When a child doesn’t succeed in French, but they seem to like the subject and the teacher, the only sensible conclusion they seem to reach is: ‘I am not talented enough to do this!’

Reciprocal teaching is a special educational procedure where students take on the roles of teachers – they become the organisers and conductors of the learning process. This pedagogical approach heightens both independent and initiative-driven student activity, which in turn cultivates leadership skills and fosters responsibility.

I have spent about 10 years teaching and I have caught myself thinking about what makes an effective teacher.

Perseverance is a word that is often overlooked. From a very young age, most of us are told that we can do anything we want if we set our mind to it. But what happens when we really want something, but our mind is working against us?

Nowadays we will rarely be surprised by the stream of consciousness narrative of Joyce or collage-like precipitousness of Gertrude Stein. We have grown used to authors playing with words.

Geography, at the heart of IGCSE, offers students a transformative journey of discovery, equipping them with the knowledge, skills and perspectives to become informed global citizens.

I love books! I can think of nothing more relaxing than reading a book in the bath. It’s pure decadence. When I’m on vacation, I simply devour books, reading at least three a week. But this love for books, and reading, does not extend to my child or listening to her read.

The most interesting area of investigative skills is what I like to call intellectual curiosity. The best way to describe this, is the display of any person's innate desire to know something…

Encouraging children to engage in sport not only sets them on a path to a healthy and active life, but also fosters holistic growth and well-being. Here at BSSP we embrace the power of sport and provide every child with the opportunity to experience its joy and transformative effects.

A key aspect that sets IGCSE History apart from more traditional historical studies is that the ability to remember and recall specific names and dates is secondary. At the heart of IGCSE History lies the development of critical thinking skills.

The research has shown that bilingual children can enhance academic achievements by improving executive function skills. Executive function is a set of cognitive processes that helps us to plan, organise and execute tasks and includes skills such as attention control, working memory and cognitive flexibility.

As a teacher, this is a question I get asked surprisingly regularly (by both parents and students) and is in fact a question I have asked myself before. It is, of course, not limited to just Harry Potter, but can be extended to many beloved authors and series.

At BSSP we try to develop our students in every single aspect of their academic and holistic life - from sports to beautiful writing. In October 2023, we put in place a calligraphy contest “White Pen”.

Now, in my time as a science teacher, I am asked every lesson; “Are we doing a practical today?” And the days when I answer; “yes we are”, I watch the same excited faces light up as they are going to be able to put their practical knowledge to the test.

I was inspired to write the article because of the photo on the front cover. Our Deputy Head took it during a Year 2 and 3 library session. What a joy to see, students engaging and enjoying books. The class teacher had just been to see me earlier about the chances of procuring further titles in their favourite series. Of course I took to the internet and two weeks later, they were delighted to find those titles on the shelf awaiting them.

In today's fast-paced digital age, where screens and gadgets dominate the lives of our youth, the question arises: Is theatre still relevant for children of the 21st century? The resounding answer is yes!

Role play. You might be thinking that this is simply entertainment for your child, a little bit of make believe. When you’re partaking in it as a teacher, you’re returned to your own childhood, sometimes without even noticing it. Do you remember your feelings and aspirations, when the whole world was open to you?

We celebrated our fifth year of operation by moving campus and expanding into the first year of iGCSE with Year 10. The iGCSE examinations are designed for students who wish to progress to complete their A-levels - or other international equivalents - before entering university, with A-levels being accepted worldwide by over 150 countries.

When I was in my second year at Morley Victoria, an Ofsted Outstanding school back in the UK, our head teacher liked to read non-fiction. In fact I don't think he'd read a work of fiction for 20 years. He would go on courses during the summer, listening to guest speakers, delving into everything education. That summer he became besotted with Malcom Gladwell's theory that in order to achieve expertise you had to put in 10,000 hours of training. Gladwell had cited the Beatles and their trips to Hamburg as an example, the fact that they'd spent all this time grafting away. What I asked at the end was - surely if that was the case, why weren't the Rolling Stones making better music now than they had in the 60's?

Competition. It's what drives us forward, pushes boundaries. You know how you feel when there's something at stake, nerves, a racing heart, how do you, let alone those competing, handle the pressure, the elation of scoring, the dejection of conceding? Life is a series of ups and downs. We don’t always get what we want and, let’s be honest, there’s plenty of times we miss out on what we need.