They Behave For Me What's the key to unlocking teacher development? With Adam Robbins
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Nov 21, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Adam Robbins, an experienced science teacher and author specializing in teacher development, shares his insights on the struggles of middle leadership. He addresses the challenges faced by middle leaders and their importance in bridging logistical and strategic roles. Robbins stresses the need for effective communication between middle and senior leaders and the role of powerful teaching resources in enhancing performance. He emphasizes bi-directional accountability with students and the significance of spreading impactful ideas for lasting change.
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Middle Leaders Lack Practical Onboarding
- Adam Robbins wrote Middle Leadership Mastery after noticing middle leaders received no practical onboarding and learned by painful trial and error.
- He framed the book as a pragmatic guide to the unseen day-to-day demands of middle leadership.
Use Calibrated Questions To Manage Up
- When senior leaders task you, ask a calibrated question: which of these things should I delay so I can complete this for you?
- This forces prioritisation without outright refusal and makes senior leaders share ownership.
Same CPD, Different Outcomes
- Robbins noticed identical CPD systems succeed in some schools and fail in others, prompting focus on barriers to adoption.
- He examined how ideas spread and why experienced teachers resist change despite training.
