Meet the Presenters - Future Ready Project Learning

Emma has been supporting project learning for eight years in her outreach role at a UK Higher Education Institution. Having seen learners struggle with the transition to university style learning, she recognises the opportunity project learning provides in equipping learners with academic and research skills alongside developing the confidence to be independent learners. Emma co-wrote the first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to offer support for the EPQ, attracting over 100,000 learners worldwide. She has subsequently moderated projects for the last five years.

John is an experienced teacher, trainer and consultant with experience of working with schools to develop project programmes. He works closely with staff, providing professional development opportunities and organising and leading CPD in areas connected to independent learning and he is one of the principal architects of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and other project-based qualifications in the UK. In recent years his work has focused on the development of thinking within all areas of the curriculum, as well as the use of project work to facilitate deeper learning.

Jenny Clements is Head of Project Qualifications and English teacher at The Sweyne Park School. Jenny is committed to establishing a research culture where independent thinking and criticality is championed. Professional responsibilities include the positions of Coordinator for the HPQ and the EPQ; UCAS and Early Applicant lead; and whole-school supra-curricular promoter.

Jenny is a 6th year doctoral student at The UCL Institute of Education and is passionate about the ways in which research students at Key Stage 3 experience supervisory dialogue and how research experiences can be improved for both learners and supervisors. She has completed a Master of Arts in English Education and has a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences and Research Methods from UCL.

Dr Becki Nash is Learn With US Transition Officer at University of Southampton. Becki leads the Pre-entry Academic Skills team at the University of Southampton. Their main programme – Learn with US Transition – has supported delivery of Project Qualifications for a number of years. They deliver sessions to support learners in developing skills that they will encounter on a day-to-day basis once they have transitioned to Higher Education. Becki holds a doctorate degree in Sociology, and her own research journey as a first-generation university student often feeds into how she teaches project learners.

Dr Richard Penny is Learn With US Transition Officer at University of Southampton. Richard is a politics researcher and lecturer. His PhD investigated the effects of economic inequality on people’s mental wellbeing, and how this would be addressed in a full just and fair society. He has also worked on research projects with colleagues across Europe, looking into issues of democratic challenges, technological change and effects on work and employment. In his current role he works with schools to support teachers delivering the EPQ (and other research projects) through talks, workshops, and learner consultations.

Rachel Steele is Director of Act On It and Pearson EPQ Principal Moderator. Rachel has led a large department in an FE college; teaching Level 2 and Level 3 academic and vocational qualifications and Access courses for adults. In 2004, she joint founded Act On It with Helen Turner. Act On It is a social enterprise that delivers drama-based projects with disadvantaged individuals and communities in the UK and overseas. Project working is it at the heart of Act On It’s approach; working with marginalised groups to co-create original performance material and learning resources.

Rachel is a senior assessment associate at Pearson, working across a number of qualifications and is Principal Moderator for the Pearson EPQ Artefact Unit. As part of her exam board role, she has also been involved with new qualification development and written and delivered training for schools and colleges.

Helen Turner is Director of Act On It and Pearson EPQ Principal Moderator. Helen worked as an actor before teaching at the BRIT School and going on to lead a Performing Arts department in a large FE College where she progressed to Artistic Director. Helen is Director and co-founder of Act On It along with Rachel Steele. Act On It is a registered work-based learning centre and often accredits participants with Project qualifications at all levels. Helen is a Principal Moderator for the Pearson EPQ Performance Unit. For over 15 years, Helen has developed a portfolio of senior assessment roles with leading exam boards, bringing her wealth of teaching experience and her passion and belief in creative education to her work. Helen values creative approaches to education and is an advocate for project learning.