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...
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...
