When Starlight Remembers: The Power of Reflective Memory

One of the most powerful new features in Starlight is something simple, quiet, and deeply human: memory.

Now, when teachers write reflections after receiving a report, Starlight remembers. It remembers what you said you wanted to work on. It remembers the patterns you’re noticing. It remembers the goals you’re setting for yourself.

That might sound small—but over time, it becomes transformational.

Why Reflection Matters

Educational research has long shown that reflection deepens learning. When teachers pause—even for just a moment—to name what worked, what didn’t, and what they want to try next, they’re not just improving their practice. They’re building metacognition—the same skill we aim to cultivate in our students.

Good reflection isn’t about writing essays. It’s about building habits of attention. Starlight’s new memory feature is designed to support that process, gently and intelligently, over time.

The more clearly we reflect, the more clearly we teach.

From Isolated Feedback to a Thread of Growth

Before memory, every report stood on its own. Now, each insight is part of a larger thread.

When a teacher reflects after a lesson, Starlight quietly stores that reflection and references it next time. This means future feedback can connect to what came before. It can build on your goals. It can help track change.

It becomes a coaching conversation over time, rather than a series of isolated reports.

Tips for Making the Most of It

You don’t need to write a novel. A few words go a long way. Here’s how to get started:

• Be specific: “I want to give more time for student answers” is better than “work on questioning.”

• Name a focus: Choose one area to pay attention to next time.

• Note what worked: Reflection isn’t just about improvement—it’s also about consolidating strengths.

Try:

• “I noticed I rushed the plenary again. Will set a timer next time.”

• “Felt better pace this time—especially transitions.”

• “Want to push for deeper answers in whole class discussion.”

The more you reflect, the more tailored your future feedback becomes.

Teaching Reflection by Modelling It

As teachers become better at reflection, we become better at modelling it for our students. If we want them to review their learning honestly and insightfully, we have to practise doing the same.

Starlight’s memory feature isn’t just about improvement—it’s about building a reflective culture where growth feels natural, cumulative, and meaningful.

One Last Thing

You might notice two places in Starlight where you can leave written comments:

• Reflections appear after you read a report. These are for you—they’re saved privately and used to shape future reports.

• Feedback appears after you rate a report (1–5 stars). These are for us—they help developers improve the platform.

Both are useful. But only the reflection builds your personal coaching thread.

The Insight Engine is written by Adam Sturdee, co-founder of Starlight—the UK’s first AI-powered coaching platform—and Assistant Headteacher at St Augustine’s Catholic College. This blog is part of a wider mission to support educators through meaningful reflection, not performance metrics. It documents the journey of building Starlight from the ground up, and explores how AI, when shaped with care, can reduce workload, surface insight, and help teachers think more deeply about their practice. Rooted in the belief that growth should be private, professional, and purposeful, The Insight Engine offers ideas and stories that put insight—not judgment—at the centre of development.