I am the portfolio leader for all the undergraduate and post graduate teacher education courses in the School of Education and English here at the University of Bedfordshire. I have a strong interest in research, writing, education and technology and have been delivering a series of keynotes on AI in education across the region to headteachers, mentors, MAT conferences, professional tutors and fellow teacher educators at a number of universities.

In terms of research, I have recently published a nationally significent paper on retrieval practice and how schools are implementing research from this into their teaching. In addition, I have completed research into how GCSE students revise with N=2000+ (the paper for which is now with a leading journal), a dual-university research project into how teachers are using cognitive load theory in their teaching and published a paper on handwriting intervention based on research I undertook for my keynote to the National Association of Handwriting.

As part of my writing, I have recently published a new book: 186 Days, a month by month guide to secondary teaching (with co-writer Mohammed Amin), and my latest book:The Learning Sciences in the Secondary Classroom: A practical guide for trainee teachers (with co-writers Dr Audrey Wood and Stephen Cox) is due to be released in January 2026. I am currently working on a proposal for a book provisionally titled 'Primary Education in the 21st Century' with James Robertson. In addition, I am the senior editor on an education blog alongside Dr Gareth Bates titled The Peer Reviewed Education Blog

Across the Faculty of Education and Sport and within the School of Education I am the Faculty Teaching and Learning representative for the School of Education and chair the recruitment committee and the subject knowledge partnership group. I also sit on a range of committees including: the Faculty Executive Leadership Group, the Faculty Recruitment Group, the Faculty Quality Standards Committee, the Faculty Academic Support Team (FAST), the Training Partner Committee, the Mentor Development Committee, and the QTS Development Committee. I also represent the School of Education and English in the regional BBLE partnership.

Previously I was the elected academic governor of the University of Bedfordshire from 2010 to 2012.

Currently, I am an external examiner for The University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University and King Edward's Consortium. Further, I am a trustee for the Pyramid Multi Academy Trust group of schools.

As a former secondary Head of English and now Principal Lecturer in Teacher Education, my main work is in educating teachers whilst working with partnership schools through research and teacher education.

You can follow my twitter profile at @englishspecial

You can access my academic work at Research Gate