Author Archives: Damian Bacchoo

According to ISC Research, ten years ago there were about 8,000 international schools. Today that number stands close to 13,000. The growth is staggering. Indeed, a recent (illuminating and challenging) Bloomberg article postulates that on average, two new international schools open each day. It has become an incredibly competitive market as more and more familiesContinue reading ““These aren’t the metrics you are looking for””

Be honest, you assumed the boy was stealing a cookie didn’t you? You probably did it all the time when you were his age and we all know it takes a thief to catch a thief! But what if….he’d been told he could take that cookie? Or if he was actually putting them out onContinue reading “Assuming positive intent”

“Which came first: the chicken or the egg?” Who hasn’t explored this age-old debate with little kids?  I know I have.   Ask any other person you know how the discussion went and I am sure that they will all agree that the kids loved the inquiry, the opportunity to explore theories and come upContinue reading “Which came first: the chicken or the egg?”

In school this week we kicked off Writers’ Fortnight. Incredible speakers, including many extraordinary parents, are being invited in to speak to our students to share how particular books have inspired them, or because they are involved in literature in some way. As a result, our students have been awed by poets, journalists, diplomats, artists,Continue reading “Hello stranger!”

Creating a sense of belonging for each student is the first and most important function of any school. Everything else (literally) is academic.   My first lesson in how to go about this (many years ago) came from my first teaching mentor who believed it was all about “nailing the welcome” at the start ofContinue reading “Don’t forget the little (big) things”

“Be curious, not judgmental” quotes Ted Lasso in response to being underestimated in one of the TV series’ most iconic scenes.  Do watch it if you have not done so already.  As well as being incredibly funny, the understated and seemingly incompetent Ted Lasso has so much to teach us all about how to leadContinue reading “Be curious, not judgmental”

I recently read No Rules Rules, which was by far the best book I have read this year. The book is co-written by the CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, and Erin Meyer. It is a book about how the ‘no rules’ culture of Netflix has helped to provide and sustain their competitive edge. Rules andContinue reading “Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone!”

Academic rigour It is that time in the year when schools are ramping up their efforts to attract new families to their schools.  I know this because hidden algorithms on my social media have started spamming me with school admissions adverts for the next academic year.  Whilst this intrusion always irritates me for many differentContinue reading “If you ain’t hurting, you ain’t working”

Mitchel Resnick, LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, offers a useful metaphor to use when designing learning: build “high ceilings, low floors and wide walls”. I was first introduced to this wonderful metaphor by a colleague when working at the International Baccalaureate a couple of years ago. It has beenContinue reading “Wide walls”

In schools, the timetable can often be the graveyard of great ideas.   How many times have you come up with a great idea that you think will transform your school?  Maybe it was something you thought would help bring the school closer to its stated mission, vision, or values?  Perhaps you have been inspiredContinue reading “Computer says no”