Shared Lawnmowers

Shared Lawnmowers

When I was appointed to the newly-created role of Head of Partnerships at the King’s School in Canterbury in 2014 some colleagues wondered if it had something to do with marriage guidance counselling! Partnerships are still a relatively new concept for some independent schools. Many are charities and look to fulfil their status through bursaries and outreach yet need to survive as businesses. Partnerships are different from outreach: co-designing educational projects with other schools can enable everyone to thrive; education is not a...
Partnerships, independent schools and charitable status

Partnerships, independent schools and charitable status

At a recent partnership training event a participant asked me: “if independent schools lost their charitable status, do you think they would continue to partner with state schools?” My immediate answer was yes, of course they should – partnerships between state and independent schools bring enormous value to both partners. All schools improve by collaborating with others, especially when they plan their partnerships strategically. If it is genuine partnership which is mutually beneficial and involves activities co-created from the basis of a...
Christmas Reading List

Christmas Reading List

If you like to bookmark some reading for the holidays, here are some links to articles and blogs on the subject of school #partnerships which I’d particularly recommend. Some of the authors spoke at the #PartnerChat Symposium on 9th November 2022.  1. John Smith from RGS Newcastle– on bursaries vs partnerships:https://educatinghumansblog.blogspot.com/2022/10/measuring-performance-in-education.html  2. Lynne Bianchi from the Great Science Share for Schools –  on listening as the best form of outreach...
Girls, Physics and Planet Possibility

Girls, Physics and Planet Possibility

This is an article based on a talk given at the WomenEd Global Unconference on Saturday 1st October 2022 by Christina Astin (Chair of Planet Possibility), Marilyn Comrie (Director of The Blair Project) and Olivia Keenan (SEPnet and QMUL). Some young people, including girls, are put off studying physics because of misconceived stereotypes.  Planet Possibility is a consortium working to change this, radically. Read on to find out what we are doing and how education leaders can be part of the solution. In this article we want...