About Claire Phillips
Currently based in São Paulo, Brazil, Claire Phillips is a passionate educator with a strong foundation in science. Born and educated in the United Kingdom, Claire holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Nottingham and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Bristol.
Claire began her teaching career in a challenging inner-city school and large comprehensives in southwest England. Her experience spans multiple educational settings, from the UK to China and Brazil. Throughout her career, Claire has worked with students from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, further deepening her understanding of international education.
She has had a range of different leadership roles in several schools across her career, allowing her to develop insight into the challenges faced by middle and senior leaders. Claire’s ability to facilitate active, solution-focused discussions has been a hallmark of her leadership style. She holds an MBA in Educational Leadership from Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), equipping her with a deep understanding of modern educational theories, leadership practices, and evidence-based teaching strategies.
Claire’s dedication to professional development has seen her organise and facilitate internal workshops on behaviour management and assessment for learning. She also played a pivotal role in organising external events, such as the Sao Paulo International School STEAM competition and a Diploma Science Job-Alike, bringing together 20 schools across Brazil to discuss significant changes to the IB Group 4 Science Syllabus.
PUBLISHED WORKS
INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING IN SCIENCE
In her article "How Can We Empower Students to Become Independent Thinkers in Science?", Claire explores how inquiry-based learning and the 5E Instructional Model can transform science education, helping students take ownership of their learning and develop critical thinking skills. Her focus on empowering students to think independently through engaging and reflective practices aligns with her philosophy as an educational consultant. This expertise in fostering autonomy and critical thought positions her to help schools create environments where students can excel as confident, independent learners.
School culture and curriculum development
As the author of the thesis "School Culture's Influence on Curriculum Development: A Case Study of the Middle Years Programme at an International Baccalaureate School in Latin America," Claire explored how school culture significantly impacts curriculum design and implementation. Her research examined the ways institutional values, collaboration, and cultural norms shape educational frameworks. This experience equipped her to understand the complex dynamics of curriculum development and how to adapt it to different environments, making her well-suited to guide schools in creating culturally responsive, effective curriculum strategies as an educational consultant.