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,...
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...
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...
