Heads & Tales - Justin Pinnells
Justin is Academic Director of Catalyst at Winchester College which provides online, academic enrichment courses to students all over the world.
Before his venture into ed-tech, Justin held roles as the Head of Modern Languages and Head of German at Winchester.
Did you have a mentor and how has that influenced you?
I've been fortunate to have many positive influences in my life, including family, colleagues, and partners. Good mentorship is crucial because, inversely, bad mentorship can be harmful. I've had mentors in various aspects of my life, from a hardworking German teacher to supportive friends and partners who have encouraged me to believe in myself. Independence of mind is as important as mentorship, and having several positive influences helps in navigating difficult situations.
What do you think makes a great learning institution, drawing from your experience at Winchester?
A great learning institution needs passionate and enthusiastic teachers on one side and motivated learners on the other. The intersection of these elements in any setting is key. Happy teachers contribute significantly to the learning environment, and motivated learners are essential for the process. Happy teachers are good teachers! It's crucial to focus on skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, along with schools maintaining good management and financial stability.
What are your thoughts on the current state of teacher happiness nationally?
Teacher happiness seems to be relatively low in the U.K, and the teaching profession is undervalued despite its significant impact on society and culture. There's a need for better recognition and support for teachers. While I speak from a position of relative comfort, it's crucial to acknowledge the challenges faced by teachers, especially in an environment that demands excellence and yet may not provide adequate support.
What are your reflections on the current structure of GCSEs and their role in education?
If I was ‘king for a day’ with GCSEs, I’d say that they have both positive and counterproductive aspects. While they instill discipline and commitment, they may not foster a love for subjects like languages. The stress and pressure associated with GCSEs can lead some students to distance themselves from certain subjects. There's a need to reevaluate the examination structure, perhaps exploring alternative assessment methods to better reflect students' capabilities and reduce the negative impact of a one-size-fits-all approach. It will be interesting to do a longitudinal study into the effect of students not doing GCSEs.
At Winchester, we’ve got something called ‘Div’ which is a non-examined part of the curriculum where there is freedom and flexibility to explore lots of different subjects without constraint. It’s quite rare, I know Oundle has a similar program for example, but it’s tough on schools who need to deliver results.
Can you share more about the unique approach and goals of Catalyst?
Catalyst provides online academic enrichment courses, and our focus is on skills building. It’s all about ‘change’ and how we understand change in different ways. We delve into unconventional topics like the impact of AI on society, philosophical concepts of change, and economic modules. The goal is to equip students with skills that are difficult to explicitly deliver in the classroom such as collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving, preparing them to be change-makers. Our interactive platform is unique, distinct from traditional methods like Zoom, enhances student engagement, making online education a refreshing experience. It helps us program these almost kinesthetic ways of learning. We have a racetrack and an escape room: it’s proven to be a real winner for student engagement.
How have parents responded to Catalyst's approach, especially in terms of outcomes for their children?
Parents often express the transformation they see in their children after participating in Catalyst courses. The emphasis on skills building, coupled with a hands-on experience for parents to interact with students and their change projects, adds tangible value. The stimulating conversations at the dinner table and the confidence gained by the students are commonly cited outcomes that parents appreciate.
Considering the future of education and the role of AI, what are your optimistic and cautious views on its impact?
It's a very saturated discussion. At this stage, AI empowers individuals, offering personalised tutoring experiences and transforming how we approach tasks. The key is to recognise the skills that AI will likely take over and prepare for these changes. While AI has enhanced efficiency and autonomy in my work, there's a concern that future generations might dilute essential abilities if we overly rely on AI. Striking a balance between leveraging AI and maintaining fundamental skills is really important. My fear is we might dilute these abilities as we hand over to AI.
What are your thoughts on the current state of private schools and their future challenges?
I’ll start with the biased bit...private schools are valuable institutions, contributing significantly to culture, innovation, and education. Rather than limiting them, I believe the focus should be on elevating all schools to the same quality. Private schools can serve as models for state education, and investing in bringing all schools to a high standard is essential. Punishing private schools isn't the solution; instead, understanding and replicating their successful aspects could be more constructive. The way to fix the inequity is to bring all schools up to the same level rather than ‘pegging back’ private schools.
Looking ahead for Catalyst, what are your goals for the next 12 months?
Now that we've moved past the proof-of-concept stage, our focus is on expansion. We have a busy year ahead, with B2B opportunities and plans to run programmes in parallel. Establishing a robust skills assessment framework and becoming a recognised player in the field is on the agenda. Additionally, we aim to contribute to discussions around education, AI, and innovation, continually innovating and helping students become positive changemakers in the world.