Our story

Laura Webb

Networks Associate: Professional Development Provision

Laura is an established Head of English in a comprehensive 11-18 secondary school in Gloucester. Her department teaches a knowledge-rich curriculum which enables students to navigate the world they live in and access a range of difficult literature. She is passionate about retrieval practice, modelling, and enhancing the subject knowledge of English teachers so that all students get a well-rounded and detailed knowledge of the subject. She believes that English is an academic discipline that will open doors and allow students to initiate social change. She shares resources which save teachers’ time, and are simple for students to use for revision and repetition of knowledge. She collaborates with other teachers in an extensive number of capacities across the education profession to improve the quality of professional development for English teachers. 

Holly Wimbush

Networks Associate: Regional Networks Provision

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.

DAVINA CANHAM

Comms Officer

Over the course of 17 years of teaching, Davina has worked in schools both in the UK and abroad in the roles of Head of English and Literacy Director.
She has since become very focused on teaching and learning in her current role as Lead Practitioner for English Across the Academy. This year she presented a seminar at the first, hugely successful, Educating Northants on ‘Getting Grades 7-9 with the poetry anthology’ and she continues to nurture and coach colleagues in her own school. She juggles teaching and learning alongside spending time with her son and booking many holidays to appease her serious travel addiction. Davina oversees all social media channels, our blog platform and is the human being at the end of our member updates. Find her on twitter: @DeeCanEnglish

ZENA CHADWICK

Networks Officer

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. She is incredibly passionate about developing teaching and learning. As a busy mum of four, she is determined to bring a better balance back to the teaching profession, allowing teachers to do what they do best- teach and inspire.

CLAIRE HILL

Regional Networks Officer

Claire Hill is Assistant Head: Teaching and Learning across a Trust. She is a Lead Examiner for Edexcel, examining for both the Language and Literature GCSEs and also works in a consultancy capacity with local schools, working with English Departments by implementing and overseeing improvement strategies and delivering training for teachers, and masterclasses for students. Claire has written articles published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, Chartered College of Teaching’s Impact magazine and writes the blog https://aclassroomofonesownsite.wordpress.com . Claire is also co-organising the ResearchED Kent conference, and is on twitter @Claire_Hill_

KAT HOWARD

Founder

Kat Howard is an Assistant Principal at a school in Northamptonshire, responsible for internal CPD, staff coaching and strategic direction of English. Kat has worked with a number of training providers such as the National College of Teaching and Leadership, providing CPD for newly qualified teachers. She has written resource content and publications for a variety of providers including BBC Bitesize, Innovate my School, the CLiC Dickens Project at the University of Birmingham and TES. In addition, Kat is East Midlands Representative for the MTPTProject, an organisation that focuses on the impact of parental leave whilst teaching. Her book, Stop Talking About Wellbeing: a Pragmatic Approach to Teacher Workload, published by John Catt Educational Limited, is available to pre order now: Stop Talking About Wellbeing. She can be found on Twitter @saysmiss, and blogs about her experience at www.saysmiss.wordpress.com