English Teaching Staff

Oliver Blond (Deputy Course Director, Course Designer and English Stream Leader)

Oliver is Head teacher of The Henrietta Barnett School in North London and an English and Drama specialist by training. He has worked in a variety of schools across London, as Head of English and Drama at Wimbledon High School and Deputy Head at North London Collegiate School. He has been involved in the Prince of Wales Education Summer Schools since they began in 2001.

Stephen Miles (Schools Programme Co-ordinator)

A delegate at the first Summer School, Stephen has enjoyed the role of Teacher Leader at subsequent events and contributes to the planning of the course. Stephen held a variety of roles in the secondary sector for many years before his recent move into Initial Teacher Training at Bath Spa University as Course Leader for the KS2/3 English PGCE. He has completed NPQH and an MA in Children’s Literature. He is a keen primary school governor.

Gareth Davies (Teacher Leader)

Gareth attended Sedgehill Comprehensive School and Orpington College. He took a First in English and Philosophy at the University of Sheffield and was also awarded the Peter H. Nidditch Prize in Philosophy. He has worked in a variety of schools as a teacher of English and has led the English departments of The King John School in Essex and Sawtry Community College, Cambridgeshire. His present post is as Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator at the College. Gareth enjoys writing and has had poems and short stories published in various literary periodicals, including Outposts, The Bound Spiral and The Rialto. He is currently working on a novel for older children.

Rachael Hare (Teacher Leader)

Rachel Hare is a Teacher at Holland Park School, a large comprehensive school in central London.

Eve Meyers-Belkin (Teacher Leader)

Eve Meyers-Belkin has worked in a variety of schools as an English teacher and Head of English and is currently at The Henrietta Barnett School, a girls' grammar school, as Head of English and 'Independent learning co-ordinator'. The school has recently acquired specialist status for Music with English and as a result of extra funding is involved in lots of exciting projects including film making and working with various poets and authors. The school also works with UCL and other universities and have regular extension sessions for years 12 and 13 lead by the department and visiting professors. Reading and theatre-going are her twin passions and she thus feels that she is in the perfect profession.

Tammy Nicholls (Teacher Leader)

Tammy Nicholls is an Advanced Skills Teacher of English and Development Coordinator for Excellence in the Classroom at Ulverston Victoria High School where she has taught for the past seven years. Previously she has been second in the English Department and part of the pastoral team in schools in Birmingham and Cumbria. Tammy has recently completed her MPhil in the effect of thinking skills on achievement and motivation with Newcastle University. Last year she also researched how to encourage pupils to engage with identities and cultures in literature for the United Kingdom Literacy Association where she speaks annually. She provides CPD for the NUT and has written for several journals, including those of the NUT and NAHT, and for the Specialist Schools Trust website on CPD. Tammy attended the Buxton, Darlington and Cambridge Education Summer Schools, which she enjoyed immensely, and this is her third year as a Teacher Leader.