Jan 17, 2022 | Leadership, Partnerships, Primary, Science, Secondary
Announcing the launch of a project to bring together best practice in school science partnerships – read on for your invitation to contribute (and click here to upload your contribution). Crocodiles and birds would seem unlikely friends. But their symbiotic relationship means that they can do something together which they cannot do on their own. The Nile crocodile feeds the Plover bird whilst getting its teeth cleaned. We call it mutualism. So it is with school partnerships, at least those which are genuinely mutually...
Jul 23, 2021 | Communication, Leadership, Partnerships, Primary, Professional development, Secondary, Updates
I’ve just read Nancy Kline’s book “Time to Think” – over 20 years too late. As a new middle leader in the 90s I could have done with her sage advice. However, I think that many of us in education naturally use these summer weeks as ‘time to think’ (once we’ve slept for a few days and reacquainted ourselves with our families!). It’s part of the ebb and flow of the school year. For school leaders it’s a time to zoom out and think strategically. And that might include reflecting on partnerships with other schools: how do these fit...
Jun 18, 2021 | Communication, Primary, Science, Updates
This week I delivered a workshop on plastics and their eco-friendly alternatives to an entire primary school – VIA ZOOM! As somebody once said “we don’t grow when things are easy; we grow when we face challenges”. But it doesn’t half help if there are others around to give you a hand! I thought I’d mastered the art of delivering CPD via Zoom/Teams/Adobe/Google. I can use polls, virtual whiteboards, breakouts, chat and padlet. I have my gorgeous visualiser for small experiments and live...
May 15, 2021 | Leadership, Partnerships, Updates
At school everything is compulsory or forbidden. Or so it seems to many schoolchildren. As teachers we chide our students’ lack of independent learning, often overlooking their resourcefulness, maturity and creativity. I think by our nature teachers like to retain an element of control, but amazing things can happen when we let students take ownership of a project. And it’s the opportunity for student initiative in school partnerships I really want to talk about here. In this blog I start by...
Feb 23, 2021 | Leadership, Partnerships, Primary, Professional development, Secondary, Updates
I had the opportunity to update Kent influencers last week on the educational landscape regionally. It was the perfect platform to talk about school partnerships and their crucial role in academic recovery post-Covid.Schools have managed to continue collaborating during lockdown, making use of new relationships and innovative technology and meeting new need. Student initiatives have been particularly heart-warming: making PPE, raising money for computer hardware, reading stories over Zoom and instigating peer mentoring schemes for attainment...
Feb 7, 2021 | Leadership, Professional development, Science, Secondary
I was delighted to be invited to write this blog for WomenEd after renewing my friendship with its founder and my former teacher, Vivienne Porritt! It first appeared on their website on 31 January 2021: https://www.womened.org/blog/how-can-school-leaders-help-fix-the-leaky-stem-pipeline. In it, I offer suggestions to school leaders, drawing on my own experience as a teacher, leader and trainer-adviser. The proportion of girls choosing A level physics and pursuing STEM careers has remained stubbornly low for decades. But recent...
Jan 13, 2021 | Leadership, Partnerships, Professional development, Updates
I wrote this article for the Girls School Association; it appeared on the GSA website on 5 January 2021: https://gsa.uk.com/2021/01/5-myths-of-cross-sector-partnerships/ There are as many perceived barriers to engaging with state schools as there are benefits, not least the current restrictions placed on schools because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, schools are always thinking ahead and I would argue that partnership working plays an important part in any future planning. We know that the best cross-sector partnerships are...
Oct 25, 2020 | Professional development, Science, Secondary, Updates
As all parents know, we put on a brave face in order to instil a cheery confidence in our offspring. As my eldest and her friends prepare for GCSEs this year I’m acutely aware of the difficulties of studying for exams that didn’t happen in 2020 and still might not in 2021. Revising for mocks whose purpose is unknown – a useful practice run or evidence towards a centre-assessed grade? – is pretty unsettling. Add to that the fog surrounding some of the work which was supposed to have been covered during home-learning...
Sep 28, 2020 | Science, Secondary, Updates
World Space Week is 4 -10 October 2020 and this year’s theme is “Satellites Improve Life”. I’ve created some resources for science teachers with info, ideas and links to plan lessons suitable for KS3 students (age 11-14) – available to download here. Everything is on a powerpoint presentation: teacher support and also student-facing slides with information on satellites (plus teacher notes) which you can edit and adapt for your classes. I hope you find the resources helpful. If you’d like some further...
Sep 9, 2020 | Leadership, Professional development, Science, Secondary, Updates
A big shout-out for all heads of science in schools who will be grappling with leading a practical, content-heavy subject within the current restrictions. Wherever you are in the world, don’t be disheartened! Here are my tips for staying on top of things this term:1. Look after yourself2. Look after your team3. Keep an eye on the guidance and use resources (e.g. CLEAPSS in the UK) to support4. Adjust your teaching plans to focus on what needs expert live explanation5. Gauge gaps in student understanding and support/stretch...
