Before taking an academic post at Northumbria University, Kirstin was a class teacher, senior leader, and Specialist Leader of Education in primary schools in the North East for more than 13 years. Kirstin is currently the Initial Teacher Education subject lead for English, as well as Modern Foreign Languages. She is one of the module leaders for the Educational Research and Enquiry strand of the BA Primary Education programme. 

Kirstin completed her MEd and EdD at the University of Newcastle, and also holds an MLitt in Latin American Literature. She has a particular interest in simulation-based approaches for teacher education; teacher research; perceptions and experiences of teaching and learning; and the role of student voice in developing pedagogy. 

Kirstin is a school governor for a local primary school, and collaborates closely with many regional and national organisations, including the Great North Maths Hub, National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, Education Endowment Foundation, and the Research School Network. 

Kirstin's principal interests include:

• teacher research, and participatory research with teachers, students and children
• perceptions of teaching and learning, and the impacts of these upon self-concept, motivation and learning outcomes
• the development of metacognition through peer collaboration and talk