I am a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford where I research Humanities and Languages education. My current areas of interest are Classical rhetoric, oracy and critical skills.

During my Fellowship I explored the learning and teaching of critical literacy in schools. I was motivated to investigate this topic because, as a high school teacher of Latin (at the time), I was acutely aware that the curriculum in Scotland and England was providing inadequate preparation for young people to become critical consumers of information. From my professional practice, I knew that Classical rhetoric had much to offer here but I also knew that a shift in educational policy priorities was needed. After initial research, I discovered that Australia and New Zealand had promoted critical literacy via policy initiatives and teacher training for decades, so I knew that I could 'travel to learn and return to inspire'.

As a result of my Fellowship, I have given evidence as an expert witness to Parliamentary inquiries, my research has been published in Parliamentary reports, I have organised conferences to disseminate my findings, I have written a book and become an Oxford academic.