Staff Profile

Helen joined the University of Northampton in 2019 after teaching for 16 years in primary education where she was also an Assistant Head and Governor of a large primary school in Buckinghamshire. Amongst many in-school projects, she implemented Restorative Justice Practices throughout the key stages as a way to resolve conflicts amongst children.

She is now a Senior Lecturer in the Initial Teacher Training team and is the Year 3 Lead and the Curriculum Lead for science and Design and Technology. She was part of the team which secured a successful bid to set up the University of Northampton’s Forest School and tipi teaching area and is passionate about promoting the benefits of learning outside the classroom with students and staff.

Helen is an APP Ambassador and has recently carried out research into ways GEM students can be further supported when they are on school placements. She is also Co-Chair of the Student Sub-Committee for the Race Equality Charter.

Her past research activities have involved the co-creation of training videos using IRIS Connect software and researching how children use evaluation tools in wellbeing workshops run by the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT). She has also carried out research with the Digital Learning Across Boundaries (DLAB) project and attended international research days at Howest University, Bruges. More recently, Helen has taken part in research related to how and when primary school teachers should teach LGBTQ+ in primary schools and how we can support neurodiverse learners at UON.

Helen has supervised several undergraduate dissertations since she joined the University of Northampton relating to science teaching and learning, learning outside the classroom and supporting Pupil Premium children.