A Day in the Life of a Literacy Consultant

Meet Alice Pepper

At One Education, our team is made up of passionate professionals who work every day to support schools and improve outcomes for children. One such member is Alice Pepper, an Education Consultant on our Literacy team. A teacher and leader for over 19 years, Alice brings a wealth of experience and insight, having worked as literacy specialist and with a keen interest in research and development. Alice studied Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh, completed her PGCE at the University of Manchester, and has since dedicated her career to helping schools develop their literacy provision.

From supporting subject leaders and delivering training to leading innovative projects like the Oracy Award, Alice plays a key role in raising standards and sparking inspiration in classrooms across the region. So, what does a typical day look like in Alice’s world? Let’s take a peek behind the scenes. 

Morning Routine

My morning begins by checking my emails and calendar, making sure I’m on top of any urgent updates and looking for important educational news online. My calendar is very varied: I may be visiting a school, delivering training, creating content or research from home or at the office. As a Literacy Consultant, I love the variety of my role as well as the learning that I experience every day through meeting such a range of educators. 

In Schools: Tailored Support and Collaboration

Before I visit a new school, I always prepare in advance by researching online or speaking with colleagues who know the school. Every setting is different, and I believe it’s important to take a bespoke approach so that I can make sure the training or support I provide fits the school’s context and priorities. 

I spend my day in schools supporting staff with lesson planning, carrying out audits for reading, writing or oracy, creating and developing curriculum outlines or identifying areas for improvement and implementing best practice. I work with teachers and leaders to model literacy leadership and to offer expertise, for example, how to use evidence-informed knowledge to develop a new approach, creating an inspiring reading or writing curriculum, or by expertly moderating writing samples by pupils. I thoroughly enjoy meeting teachers and leaders during my visits. Whether I’m running a group session or having a 1:1 conversation with a subject lead, I love those moments when I see inspiration sparked by the ideas we’re sharing. Knowing we’re putting practical, meaningful solutions in place together is incredibly fulfilling. 

Finding Balance: A Workday That Works For Me

Like many people in consultancy, I spend a fair amount of time travelling between schools. I often use that time to listen to podcasts about education, which help me stay up to date and spark new ideas. When I’m in the office, I make a point of chatting to people and building connections, especially since I’m still relatively new to One Education. We are such a large and varied company that I always learn something new from talking to a colleague, whether it’s a catch-up in the kitchen or through one of our team meetings. I do my best to finish work on time and stay organised with my ‘to do’ list so that I can accomplish what I have set for the day. This gives me time away from work to re-set for the next day.  

Why I Love What I Do

One of the best parts of my job is the challenge – no two days are ever the same, and I relish the opportunity to research, reflect, and develop professionally. I find it incredibly rewarding to see the real impact that our training and support can have – not just on school staff who are doing so much under pressure, but ultimately on the children they teach. 

I always try to keep that wider picture in mind: that the work we do contributes to better outcomes and brighter futures for pupils. That’s what drives me. 

Leading the Oracy Award has been a particular highlight for me this year. It’s such an exciting initiative, and with oracy becoming a key focus in teaching and learning, I’m thrilled to be part of something so timely and impactful. If you’re interested in learning more about the Oracy Award, or how our Literacy Consultants can support your school – please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.