Alison Walters | Educational resources

I am an editor/publisher with over 30 years' experience of developing educational digital and print resources.

Since going freelance in 2011 I have commissioned, project managed, development edited, copyedited and proofread a wide range of digital and print content – from primary science, maths and phonics, through secondary English, science, geography, psychology, PE, business studies and politics, and vocational hospitality and catering, business, sport sciences, health and social care, and beauty therapy, to academic titles in education and philosophy.

I have also worked on CPD resources for teachers, as well as company annual reports.

SUBJECTS/AREAS OF EXPERIENCE

Primary education

assessment • English • maths • phonics • science

Secondary education

business studies • computer science • English language and literature • geography • history • information technology • maths (to GCSE) • PE/sport • politics • psychology • science (to GCSE)

Vocational

agriculture • art and design • beauty therapy • business • child care • creative and media • hairdressing • health and social care • hospitality and catering • sport

CPD for teachers

child development and wellbeing • improving spelling, grammar and punctuation (KS2) • raising attainment in maths (KS2) • T-level delivery (Business and Administration; Management and Administration)

Academic

education • educational and social research • philosophy/politics

Business

• company annual reports (one company, four years running)

EXPERIENCE SNAPSHOT

• 2011–present: Freelance Publishing Professional
• 2007–2011: Publisher (Further Education), Hodder Education
• 2005–2006: Senior Publisher (Secondary Maths), Pearson
• 2004–2005: Content Producer, Spark Learning
• 2001–2004: Commissioning Editor (with responsibility for digital assessment publishing), Granada Learning
• 1992–2001: Various roles (Project Editor, Assistant Commissioning Editor, Commissioning Editor), Collins Education
• 1990–1992: Senior Desk Editor, Routledge
• 1988–1990: Various roles (Editorial Assistant, Assistant Journals Editor, In-House Editor), Gordon and Breach Science Publishers

For more details of my employment history and experience for Hodder Education, Pearson, Granada Learning, HarperCollins and more, please see my pre-freelance Curriculum Vitae.

CLIENTS

• Cambridge Publishing Management (for Pearson)
• Cambridge University Press
• City & Guilds
• Collins Education
• Digital Theatre+
• Edcoms (for International Paralympic Committee, Expo Dubai 2020)
• Educake (for Hodder Education)
• EMC Design (for CUP)
• Florence Production (for Pearson)
• Haremi (for CIPS, NCFE, Pearson)
• Hodder Education
• Just Content (for CUP, Pearson)
• Newgen (for CUP, Galore Park, Hodder Education, Macmillan Australia, Macmillan Education, Pearson)
• Oxford University Press
• Paperghosts (for Kognity)
• Publishing Training Centre
• QBS (for Alpha Publishing, Pearson)
• Rising Stars
• Saxon Graphics (for Routledge, I. B. Tauris)
• Schofield & Sims
• Scholastic
• Smart PE
• Swales and Willis (for Routledge)
• The Education and Training Foundation
• Thrive (Fronting the Challenge Projects Limited)
• University of the Arts London Awarding Body
• Wates Group
• YMCA
• York Press

TESTIMONIALS

** Alison worked as an Editorial Project Manager on our digital project for the Secondary English market. She was truly a pleasure to work with – highly organised, a great communicator and extremely knowledgeable and patient on what was, at times, a challenging project. Alison really is a safe pair of hands when it comes to all things editorial and the work she helped us with was of a very high standard. We couldn't have completed this project without her input and I'd be happy to work with her again in the future. Advanced Content and Learning Specialist, Secondary English T&L, Pearson

** Alison has worked as a development editor and copy editor on several of our international primary science courses in recent years. Always a real pleasure to work with, Alison provides a thorough and professional service. She meets every deadline, communicates clearly and shows exceptional attention to detail. When sending work to Alison, I always know it is in safe hands. I have no hesitation at all in recommending Alison as an outstanding editor. Mary-Clare Mitchell, Editorial Project Manager, York Press Ltd

** We are authors on a Primary Science project which involves writing of Learner Books, Workbooks, Teacher’s Resources and Worksheets, and Digital Resources. For the past 18 months we have had the pleasure of working with Alison Walters as Development Editor for our Teacher’s Resources and Worksheets, and Digital Resources.

Alison has been thorough and helpful, with constructive feedback and suggestions for activities, teacher guidance and worksheets. She has been diligent in co-ordinating and implementing amendments and corrections and has taken multiple changes of style from the publishers in her stride. Last, but not least, she has always kept to deadlines.

We would be happy to work with Alison again in the future. Fiona Baxter and Liz Dilley, Science authors

** Alison has been a pleasure to work with over the last year. Her editorial skills are excellent and she has worked closely with the in-house team to manage the resource development effectively, liaising with the author, designer and client. Her experience is clear to see. Eleanor Ward, Account Director at Edcoms

** Alison is amazing at what she does and a pleasure to work with – insightful and organised with great attention to detail. I would love to work with her again. Editorial Manager at HarperCollins Publishers

** Alison is conscientious, creative, and cheerful under pressure – an ideal team member on a challenging project! Primary Publishing Director at HarperCollins Publishers

** Thank you so much for your help and support on what has turned out to be a very big project. Your ability to cross reference so many files has been second to none and I have been amazed that you were able to spot the inconsistencies and ambiguities in the various stages of editing between my writing and the series editor's additions across all 18 Student Books and Workbooks.

It is obvious that your diligence in checking the facts has greatly improved the accuracy of the final drafts.

To be honest I was not looking forward to writing the Teacher's Guides but your patience and gentle guidance proved to be invaluable as you prompted me about the omissions and how to interpret the brief. I felt I was part of a very professional team as a consequence.

I have enjoyed working with you over the past 15 months and hope you will be guiding me through the proofs when they arrive. Niva Miles, Author for Macmillan Education

** Alison – just wanted to drop a line to thank you for your support in this process. It is particularly important for authors like me, in full-time work, to be completely focused when we come to approach these short writing contracts. Keen to get things right in the fewest attempts, your input in summarising and decoding the needs of the publisher has been the difference in producing quality work aligned to the changing expectations of the publisher. Put simply, I would not have been able to complete the work without your input and useful interpretations. Thanks very much. Chris Manley, Author for Pearson

** I have been an author with Hodder Education for over 15 years, and I can honestly say I have never met a lovelier person to work with than Alison. During the time she worked on my titles I always found Alison to be highly motivated, extremely well organised and efficient in all her editing tasks. She has a great drive and tremendous enthusiasm for her work, and is extraordinarily efficient in delivering work in a time-efficient manner whilst under the pressure of tight deadlines. Her attention to detail when checking my manuscripts is second to none, and I always felt confident knowing that once passed over to Alison she would be very comprehensive in her editing. I have no hesitation in recommending that you use Alison's services as I am confident you will be delighted with the service she provides, and that she will surpass your expectations. Author for Hodder Education

• Editor
• Proofreader

• Non-fiction
• Business & finance
• Education & training
• English literature
• History
• Humanities
• Mathematics
• Media studies
• Science
• Social sciences
• Sport & leisure
• Technology

• Book publishers
• Editing agencies
• Educational institutions
• Government agencies
• Packagers

• Acquisitions/commissioning
• Project management