The current Covid-19 outbreak has resulted in school closures in many countries. Student learning faces significant disruption at an important time of the year (northern hemisphere) as exam season approaches for particular cohorts, and more generally for all students. Into the breach has stepped online learning, employed by many schools to maintain as regular a…
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In recent weeks there have been numerous articles and posts detailing the great lengths schools and teachers are going to ensuring that students continue their education as smoothly as possible during the current Covid-19 disruption. A theme often used was how this crisis brought out the very best in teachers as they exemplified outstanding professionalism…
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I hate to tell you this but writer’s block or interrupt or whatever way you like to describe that insane place where the words simply won’t oblige you by appearing on your screen in perfect order, is real. It can happen to anyone at any time but prefers to butt in when urgency is most…
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In recent days the former United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, spoke at GEMS Academy schools in Dubai. While addressing students and underlining the role of quality education for a better world, his standout message to students was about the importance of being global citizens and of being compassionate. When an individual of this stature,…
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Increasingly throughout my career, first as a teacher and later as a school leader I have been exercised by the conundrum of how should we assess fairly within schools and, most significantly, at school leaving examination time. For this terminal examination, in large measure, is the tool employed across the world to recognise the achievements,…
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We come into this world wired for deep connection, for family dependency. Bit by bit we are weaned into individuality and encouraged to develop independently. When we reach full adult sustainability we seek other deep connections in romantic relationships. We search for friendship connections. We seek professional connections. We develop community connections. We work to…
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With the recent publication of the PISA 2018 results there has been the usual flurry of correspondence and comment on the project, what the results mean for those countries and regions at the top of the table and those in the lower reaches. While attempts are being made to introduce elements into the tests which…
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Before long, in your new post, you will begin to ask yourself how you are doing. Is this working for you? Is it what you expected? You will begin to moderate your expectations in relation to your personal experience on the ground. And so you should. Your contract is likely to be a finite one…
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‘A few months into my post as Western Co-Principal of Shanghai United International School my Chinese Co-Principal offered an observation which has stuck with me since as incorporating a wealth of meaning in a seemingly simple statement. This colleague was a lady of perspicacity and wisdom with whom I had established a great professional relationship…
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We all wonder why someone decides to emigrate. We like to think we know, and often we decide the reasons in our own head because these are the ones we can be most comfortable with, and I get it! It is hard to accept that someone is leaving because they wish to escape my life,…
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