And so it begins…
Hello from Between Boards: A Teacher with Multiple Perspectives
Welcome to Between Boards! This is a little corner of the internet where I plan to share thoughts, ideas, and the occasional lightbulb moment about education. Think of it as a meeting point for big ideas, small insights, and everything in between—whether you’re a teacher, a policymaker, or just someone curious about the world of schools.
Who Am I?
Let’s start with a little about me. I’ve spent my career teaching across a wide range of classrooms—from Reception all the way to Year 13, in both state and private schools, and even internationally. My background is in maths, a subject I’ve always loved. (Yes, I’m one of those teachers who finds beauty in algebra and secretly enjoys a good long division problem.) But as much as I love maths, I believe that good education transcends any one subject.
Whether it’s maths, history, or art, every child deserves the best possible education—an experience that’s engaging, challenging, and tailored to their needs. And for that to happen, every teacher needs the tools, support, and training to thrive. It’s one of the many reasons I’m passionate about evidence-informed practice: the idea that teaching should be grounded in sound research and strategies that are proven to work.
Why Between Boards?
The name Between Boards reflects much of where I’ve spent my career. I’ve moved between state and private schools, between the chalkboard and the whiteboard, and between the ever-changing demands of education. It also reflects a belief I hold strongly: that there’s much we can learn from standing in the middle—examining the strengths and weaknesses of both sides and finding ways to connect and collaborate.
I’m also between boards when it comes to the age ranges I’ve taught. Secondary trained, I began my career teaching up to Year 13 and the International Baccalaureate (IB), delving into the complexities of preparing students for exams and life beyond school. But over time, I developed a keen interest in primary maths, which led me to work with younger learners—sometimes as young as Year 1. While I may not fit the mould of a specialist in any one age group on paper, I’ve had the rare opportunity to gain insight into the full educational journey, from the very first steps in numeracy to advanced mathematical reasoning.
In state schools, I’ve seen how teachers must excel at their craft out of necessity. With limited resources and no room for error, anything less than strong, effective teaching risks losing the attention of a diverse classroom—not just for the day, but in the long term. It’s a pressure cooker, but it often brings out the very best in educators.
In private schools, I’ve seen the power of smaller class sizes, specialized programs, and the kind of individualized attention that can make all the difference for a child’s education. But what’s most striking is how, beneath the surface, the challenges often look the same: engaging students, managing workloads, and balancing high expectations with well-being.
This blog is my way of unpacking those experiences. What are the strengths of each system? Where do they overlap? How can we combine the best of both worlds to create something even better? And how do these questions play out across every stage of a child’s education? Between Boards is where I hope to explore these ideas and more.
Evidence-Informed Education: A Non-Negotiable
If there’s one thread that runs through all of this, it’s the importance of evidence-informed practice. Teaching isn’t just an art—it’s also a science. And yet, I can honestly say I haven’t seen schools truly embrace research-based strategies or invest in the proper training needed to implement them effectively. To be frank, it’s embarrassing. For a profession that should be grounded in evidence and research, these principles are far too often ignored altogether.
Interestingly, one of the schools I worked in loved the phrase “non-negotiable.” It was used liberally to describe expectations that no one was meant to deviate from—policies, practices, and even day-to-day routines. While the idea of essential standards might sound good in theory, in practice, it often felt more like a blunt instrument than a helpful guide. (Let’s be honest: this phrase is sure to make a return in a future, slightly whinier blog post.)
But perhaps we should rethink what should be non-negotiable in education. Imagine if evidence-informed practice—grounded in research, properly understood, and meaningfully implemented—became the real “non-negotiable” in our schools. Other professions, like doctors, rely on evidence as the foundation of their practice, and they’re respected for it. Teaching, on the other hand, often feels like a patchwork of intuition, outdated traditions, and trial-and-error. How can we expect to be respected as a profession if we’re not holding ourselves to higher, evidence-driven standards?
And yes, I know—research often feels like a luxury in the busy world of education. With endless demands on teachers’ time, professional development and reflective practice frequently take a backseat. But that’s precisely why we need to embed these principles into the foundations of how schools operate. Evidence-based practice isn’t a nice-to-have or a buzzword; it’s the bedrock of good teaching, no matter the subject or setting. Without it, we’re not just letting down teachers—we’re letting down students who deserve better.
What’s Next?
So, what can you expect from Between Boards? In the weeks ahead, I’ll be diving into some of the big questions in education:
What can state and private schools learn from each other?
How can evidence-informed practice become the norm rather than the exception?
What do we do about the challenges no one really talks about—like silent transitions (seriously, why are they so hard?) or the mystery of why every school printer seems cursed?
Along the way, I’ll share stories from my own experiences, practical strategies for teachers, and a few thought experiments on what the future of education might look like if we dared to think differently.
Let’s Start the Conversation
But this blog isn’t just about my story—it’s about yours, too. Between Boards is a space to share ideas, spark conversations, and challenge the status quo. Whether you’re a teacher looking for inspiration, a policymaker rethinking the big picture, or someone who’s just curious about how schools tick, I’d love to hear from you.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to ask or share about education? Let’s start the conversation—and maybe, just maybe, help move things forward.
