60 Seconds with Mrs Cooper, Head of English

Tell us a bit about yourself...

As a 'third-culture kid,' I grew up navigating different worlds, living in Europe and Southeast Asia. My experience as a young person motivated me to pursue international opportunities and after teaching at The Malling School and St Olave’s Grammar School in Kent as well as Harris City Technology College in South East London, I left the UK and travelled extensively with my family, working at British International schools in Malaysia, Portugal, and France, before joining KC in September as Head of English.

What do you enjoy most about teaching?

My career has given me experience in almost every facet of school life from Head of English and Associate Vice Principal to leading school productions. I am particularly interested in neurodiversity and the power of positive psychology in the classroom. I draw a lot of inspiration from the "Growth Mindset" work of Carol Dweck and the "Grit" research of Angela Duckworth. To me, the "magic" of teaching happens when we are all "in the flow"—those moments when students are so engaged in collaborating and creating that the four walls of the classroom seem to disappear. Very few professions allow for the level of creativity that education does, and I am committed to putting that sense of dynamic, purposeful fun into every lesson. On a personal level, my favourite activities involve some sort of sport, either running, tennis or a Zumba class, and the best evening out is a comedy club or trip to the theatre!

What top advice would you give to students studying your subject?

Success isn’t just about grades; it’s about the mindset we bring to the challenge.

• View Setbacks as Data: As Maya Angelou said, "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated." A defeat is just information on how to improve for the next time.
• Own Your Narrative: Abraham Lincoln noted that "The best way to predict your future is to create it." Use your time at KC to build the person you want to become.
• Identify Your "Superpowers": Everyone has a different learning style. Whether you are a creative storyteller or a logical analyst, lean into your natural strengths while building your resilience in other areas.
• Collaboration is Key: Real-world success comes from how well you communicate your ideas and support those around you.

What are the department highlights and upcoming events?

We have a busy calendar designed to encourage students to collaborate and create:

• Year 7: Finding their voices in Poetry by Heart, a national competition focusing on reciting and performing poetry.
• Year 8: Diving into the Page Turners reading challenges, a competition encouraging students to read novels and produce creative responses.
• Year 9: Exploring Identity and Diversity through our annual Speech Competition.
• Plus: Upcoming author visits, World Book Day, A Level theatre trip to see Othello, and the launch of our new Creative Writing Club.

Watch this space, there is much more to come!