About Me
An Expert Adviser
BA Hons, MA Education, MA Social Science Research Methods.
Since moving into initial teacher education and educational research, I have also worked with schools in Leicestershire and North London, supporting professional development of teachers. Providing targeted CPD and a proficiency-focused approach to classroom observation in English, I supported a North London secondary school in achieving the third highest Progress 8 results in its borough. As well as teaching across Primary and Secondary Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes, I have also led on curriculum development in English across KS2-4 for a London-based MAT and a Leicestershire SEMH school.
Prior to this, I worked in secondary education. Although my most recent school-based role was as Head of English in a large secondary school, I have also led on provision for higher-ability learners and coordinated widening participation programmes focused on supporting learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in pursuing further and higher education. As an experienced school-based mentor of trainee teachers and NQTs, I believe that it is important for university and school-based staff to work together in order to provide the best experience for early career stage teachers.
Alongside this work, I am also a doctoral researcher in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham. My research focuses on social justice and gender in education. I recently co-authored Engaging, Motivating and Empowering Learners in Schools (2018), exploring the potential implications for self-determination theory and positive psychology in primary and secondary schools.
Recent publications:
Hewitt, Des and Wright, Brittany (2018) Engaging, Motivating and Empowering Learners in Schools, London: SAGE