National Literacy Trust takes on Andrew Ettinger as director of education amid expansion

The National Literacy Trust has appointed Andrew Ettinger as director of education as part of the charity’s expansion. 

The organisation said: “Following a period of significant growth, during which the NLT has continued to build and strengthen its evidence-based programmes and interventions and national campaigns to support literacy in schools – including the successful Libraries for Primaries campaign – Andrew Ettinger joins the charity’s senior management team reporting into chief executive Jonathan Douglas.”

The role has a new title – previously it was director of schools programmes, a position that Fiona Evans held for eight years, until April this year, when she joined Into Film as chief executive.

Formerly head of initial teacher education at London South Bank University, Ettinger will be responsible for leading the NLT’s strategy for raising literacy levels through its partnership with the education sector, and for growing the scale and the impact of this work.

Ettinger has worked across the education system in senior roles and was also policy adviser at the Department for Education, programmes director at Teaching Leaders (now Ambition Institute) and he has held national roles with responsibility for teacher-training policy and school collaboration. He holds a BA in English literature, an MA in literature and film and a PGCE in secondary English teaching.

Douglas said: “This is an exciting time to join our team as we celebrate 30 years of changing lives through literacy, and we are delighted to welcome Andrew to the National Literacy Trust.

“He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the education sector that will help maximise the impact of our work with education partners. Leading a highly effective schools directorate, Andrew will oversee delivery of activity in schools and settings that face the biggest challenges in the UK’s most disadvantaged communities, and work with government and other national education leaders to drive forward the National Literacy Trust’s mission.”

Ettinger said: "I am incredibly excited to be joining the National Literacy Trust at this significant point in the organisation’s strategic journey. I have worked across the education system for many years and know that literacy is essential to children accessing the full school curriculum and so being able to achieve their potential, but also for opening up all the opportunities that life offers.

“I hope that my experience in education policy and professional development will mean the National Literacy Trust is able to support more teachers and educators to ensure more children, especially those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, are able to read and write well and so can appreciate the joy and wonder that they bring.”

He joins the NLT on 1st July 2024 and can be contacted at Andrew.ettinger@literacytrust.org.uk.