In this panel discussion, we will wrestle with some big questions in the teaching of English.
What does it mean to be a ‘reader’ and how might we make our students better at it? Who is the reader and what role does the author play? We will explore literary analysis, developing individual interpretations and building our students’ confidence using the expertise and experience of our brilliant panel. We welcome questions for the panel in advance.
Our speakers:
Dr Joe Barber is a Senior Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University and the subject lead for the secondary English PGCE course. Prior to this, Joe taught 11-19 English for fourteen years and was an Assistant Principal of a sixth form college. Joe has also acted as team leader moderator for A-level English Language & Literature combined. Joe sits on the English Association’s Secondary & Further Education Committee, holds fellowship of the EA and senior fellowship of the Higher Education Academy. Joe’s doctoral research examined PGCE English teachers’ knowledge of literary theory and its instantiation in their classroom practice.
Matt Carnaby is the curriculum and education at Inspiration Trust prior to joining Astrea. He completed his degree and teacher training at the University of East Anglia and has spent well over a decade working in schools. He has previously led English Initial Teacher Training programmes and been responsible for Trust-wide curriculum leadership in English. Alongside advising the Department for Education and Ofqual, he co-led Oak National Academy’s pandemic response in English. His interests are in teacher development, curriculum & assessment and the teaching of reading and writing.
Kat Howard is Executive School Improvement Lead at a multi academy trust in the West Midlands. She is also CEO of Litdrive, a subject association for English driven by teachers for teachers. She is a fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, co-author of Symbiosis: The Curriculum and and Classroom, and has a keen interest in the role that curriculum collaboration plays in retaining brilliant teachers to the profession. She has a master’s in Expert Teaching from Plymouth Marjon University, and aims to read at least 50 books a year, which she usually manages if her children allow.
Stephanie Keenan joined English Mastery in 2022 as Principal Development Lead, supporting schools to implement the curriculum, before becoming Head of Programme. Prior to working for English Mastery, Stephanie was Head of English and Curriculum Development Lead and Literacy Lead at an outer London comprehensive, where she taught English from KS3 to A-level Literature and Language for ten years. She changed career from television production to teaching in 2010. Stephanie recently completed an MA in Expert Teaching with Ambition Institute/Plymouth Marjon, taught undergraduates for the BA (Hons) Education Studies at the University of West London, focusing on Assessment Theory and Practice, and worked as an Evidence Lead in Education with Greenshaw Research School.
This event is part of the #EnglishCreates campaign week
