Patrick Armshaw

I focus on the Socratic method - my lessons are conversations with my students, where ideas are explored, skills explained and reasoning developed so that students don't just learn the 'what' but the 'why' of the subject. My goal is for every lesson to be a fun, welcoming environment where failure is just another step on the road to success and where students can try new things and learn new skills while learning how to learn on their own.

For example - when I teach Maths, we start with number properties: students learn how to think about numbers and realise that Maths isn't really about calculation at all but about relationships. Once the basics are laid down, students can progress to more complex ideas - such as how the mathematical operations relate to each other, how to use that knowledge to simplify expressions and find simple effective strategies for problem solving and how to avoid overthinking and overcomplicating a problem. Once the strategies of thinking mathematically are solidified, students are in a position to learn new forms of maths quickly and efficiently, allowing them to grow in skill and confidence going forward.

Similarly, when teaching critical reasoning, we begin with a conversation about how logical arguments work - from Evidence to Assumption and Conclusion - and consider some classic arguments. Once students are able consistently to identify each piece, they learn how to identify hidden assumptions, draw inferences and recognise flaws in arguments more broadly.

In each case, the focus in on understanding the logic behind the subject, before moving to application. As students gain strength, they find that learning becomes fun - a game that they can master for life.