Alka Townend

Alka Townend, MRes (Ed) BA (Hons) QTS

Alka is currently a Lecturer in Education and EDI Lead based at the University of Sussex.  Prior to this she gained many years’ experience in different London universities as a Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for BA undergraduate and post-graduate education courses.  Alka’s subject expertise is in English, and she is a regular guest speaker at national and international educational conferences including the UKLA, NATE, ICET and ELSA.  Alka was recently invited to a conference in India to share her insights and knowledge related to the use of oracy as an effective pedagogical strategy for learning and assessment in the primary classroom.  Alka has a particular passion for children’s literature and how picture books can be utilised as a learning tool across a range of ages. 

Alka’s research area is focused on childhood bereavement and how grieving pupils might be supported in their primary school communities. To inform this work, Alka trained as a bereavement counsellor for a national UK charity and now specialises in supporting children and young people.  Alka also provides educational consultancy services and has recently been engaged to advise on a government funded project aimed at supporting young people in managing challenging life experiences related to different forms of loss.

Alka is currently the faculty lead for Equality Diversity and Inclusion.  She recently organised a research event focused on ethnic representation in children’s literature. She is also the national co-chair for ARTEN (the anti-racist teacher educator network). 

Alka’s background experience was gained in primary teaching, and she spent many years working in both state and independent schools in England as a teacher and senior leader. 

One of Alka’s proudest achievements was when she became the Winner of Sussex Extra Mile Award (given to staff who have shown extraordinary commitment and compassion towards their students).