Deb Orrock
English
About
Deb has been with Save My Exams since March 2023, and now writes content for our English Language and English Literature courses at all levels.
Prior to this, Deb had a diverse career in education, as an English curriculum lead, Skills for Life quality manager and teaching and learning mentor.
She has almost 20 years’ experience in teaching English Language and Literature at A-level, GCSE and IGCSE, as well as Functional Skills and ESOL programmes.
In addition to her teaching experience, Deb has designed and delivered staff development sessions on embedding literacy and numeracy into curriculum areas, digital innovation in literacy and ESOL provision and effective coaching and mentoring in education.
Her most recent work has been in supporting post-16 learners for whom education has been a challenge to achieve their GCSE English Language qualifications.
Deb is especially keen on ensuring high-quality learning is accessible for all, in order to unlock every student’s potential. She has recently re-designed our CIE IGCSE English Language course to reflect specification updates and to make the guides question specific.
Away from work and education, Deb enjoys playing tennis (when the weather is good) and hunting for fossils.
Published work or mentions
‘Culture clash: mentoring student Literacy educators is a marketised and instrumentalist further education policyscape’ - Research in Post-Compulsory Education, Volume 18, 2013
Education
Deb initially studied Theatre Arts at Lancaster University.
She received her teaching qualification for post-compulsory education, as well as her Literacy subject specialism, from the University of Wolverhampton.
This was followed by a Masters in Education, specialising in coaching and mentoring, also at the University of Wolverhampton.
Expertise
Deb has almost 20 years’ experience in teaching English Language and Literature at A-level, GCSE and IGCSE, as well as Functional Skills and ESOL programmes.
Her particular area of expertise is in GCSE and IGCSE English Language. She is passionate about helping students to achieve to the maximum of their potential in these subjects.
Deb was awarded a City and Guilds Medal for Excellence in 2013 for her work in quality improvement and assurance
She was also annually nominated for internal ‘Spotlight on Great Teaching’ awards by her students
Top revision quote for students
“I always say to my GCSE English Language students that above all, reading the questions really carefully is key. An extra minute spent reading and highlighting the focus of each question can really help improve your marks."
