Reflective Practice through Critical Friendship: some possibilities

This paper examines a ‘critical friendship’ over a period of one school term. A secondary English teacher and a university lecturer in education came together in school to consider the possibilities for mutual professional development. They drew upon a belief that both their practices could be improved through mutual critical discussion. Here they present illustrations from their experience as a means towards a discussion of some principles for the development of participative reflective practice based on working partnerships. This experience and the lessons derived from it may be of relevance to others considering possibilities for forging stronger links between schools and higher education institutions. A general conclusion is that there are important practical constraints to come to terms with. Moreover, even in a relatively confident and relaxed working relationship there are great sensitivities on both sides. These need to be acknowledged, rather than submerged in mechanical routines.