I am a Senior Lecturer in Primary Education. I am a unit lead for 2 units on the BA primary programme and teach on the BA and PGCE programmes. I have an Honours Degree in Social Sciences, a PGCE in Primary Education, a Masters Degree in Education and have recently submitted my PhD.

Prior to working at Manchester Met, I was a Primary Teacher for 23 years. During that time I predominately taught in KS1 but I have had experience across the full primary age range from 3-11yrs of age. I was an active English coordinator for many of my years in the school sector. For the final four years in schools I trained and worked as a Reading Recovery teacher and had a role as an ECaR (Every Child a Reader) teacher. I also trained for a qualification in dyslexia teaching.

My interest in reading continues as a researcher. I am fascinated by the skills of reading, the meaning that reading has for learning but also how it adds to our lives in the widest sense. I am interested in the significance of fluency in reading progress and the impact of enjoyment on reading habits. My PhD focuses on reading comprehension. My thesis considers  ‘how do teachers teach and understand their teaching of reading comprehension?’. 

Academic and professional qualifications

BA Social Sciences: University of East Anglia, 1988

PGCE Primary Education: Manchester University, 1989

Masters Degree in Education: Manchester Metropolitan University, 2008

Reading Recovery Teacher Qualification: Institute of Education, 2009

PG cert Specialist Dyslexia Training for Teachers: Edge Hill, 2012

External examiner roles

External Examiner with Northampton University Primary Education BA Programme 2016-2020