best they can.
Stuart is a Learning Leader in his sixth year of teaching at a rural school based in Suffolk. Having worked on teaching and learning in his department, Stuart has recently been given the opportunity to look at and review teaching and learning on a whole school level with his school’s leadership team. He is an absolute machine when it comes to effective resourcing, and the #teamenglish community are eternally grateful for what he has done to reduce workload. Stuart also oversees the Litdrive Facebook group. He didn’t write some of this bio himself.
Zara is an author and has worked as a Learning and Teaching Specialist for English for the Leading Learning Partnership, leading on partnership-wide initiatives on SEND and EDI. She has taken the roles of KS3 and KS4 Coordinator for English and been co-organiser of @TLLeedsConf. She has an MA in Teaching and is passionate about evidence informed approaches, conducting a series of action research projects and case-studies on gender, metacognition and learning behaviours over the years. Zara has also completed an NPQML on KS3 Assessment and is always interested in a conversation about curriculum and equity over a mug of Yorkshire tea. Since 2012, Zara has been a school governor and is currently Lead Governor for Teaching and Learning and Staff Development at an outstanding primary school in leafy Cheshire. She regularly attends and presents at conferences and has worked in collaboration with a family of local schools, as well as schools abroad. In her spare time, she drives her three boys to cricket fixtures and organises themed events.
Regional Support
David Alderson is the Head of English at Tuxford Academy and has previous experience as an Assistant Head Teacher for Teaching and Learning. He has been teaching for 14 years and has taught in the North West and the East Midlands. He has taught Eduqas and AQA GCSEs in Language and Literature, as well as AQA A Level English Language. He has presented at the PiXL English conference discussing Knowledge in Action and his department’s Journey to a Knowledge Based Curriculum and has also presented at other regional events.
Ella is an Assistant Headteacher at an English-medium comprehensive school in North Wales. She has undertaken various responsibilities during her career: Head of English; Deputy Head of Department/Deputy Head of Learning (Pastoral); KS3 coordinator; and Associate Senior Leader. She is passionate about collaboration and thrives when she is helping others. She has experience as a Lead Practitioner, where she has supported schools with the delivery of the GCSE specification. Ella is a keen Liverpool FC fan and enjoys attending concerts.
Martine is an experienced English teacher working in Chester, with responsibility for A Level Literature. She has mentored trainee teachers, is an examiner for AQA Literature GCSE and is currently working on a whole school project looking at CPD. Having recently returned to full-time work after a number of years part-time while her two daughters were small, Martine is passionate about work-life balance and has developed a real love for curriculum design. She is an avid and passionate reader, and can be found on Twitter at @meh50187, mainly talking about books.
Mary Hind-Portley Is currently Assistant Subject Leader for English in Sefton, Merseyside. SHe has had an extensive and varied career as a teacher School Improvement Officer and Assistant Headteacher in a range of schools and local authorities in the North West. Mary is a determined and passsionatet leader, endeavouring to reduce inequalities through high-quality curriculum planning.and the development of subhect pedagogy.
Matt oversees Regional Advocates in the North West region. Teacher of English with 23 years experience, having taught English and Media Studies at Key Stages 4 and 5. Worked as a Head of Faculty for 10 years, but relinquished that responsibility in 2015. Currently working part-time. Experience in delivery of training to aspiring middle leaders in the North West hub on behalf of the SSAT.
Melissa Boyd is a teacher at a brand new school in east Manchester and is excited to have the chance to build an English departmemt from scratch. She came to teaching late, from lecturing at St Andrews University, joining Teach First in 2015. Her background as a historian and as a Latin Americanist bleed into her teaching of English. She’s passionate about developing subject knowledge both in teachers and students and committed to supporting diverse voices. She sees Litdrive as a tool that helps teachers achieve a better work/life balance, but more importantly, as a supportive community of people collaborating through a shared love of English.
Rachel has been teaching for 13 years and is currently deputy curriculum lead with responsibilities around curriculum development and mentoring. With a passion for all things teaching and learning and the belief that all students deserve to be stretched and challenged - regardless of ability, Rachel has delivered a range of CPD sessions both in and outside of school, including LitDrive CPD in North Manchester. When she isn’t in the classroom or trawling through EduTwitter for inspiration, Rachel can be found immersed in a psychological thriller or spending time with her two very energetic nephews.
