Ruth Wanless

Ruth Wanless is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, Language and Psychology at York St John University. With a 21-year career in primary education, she has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, subject leader (including 14 years leading English), Deputy Headteacher of a large primary school, and Headteacher of a one-form entry primary school. Her professional focus lies in arts integration, teacher development, and educational leadership.

She currently teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate primary education programmes, specializing in English, and serves as Module Director for the second-year undergraduate English module. Ruth actively contributes to school governance as a governor for a North Yorkshire school federation and sits on the board of a newly established Ryedale-based charity dedicated to children's mental health and wellbeing.

Her research interests emphasize arts-informed education and teacher professional growth, reflecting her commitment to nurturing educators and enhancing learning environments. Ruth's career bridges practical classroom experience with academic roles, aiming to strengthen educational practices through collaborative research and community engagement.