Jessica Austin-Burdett

Currently head of art and community at Deptford Green School in South London, Jessica was recently awarded the NSEAD Patrons Award for Empowering Change and delivered a session at the Festival of Education 2014 on the need for Art to have a more central role in the curriculum. She has worked in a variety of secondary schools across London in diverse communities. 

For 26 of her 28 years of teaching, she has held positions of responsibility, including both pastoral and curriculum focused ones, ranging from subject to senior leadership roles and beyond, including working with trainee teachers and ECT mentors. 

Jessica’s passion for art and for teaching led her to complete an MA in educational research in 2016. She has contributed to a number of educational gatherings, events, seminars and writings, including writing a section of the DiversEd book Diverse Educators: A Manifesto and states that ‘I am more passionate about teaching art now than I was when I started, I truly believe it is the best subject to teach!’