BA with Honours in Communication and Public Media, UK 1995. Qualified Teacher Status - English, Media and Drama specialist, UK 2004. Graduate Teacher Training Programme (PGCE) qualification, UK 2003. Apple Teacher, ITALY 2018. International Baccalaureate MYP level III, ITALY 2018.
Before my very active, creative and passionate teaching career, I trained professionally and worked as a Close Protection officer for almost two decades across the UK.
For the last 15 years I have been teaching English language and literature, Media Studies and Drama, as teacher and department head, through the British National Curriculum at international schools, both primary and secondary, and the International Baccalaureate MYP & DP programmes in the UK, the Middle East, Africa and in Eastern Europe.
In addition, I have taught English language summer schools since 1996, as teacher, animateur and Director of Studies in London, Edinburgh, Napoli and Sevilla.
While very happily living in bonnie Scotland I worked in outdoor education with at-risk youth and ex-offenders. I completed Summer Mountain Leader training, Expedition Leader Award (BEL) and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader courses.
I gained my training in, and passion for drama, as a professional clown, performing on stage around the UK with the National Association of Youth Clubs, the BBC, Hull University, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and (my proudest achievement, because they said it could not be done) teaching circus skills to Hull Deaf Children’s Youth Club members and watching them perform to very emotional and very proud parents.
My creative writing has previously been published in the UK by Faber & Faber and the Forward Poetry group. I also spent time as a magazine editor and feature writer while working abroad and in the UK.