The whole blogging process has me reflecting, reading and researching. Each blog or article I write is personal CPD (and not just working out WordPress!) but I also blog with the intention of self-reflection and self-improvement, and in the hope that my personal experiences, thoughts and suggestions here can help someone else in a similar position. Feel free to get in touch if you want to find out more!
The Power of Innovative School On-boarding: Fueling Engagement and Growth
The challenge of teacher recruitment and retention is a persistent struggle for headteachers globally. At International Schools Partnership (ISP) Malaysia, we’re evolving the way we support, train and retain our incredible teachers and leaders! Welcome to the era where on-boarding is never ‘done.’ It’s a continuous, engaging, transformative journey, not a one-off or one-week event!…
Rethinking School Inspections: A Path to Uniting Educators and Fostering Continuous Improvement
The education community is currently immersed in the news of the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry, which has ignited a heated debate and renewed calls for an urgent review of the current Ofsted inspection process in the UK education system. The current inspection process imposes immense pressure on school leaders and teachers due to…
Enter the Festival of Amazing Learning for Continuous Connection and Shared Learning
It’s a wrap, but it is just the beginning! International School Partnership’s inaugural Festival of Amazing Learning feels transformational – it has created a seismic shift in building deeper connections, sharing innovative ideas and has ignited a buzz about learning across Malaysia. Having spent the last couple of years hiding behind a mask, and for…
Making Your Promises Happen in Your New Job
A new job, whether it’s an internal transfer, a fresh project or a new school, comes with a lot of learning; there’s new connections…
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I love you Tenby Penang, but I’m moving on!
I love you Tenby Penang, but I’m moving on. Something else has caught my eye. Five and a half years we committed to each…
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Rest and recharge
There are many reasons for the school holidays. For me, self-reflection is one. As I rest and recharge in the sunshine here on the…
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How to identify, develop and retain amazing leaders for your school
A long, long, time ago a senior leader saw the potential in a young, enthusiastic, and driven PE teacher, me. What did that senior…
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Mastering the soft (aka hard) skills as a student leader
Still on a high having just completed International Olympic Week with the Sports Sub-Council it is crystal clear how valuable our student leadership council…
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How to build your leadership superpowers
Becoming a Headteacher was never the plan! Five years on, I would not change anything. Mistakes have been made, apologies given. Regular reflection, and…
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#Teacher5aday #Pledge
Time (thank goodness) to say farewell to the Year of the Rat and welcome in the Year of the Ox, the White Metal Ox…
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What A Decent Trek Can Teach You About School Leadership
A decent trek is the perfect metaphor for the challenges of school leadership. There are many lessons to be learned, at times all you…
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Habits to Develop a Positive Mindset
This year has been an extreme test. It would be easy to look back on the gloom of 2020, with disruption and change brought…
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How to reflect in a time of crisis
Pause, look, listen and respond…with confidence As we confront a large-scale changing world it becomes even more important to reflect. Reflection isn’t a luxury…
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Talk the talk, walk the walk
Some of my beliefs for successful leadership My classroom door is always open. Two colleagues came to visit my class to look for learning…
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Year of the Rat and beyond has a lot to live up to!
Coming to the end of the first month in the new decade and we are in the midst of celebrating Chinese New Year. The…
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#Teacher5aday #Pledge 2019
My PLN on Twitter and involvement in the #Teacher5aday hashtag – the fabulous dedication of @martynreah – always reminds me to look after my…
Living Overseas – get involved!
Having just come back from the eye opening Thaipusam celebrations it got me thinking about the things I would never have experienced had I…
10 tips for any teacher new to the international circuit
If you’re reading this as a new international teacher – welcome to the club! You celebrated the the job offer, shortly followed by madly…
School excursions take off (for one week!)
Excitement has built about which trip is the best, which activity will be the scariest, what clothes to wear and most importantly what snacks…
Sport for mind and body
Sports Day brings everyone together, win or lose, lessons are learned and experiences are shared, memories made and records broken. A successful school Sports…
My 2018 Pledge
2018 is all about getting fit for forty! Everyone I know who has already reached this age or, like me, is close to hitting…
Sixth Form – how we increased our numbers
A record number of our year 11 students signed up to our sixth form this September. Not only that, we’ve also attracted students from outside…
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The Power of Transparency in Schools
This has been one of the most positive weeks since the start of the school year but there were a few moves that might have backfired. …
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Your wellbeing
Wellbeing continues to be a hot topic in 2017: work demands are high and so to are the number of teachers leaving the profession.…
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Ten days as a new Head Teacher
Not one to say no to an opportunity in my personal and my professional career, I took on my first Headship in a new…
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Do international schools value quality teaching and learning?
The last day of the academic year and the last day at my second international school – it’s always the same – you’re wrapping…
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One of my most important teaching strategies – smiling!
Within seconds of getting out of my car I’ve smiled and said “good morning” to a colleague, by the time I’ve walked to my…
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Lesson study 2016 – reflection
Having now been through one full lesson study I can confidently say that this CPD pathway has certainly bought advantages to our teachers and…
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#15MinForum: Engaging their minds
As a trainee teacher on placement and often for most NQT’s the number of behaviour strategies you have in your toolkit is crucial. To…
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Teaching the teachers
Six of our outstanding practitioners taught a lesson to highlight assessment for learning strategies and examples of how to check for progress and understanding.…
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Year 11: are you ‘happy’ to be leaving?
I am not sharing how many years ago I left school but my last day at school involved the obligatory assembly, shirt signing, notebook…
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Showcasing CPD at Association of International Malaysian Schools
More than 260 teaching professionals, representing 26 schools from across Malaysia attended the inaugural conference of the Association of International Malaysian Schools [AIMS], at the…
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Shining Bright in Our International Private School Review
Securing global accreditation from the Council of International Schools [CIS] and Western Association Schools and Colleges [WASC] is no mean feat.A visit from the…
Keep reading#15MinForum: Stay exam stress free
Head of Year 11 Anthony Faulkner is leading on the intervention across his year group and was keen to share some of his knowledge and research…
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EVENT: Tenby’s First #TeachMeet
As part of Tenby’s #CPD programme I will be hosting an internal #TenbyTeachMeet on Wednesday, 16 March, 2016. A blanket session for all staff to…
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CPD For Free
Our directed pathways are underway and it is not costing a ringgit. The whole school CPD programme covers: Aspiring Leadership; Teaching and Learning Team (Coaching); and, Lesson…
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#15MinForum: Gap Analysis
Head of ICT shares his gap analysis method to help plan and prep his year 11’s for the real thing in May!
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#15MinForum: Tweet Your Way To The Top
Find out why I think twitter is brilliant for my teaching career. Twitter allows me to: Keep up to date with latest educational changes Borrow…
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#15MinForum Lunches
The #BringAndBrag speed dating session was such success it has inspired the next opt-in CPD sessions. There were so many ideas teachers wanted to…
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Risky Business
At my school we are lucky to have amazing students. They are polite, courteous and most are very hard working. Students at Tenby are…
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Contrasts of Snow Days to Haze Days
Kuala Lumpur is different to Portsmouth. Some areas of KL make Portsmouth look pretty; the walk along the “muddy estuary” (this is what Kuala…
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From My First Blog to My First Speed Dating Experience… Honest.
Teachers line up for speed dating at Tenby Schools.
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