Ambassadors
Emma Sheppard is the founder of The MTPT Project, the UK's charity for parent-teachers and a former English Teacher and Lead Practitioner with 12 years' experience in London and international schools. She has seven years' experience as a mentor, leading on the ITT provision across her school as well as providing training at Teach First summer institutes and across the Harris Federation. Emma has taught the Cambridge IGCSE, A Level, IBacc and taught and examined AQA English Literature and Language. Emma studied Comparative Literature at King's College University and has a keen interest in using global literature to diversify our curricula.
Fe Brewer is a Deputy Curriculum Director for English at an inner-city school in Leicester and Lead Teacher Educator at a secondary SCITT. She has been teaching for 11 years in a range of school contexts, has held a range of responsibilities and is currently enjoying working in a growing school as it approproaches Key Stage 4 for the first time. With a dual-discipline background in Drama and English, she is known for her passionate delivery and enthusiasm for playtexts and 19th century literature. She is also an Evidence Lead in Education with the Research Schools Network and is keenly interesting in Intial Teacher Training and mentoring. Most importantly, she is a mum to two lively children who have inherited her creativity and love of life. She tweets @mrsbrewtandcake
Flo is an experienced teacher and currently a Director of English at a school in Reading. She is both a GCSE and A-Level examiner, in addition to her experience as an ECT mentor, a LitDrive mentor, a whole school Teaching and Learning coach, and she is currently completing a Level 5 apprenticeship in Professional Coaching. Flo is also the Berkshire representative for The MTPT Project and was a chapter lead for 'A Guide to Teaching, Parenting and Creating Family Friendly Schools: The MaternityTeacher PaternityTeacher Project Handbook'. She is also the coordinator for ResearchEd Berkshire. She is passionate about teachers being supported and empowered in all aspects of their career from CPD to work-life balance.
Joanne is an experienced teacher of English of over 20 years. She is the Trust-wide Subject Lead for English for a large, multi academy trust where she leads on English curriculum development; her previous roles have included Head of English, Whole School School Literacy Lead and Research Lead working within an Associate Research School. Joanne has led on evidence informed teacher development and especially on developing whole school reading; she has worked with a number of schools to embed whole school tutor reading in their context.
Kirsty is 26 years old and began teaching in 2018. Her current role is the Second in English at a school in Greater Manchester. Kirsty believes that to become a regional advocate for LitDrive is to support a fantastic cause to improve the teaching of our wonderful subject whilst still tackling our ever-growing workload issue. Kirsty teaches from years 7 right through to year 13 – enabling her to teach a whole breadth of creativity and knowledge that encompasses English. Her favourite areas to teach are poetry and Macbeth (particularly Lady Macbeth!). Kirsty can usually be found making resources, reading or pretending she’s in a one-woman musical. Kirsty is in full anticipation for the new opportunities this role will bring! She tweets @_krogg.
Having completed a Literature degree in 2002, and a PGCE in 2005, for fifteen years Natalie has been teaching in a school which has transitioned from an Independent Boys Grammar School into a co-ed Academy Free School Trust, experiencing a great many changes to teaching pedagogy along the way. Natalie has examined for a variety of examination boards over the last twelve years, whilst honing her own teaching skills in successfully running a bespoke, one to one, tuition business for pupils in need of support and challenge, alongside various roles in the English department. Her love of learning was rekindled after completing a Masters in Gothic Literature in 2016, and has subsequently sought out enriching CPD opportunities to better deliver the English curriculum in refreshing and innovative ways. Litdrive and the Team English movement on Twitter have been a complete inspiration to her and now she feels compelled and passionate about collaboratively working with some of the most exciting and awe-inspiring English teachers in the country.
Warren is a Head of English at a secondary school and sixth form in Norwich. Since starting his Teach First LDP in 2017, he has taught English and Media, and Film Studies in several schools across Norfolk. Recently completing an NPQML which explored the use of oracy in English classrooms, he is now working through an NPQSL and is an exam marker for English literature and media studies. Litdrive has helped develop his breadth of knowledge and resources for engaging students in all things English. It is his passion to increase the links between English lessons and the use of language in media and literary criticism in all key stages.
To contact us regarding sponsorship, networking offers, collaborative projects
or other queries, email litdriveuk@hotmail.com