Dr Helen Walls is a professional learning facilitator and educational researcher, with twenty years’ experience working in schools. She is committed to raising achievement in writing by sharing evidence-based, practical methods that will engage every student. Helen is Managing Director of The Writing Teacher – a consultancy which provides writing workshops and resources for teachers, all accessible online. She also works in schools as a professional learning facilitator. For her PhD thesis, Helen conducted two empirical studies into the teaching of writing. The first was a trial of the Fast Feedback Formative Evaluation System. The second was a survey of teachers’ beliefs and practices, and an investigation of the impacts of these on student achievement. In 2024, Helen was selected as a member of Minister Stanford’s Ministerial Advisory Group for the New Zealand Curriculum refresh. She was also involved as a lead writer of the Year 0-6 English curriculum. Helen has been published with Essential Resources, The Australian Journal of Learning Difficulties and The Education Hub.
researchED New Zealand
May 2026
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In partnership with the New Zealand Initiative
