My thoughts on why we should, without shadow of a doubt, move online to improve parental and student engagement. As a millennial I have grown up with the ever-changing social media platforms so, to some degree, I understand the draw towards the light of online communication. Whilst I can't profess to understand the mindless short … Continue reading Online Engagement
Surviving The Pandemic… Just.
It has been about seven months since I last decided to dust off the old keyboard and share my thoughts on well, anything. I reckon this would be a good place to start, don't you? Having started a new school and new role at the start of this academic year (September 2020) I was excited … Continue reading Surviving The Pandemic… Just.
Adventure #DailyWritingChallenge
I know that this writing challenge was set back in April so my submission is 'slightly' late but, I promise it's late for a good reason. The past five years of my life have been an 'adventure', to say the least, that only the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien himself could create. From moving to Yorkshire … Continue reading Adventure #DailyWritingChallenge
A Letter to My Future Self
In August 2018, I attended my first Ambition Institute (formerly Ambition School Leadership) residential. At the end of an inspiring and humbling week, we were asked to write a letter to our future selves thinking about the type of leaders we wanted to become and where we wanted to be two years later. Today I … Continue reading A Letter to My Future Self
MEd, is it worth it?
Over recent weeks I have witnessed teacher after teacher question whether or not a Masters in Education is worth the time, money and effort required for an improved chance at career advancement. Thinking through what I had to offer on this topic, the greatest advice I can give is to share my experience of completing … Continue reading MEd, is it worth it?
Support #DailyWritingChallenge
‘One of the things that we never discuss, or we rarely discuss, is the value of human connection.’ Rita Pierson In the, almost exact - not quite but shhh, words of Rita Pierson, 'every person reading this blog has been affected by a teacher or an adult.' It seems almost poetic that ‘bear all or … Continue reading Support #DailyWritingChallenge
Forgiveness #DailyWritingChallenge
Forgiveness, more specifically self-forgiveness, is a concept I have battled with over the years, especially the years that I have spent as an educator. It wasn’t until recently, when I burdened myself with the crushing blame of unrelenting heartbreak and pressure that I really understood the value of forgiveness… I am the typical, albeit scouse-version, … Continue reading Forgiveness #DailyWritingChallenge
From Liverpool to Leeds
Why I decided to commit to a 140 mile round trip every day to work in a school that I love; in a community like no other. Towards the back end of the previous academic year, I found the mentality and drive I had for my work beginning to fade. My declining well-being was beginning … Continue reading From Liverpool to Leeds
Finding My Teaching Leaders Tribe
Why having that neutral ground to touch base with, outside of the work place, has being crucial for my wellbeing. In the 2017-2018 academic year my wonderful Principal nominated me for the Ambition Institute's Teaching Leaders 2018 cohort. This meant, amongst other things, that I would embark on an intense leadership journey like no other. … Continue reading Finding My Teaching Leaders Tribe
#TENC19 Talk – How to enthuse and encourage Pupil Premium students with the English Curriculum
It was back in September 2018 when a DM from the awesome TENC (Team English National Conference) women appeared in my inbox asking me to lead a workshop at this year’s conference. I was stupefied at the thought that people actually wanted to hear from me. Keeping in mind, that this during the period when … Continue reading #TENC19 Talk – How to enthuse and encourage Pupil Premium students with the English Curriculum
Going Twelve Rounds with Public Speaking
A follow-up post to 'Speaking in front of colleagues: the art of talking slowly' Earlier this year, I set myself a personal-professional target of pushing my perceived limits around public speaking. I first openly discussed this on LinkedIn (I have now migrated the post to this site for your reading pleasure) and feared the response … Continue reading Going Twelve Rounds with Public Speaking
Speaking in front of colleagues: the art of talking slowly
As a Scouser living in Yorkshire I have had a long and laborious relationship with public speaking. Within the first year of teaching in the grassy hills of Huddersfield I learnt that I was going to get nowhere unless I slowed my accent down a touch - yet two years later I still felt the … Continue reading Speaking in front of colleagues: the art of talking slowly
A Scouser's Guide to Education 