NATE’s Management Team

Furzeen is a Teaching Fellow at Aston University and co-chairs NATE’s Reviewing Literature Working Group. Her research focuses on diversity in texts, race in education, and applied linguistics in the English classroom.

Oli completed his PhD in English Literature and then became a secondary English teacher. He now teaches in higher education, focusing on the crossover between philosophy, education, and English. Oli is the course coordinator for the BA(Hons) Education degree at the University of Bedfordshire and is also a trustee of the Philosophy of Education Society.

Kathryn has over 20 years of experience in primary education and is currently an English Adviser for Cambridgeshire County Council. She is passionate about children’s literature and developing reading for pleasure pedagogy. Kathryn also writes for various educational magazines.

Joshua is a Lead Practitioner in Devon with a background in Drama and Music. He has contributed to NATE’s publications and presented at national conferences. Joshua also works as a senior examiner for A-Level English Literature and has been involved with extra-curricular theatre work.

Before becoming Director, Anthony was Head of Department at an 11-18 school in North Yorkshire. His blog, focusing on education, writing, and language, was the starting point for his role at NATE. He is passionate about fostering a curriculum that imparts knowledge while inspiring lifelong appreciation for language and literature.

Retired PGDE English Tutor, The University of Sheffield
Mick was a subject tutor for English PGDE and taught on the MA until September 2020. He joined the University of Sheffield in 2010. Mick is also employed as a Subject Expert by Ofqual. He has been a NATE member since 1976, serving on the Management Committee for nearly 15 years and as Joint Interim Director between April 2013 and June 2014. He was Vice-Chair of NATE and a member of various committees. Mick also worked as a secondary English and drama teacher and Head of English for 13 years.

Andy is a former Head of English, PGCE English tutor, and Chair of NATE. He is now a Professor at the University of Bedfordshire, where he directs The Institute for Research in Education. Andy has contributed significantly to English education research and is involved in various national and international educational organisations.

John has taught English and media at secondary and higher education levels. He is the editor of English in Education and conducts research on literacy practices. John has a blog and contributes to the development of contemporary approaches to English education.

Jade has taught English and Media for a decade and now leads the English department at a Pupil Referral Unit in Essex. She is passionate about using poetry and writing to support children with SEN and give students success outside the exam system.

Rachel has nearly 30 years of experience in teaching and advisory roles, including Head of English and Drama, Secondary English Consultant, and Assistant Examiner for GCSE English. She currently works as an advisor for Cumbria Local Authority. Rachel is passionate about oracy and has a particular interest in the power of picture books for all readers. She has previously been Chair of NATE.

Lesley is an Education Consultant. She was formerly Education Manager at UK’s leading race equality think tank The Runnymede Trust.  Lesley co-authored the Lit in Colour 2021 report and collaboratively informs the strategic and creative direction of the Lit in Colour campaign. Lesley has over 10 years English in education experience and her doctorate degree is in Education, from the University of Oxford, funded by the ESRC and Oxford-Marriott-Wolfson scholarships.

Sue taught secondary English for 17 years before moving into Initial Teacher Education (ITE). She now leads the PGCE at the University of Sussex and is co-director of the University’s Literacy Group. Sue is working towards a PhD exploring drama-based pedagogy in English teaching and frequently presents on active learning approaches.

Rachel has taught English, Film, and Media for 10 years and is now the Deputy Director of the MA Education at the University of Reading. She regularly presents papers on English pedagogy and mentorship and was awarded the NATE Research Award in 2019.

Lorna leads the secondary English PGCE course at the University of Bristol. Her research focuses on secondary English education policy and practice past and present, particularly English as a humane discipline, creativity within the curriculum, and teacher agency.

A former Head of English, Gary was the Editor of NATE’s Teaching English magazine until 2024. He is also a Lecturer in English Education at Oxford University and the series editor of the NATE/Routledge book series. His PhD focused on teaching literature, especially post-16 and poetry.

Jessica is an English teacher and writer with nearly ten years of experience. She founded The Right Writing campaign and works with organizations like BBC Bitesize and Penguin Random House. She is also a member of NATE’s Reviewing Literature Working Group.

Peter is a former NATE Chair, Head of English, and Lecturer at the University of Hull. He has also worked as a GCSE Principal Examiner and authored several books. Peter has played a key role in NATE’s development, particularly in collaborative projects and partnerships within creative industries.