Jan 4, 2026 | Communication, EDI, Leadership, Partnerships, Science, Updates
I’m writing this during a break in rehearsals for Handel’s Messiah in Canterbury Cathedral, singing with the cathedral choir and an orchestra, the curiously named Harmonious Society of Tickle Fiddle Gentlemen. There’s been an early cold snap this November, so the heating hasn’t quite caught up yet and it’s freezing. Still, I’m feeling the glow of an experience a couple of weeks ago – one that recognised work I’ve spent much of my career doing without it being much of a plan. Before I explain, let me introduce Major C.E.S. Phillips. Like...
Aug 31, 2025 | EDI, Leadership, Partnerships, Professional development, Science, Secondary
Answer: At the end! When I was a brand-new teacher in the 90s I had to teach biology alongside my physics specialism. It was hard. I hadn’t studied biology since year 8. I had to teach fungi, MRS GREN and other mysteries. And there was the green pen incident… I was a page or two ahead in the textbook. My understanding was surface-deep. I stuck to the explanations I had rehearsed. I didn’t recognise my students’ common misconceptions, let alone have any idea how to correct them. I had no alternative explanations, few helpful analogies...
Jul 3, 2025 | Leadership, Partnerships, Secondary, Updates
It’s 5 years since I left my role leading partnerships at The King’s School, Canterbury to focus on building Astin Consulting. But it was a joy to be back this week for two very contrasting concerts:Last night, the pinnacle of the school’s musical talent entertained us in an ambitious programme of concerto movements and a symphony (Tchaikovsky 5 no less!) under the inspiring baton of the Director of Music, Will Bersey.And on Saturday, a concert from children participating in the school’s music partnership programme,...
Mar 2, 2025 | EDI, Leadership, Partnerships, Primary, Professional development, Science, Updates
I expect that most women reading this will be familiar with most men commenting on their appearance – sometimes a well-meant compliment, sometimes shouts from scaffolding. It’s a fact of life as a woman. This comment “You don’t look like a physics teacher” was the opening line from the father of a year 10 girl at parents’ evening. Initially I was faintly amused – haha, yes, no leather elbow patches or slightly crazed Einstein look (though I do have the curly hair, hoho…). And then came the gradual realisation of the effect of that comment...
Jan 12, 2025 | Business, Leadership, Partnerships, Professional development, Science, Updates
10 year anniversary blog – what I’ve loved and learned about being a freelance consultant, and some tips for anyone considering a similar move. “What are you prepared to give up in order to have what you truly want?” This question changed my life. It was on a wall calendar in 2013 and prompted my move away from classroom-based teaching towards consultancy, with considerable soul-searching along the way. In short, it launched Astin Consulting which last term, unbelievably, celebrated its 10th birthday. So what did I give up? A...
Sep 2, 2024 | Business, Partnerships, Primary, Professional development, Secondary, Updates
My 17 year-old son came home from school last term with the (presumably AI-generated) results of his careers questionnaire. He’s not really sure what he wants to be when he grows up, maybe designer or diplomat. Though right now it’s all about more immediate university and gap year decisions. So, what did the careers questionnaire reveal as his top two profile matches? Circus performer or head of state. Yup. Those two well-known ‘careers’. Needless to say this has generated considerable family hilarity – both the...
Aug 31, 2024 | Leadership, Partnerships, Professional development
School partnerships mean different things to different people, including: joint events or shared facilities relationships with parents or feeder schools charitable support for a partner school overseas cross-sector co-created projects business partnerships research collaborations with universities and everything in between! Understandably, these different flavours of partnership (brilliantly described in Graeme Lawrie’s book “50 useful things to know about school partnerships”) beg the question: “who leads partnerships?” One...
Dec 13, 2023 | Leadership, Partnerships, Primary, Professional development, Secondary
Fresh from the buzz of Partnerships Week 2023 and as the year draws to a close, it feels like a good time to reflect on school partnerships: what’s changed, what’s working well and where 2024 might take us. This year has witnessed unprecedented challenges in education: student attendance, teacher recruitment, school building decay, questions over Ofsted, severe budgetary pressures and family poverty, continued COVID fallout for young people and more. Dame Alison Peacock, CEO of Chartered College of Teaching, referred in her discussion with me...
