My early education was in a small rural primary school, followed by seven years at a maintained girls’ grammar school in Essex. I was the first in my family to enter Higher Education when I read Physics at Southampton University. After completing my PGCE, also at Southampton, I became a teacher, based in two Hampshire comprehensive schools, with ten years as an Academic Deputy Head. After twenty years of teaching I returned to Southampton University to study for a Master’s degree in Institutional and Professional Development. Following my time in the maintained sector, I joined Alleyn's School, an independent HMC School in Dulwich, where I spent seven happy years, including three as Assistant Head (Director of Studies). My last seven years of teaching were spent at King's College School, Wimbledon, as Principal Deputy. At King's I saw first-hand how valuable independent state school partnerships (ISSPs) can be - for all schools, pupils and teachers involved. I am now a student once again, this time at KCL, studying for a PhD – investigating ISSPs; their worth and how they are enacted.
