Meet the Teacher – Emma Brandon: Head of English

Please tell me a little about your background:

I’ve been teaching for almost 20 years in a range of schools, from a co-ed Islamic School in Southwest Sydney in my early career to most recently, 12 years at Loreto Kirribilli. At Loreto I took on a range of roles including two years as Assistant Head of English, PLT leader and K-12 Literacy Coordinator where I led the whole school in a pedagogical shift to embedding evidence-based literacy focus into teaching and learning.

My absolute passion is Extension 1, and I’ve worked to redesign this space to align and stretch the interests of my students with a girl-forward focus. I love leading staff in Professional Learning and have presented at many opportunities, including most recently at the ICGS Conference in NZ. On top of this, I have been an HSC Marker for many years – my most recent experience is the last four years as an Advanced Module C marker.

What are your best hopes for MLC School girls in English?

What I hope for the MLC School English student is that she leaves our classrooms with a strong sense of herself as a thinker, reader and creator. I see her as a reader of diverse and complex texts who is willing to grapple with big ideas. She is not afraid of struggle, in fact, she actively seeks out productive struggle because she understands that learning happens there. She fronts up to hard things with confidence, trusting that she has the capacity to work through challenges.

In our classrooms, English is experienced as vital and life‑breathing. It is relevant to her world and worth the intellectual effort it demands. It is hard, but it can be tackled from multiple angles, inviting different perspectives and voices. The MLC School English student develops a strong sense of voice and authenticity in her writing and thinking, and she is curious, creative, and open to possibility. Ultimately, I hope the MLC School English student leaves Year 12 not just with strong results, but with confidence in her ability to think deeply, question meaningfully, and most importantly a lifelong love of literature.

Why do you love your subject?

I love English because it is where thinking and humanity meet. English gives students the space to grapple with big ideas, to sit with uncertainty, and to learn that struggle is not something to avoid but something that grows them. I love that it asks students to read deeply, think critically and discover that their voice matters. At its best, English is life‑breathing it helps students understand themselves and the world, it’s the subject where you have the light bulb moment – the aha – where the penny drops, something in you shifts and cracks open your world.

What is your favourite novel and what are you reading?

I have many! But the one I keep coming back to is Monkey Grip, by Helen Garner. She is my queen! I just introduced my Year 11 Advanced class to the beauty of ‘Helen’ (as they quickly took to calling her) and I was so thrilled they loved her. I just finished reading ‘Here goes Nothing’ by Steve Toltz which was quirky, hilarious and thought provoking. In order to combat any threat of a reading slump, as soon as I finish a book I pick up another – so now I am dipping into Helen Garner’s collected diaries ‘How to End a Story.’

Other hobbies or interests?

When I’m not in the English classroom you might find me…being Mum to my two boys Solomon (8) and Otis (6) – usually in some sort of sporting capacity which involves kicking a footy, watching the Sydney Swans or shooting hoops, snorkeling and being outdoors. I’m a big ocean lover – I try to get into the water at least once a week, even in the winter! I belong to two book clubs (of course). I also try and slow down as much as I can, so meditation has become a really important part of my life and my Luminary group are quickly learning the power of some deep breathing!

How you are settling in?

I feel like I have been here forever! And that’s a good thing – everyone has been so friendly and welcoming. I have an amazing faculty full of creative ideas, lots of laughs and great recommendations. The girls are full of life, always willing to give something new a go, eager to learn and muck in – which I love.