Our story

Sherish Osman

Design Associate

Sherish is currently a Lead Teacher of English in West London. She has previously been second in charge of English, as well as a Head of Department. She has just returned to work after her second maternity leave. Her passion lies in teaching and learning; she loves to read all things education, be it subject speciifc, or general pedagogy, and put these into practice in her teaching. She loves her job role, which involves ensuring that teachers are supported to reach their potential. On her non-working days, Sherish spends her time building Lego, and walking through the fields of Berkshire.

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.

ROSIE BOOKER

Mentoring Associate

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, and is passionate about CPD, both leading and for her own personal development. Her prior MA research focused on oracy and reading comprehension and she has presented for UKLA with regards to this. She has recently completed an ASEL qualification and is also an examiner for English Literature.

CLAIRE HILL

Regional Networks Officer

Claire Hill is Trust Director of Secondary Improvement at Turner Schools in Kent. She is responsible for curriculum, teaching and learning, and professional development. Claire is Standards Officer for LitdriveUk and co-organiser of researchED Kent. Claire is an Expert Advisor for the Ambition Institute, developing their suite of NPQs with a particular focus on the NPQSL, NPQH and NPQEL. Claire has been an invited speaker at regional and national education conferences and written articles published by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chartered College of Teaching’s Impact magazine. Claire has also contributed chapters to the ‘researchED Guide to Assessment’ and ‘Huh: Curriculum conversations between subject and senior leaders’ and is co-author of ‘Symbiosis: The Curriculum and the Classroom’.

KAT HOWARD

Founder

Kat is Founder of LitdriveUK. She is Head of Professional Learning for a large multi-academy Trust, with strategic oversight of professional learning across the North and North East Lincolnshire region. Previously, Kat has held a range of roles within schools in both senior and subject leadership, leading staff professional development, coaching, ITT and strategic lead of English teaching across a Trust. Prior to working in the education sector, Kat held the role of Regional Area Manager for a leading High Street Bank, overseeing the provision and implementation of recruitment policy, retention initiative and monitoring of standards for the region. Kat is currently undertaking a Masters in Expert Teaching with Ambition Institute. Additionally, Kat holds the position of Expert Advisor for the national charity Teacher Development Trust, contributing to the design and development of the reformed NPQ Leadership suite. Kat serves as a Regional Ambassador for the Maternity Paternity Project and holds the position of school governor for an Aternative Provision. She is author of two best-selling educational books: Stop Talking About Wellbeing: A Pragmatic Approach to Teacher Workload and co author of Symbiosis: the curriculum and the classroom. Kat speaks at a number of different events about professional development, curriculum and workload, supporting schools with effective ways to bring about improving the staff and the student experience through a high quality curriculum offer in schools.