Shehlha Zafir – Curriculum Director Curriculum Director for English | Education Leader | DEIB Advocate

Shehlha Zafir is an experienced Curriculum Director for English at Meridian Trust, where she supports school leaders across multiple regions to strengthen the quality of teaching, learning and curriculum design in English.

With a career spanning over 30 years in education, Shehlha brings deep subject expertise, strategic leadership, and a research-informed approach to improving outcomes for students. Shehlha holds both a BA and MA and has a professional background in English and Drama. She is a qualified professional coach and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. Her work is grounded in evidence-informed practice, supported by her membership of the British Educational Research Association (BERA) and her designation as a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for Curriculum Development.

Throughout her career, Shehlha has taught across a wide range of subjects including English Language and Literature (GCSE and A-Level), Drama, Media Studies, and Film Studies. She has worked in both mixed comprehensive and a single-sex school. In her current role, Shehlha works across 14 secondary schools and sixth forms, driving improvements in English provision and ensuring that curriculum design reflects diverse perspectives and inclusive practices. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in education.

Shehlha is a recognised contributor to teacher development and training. She co-authored the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) English curriculum for The Cambridge Partnership and delivers English specific ITT sessions for TCP, Teach First, CTSN (SCITT), In addition, she has delivered unconscious bias training across multiple National Professional Qualification (NPQ) programmes as well as ITT. Shehlha is also a school governor and an experienced facilitator, having led numerous sessions on curriculum development, representation in the English curriculum, and DEIB at subject, school, and trust levels. 

Speaking Topics

• Designing a Diverse and Inclusive English Curriculum
• Representation and Equity in Education
• Improving Teaching and Learning in English
• Evidence-Informed Curriculum Development
• Unconscious Bias in Education
• Leadership Development in Schools

• School and Trust Leaders
• Teachers and Middle Leaders
• Initial Teacher Trainees
• Education Policy and Curriculum Professionals