Shows
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: The Greatest HitsTo celebrate the 100th edition of the SecEd Podcast this episode counts down our top 10 most popular podcasts of all time. Have you listened to them all? Launched in early 2020, the SecEd Podcast has been on air for five years and to mark episode 100 podcast co-hosts Pete Henshaw and Matt Bromley reveal our top 10 most listened to episodes – interspersed with clips and highlights from each one. Without giving the game away, themes include oracy education, senior and middle leadership, quality first teaching, classroom management, Pupil Premium, inclusion and SEN, and much, much more. Ma...2025-03-0553 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: School leadership in difficult circumstancesThis episode discusses how to be an effective school leader in challenging and difficult circumstances – both the expected and the unexpected. Our experts consider how to lead and manage these situations, sharing their tenets of effective leadership under pressure, their own experiences, and lessons learnt. We ask how leaders stay calm, decisive, and people-centred when times are tough. We also look at the particular challenge of handling a negative Ofsted inspection outcome. We consider specific examples of challenging circumstances and the different types of challenges we may face as a school leader, handling an...2023-04-0555 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Career progression options for teachersThis episode looks at career progression pathways in the secondary school, advising teachers on the range of options and how to develop specialisms and experience. Our expert panel beings with key things to consider when planning where you want to take your teaching career. We discuss the different options and why all teachers – including early career teachers – should be thinking about career progression. How can you hone your plans and develop your skills? How should teachers go about choosing a specialism? What kinds of opportunities should you look for? Who can you approach for advice/mento...2023-03-221h 01
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Aspiring to school leadershipThis episode offers advice, practical tips and inspiration for teachers who are thinking about taking on leadership roles within schools and for those already climbing the leadership ladder. Three experts discuss why teaching staff should aspire to leadership and the different pathways and roles within middle and senior leadership. What kind of skills are needed for leadership? How can teaching staff – including early career teachers – develop these skills and wider leadership experience? How can they dip their toe in the water and “have a go”? What kind of leadership opportunities can teachers look out for? We...2023-03-081h 02
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Outdoor learningThis episode is packed full of advice, ideas, and tips for delivering effective and impactful outdoor learning in the primary school. Our expert panel kick off by discussing nine tenets of best practice in delivering outdoor and nature-based learning in schools. We also talk about the benefits that outdoor learning can bring, including the skills it can help pupils to develop. With lots of ideas for activities and projects, we discuss how outdoor or nature-based learning can be set up in urban school settings or in schools with restricted space. We discuss ideas...2023-03-011h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: High-impact classroom routinesThis episode looks at how to embed high-impact routines into your classroom and your teaching. We ask which routines or learning habits are the most successful and how can they be established in order to make teaching and learning more efficient and effective. We ask three key questions of our experts: Why are classroom routines so important? How can we establish classroom routines? What routines do we want to establish – which ones matter the most and will help to ensure that our classroom is an effective learning environment? What are the most useful habits and ro...2023-02-221h 04
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: How to plan great lessons This episode considers effective lesson-planning in the secondary school, offering practical tips, advice and ideas for teachers and subject/curriculum leaders. Our experts discuss the difference between a planned lesson and a lesson plan. We ask what should be included in medium and short-term lesson planning. What are the non-negotiables, including key knowledge, skills, and the big questions? Which end-points should we include? What do we want pupils to think about, know and do? What are your success criteria? How does lesson-planning link to curriculum sequencing? How do we incorporate our school’s learning values? Wh...2023-02-081h 09
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Coaching & mentoring for school staffThis episode focuses on the use of coaching and mentoring approaches to support the development of teaching staff in schools. Our experts discuss the differences between coaching and mentoring, with some examples of what each approach entails and sets out to achieve, as well as what they look like in practice. We ask how headteachers can get started with introducing coaching or mentoring as part of CPD and professional learning for staff in their school. We discuss the different models, important principles to keep in mind, tips and insights for how they can...2023-02-011h 02
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: School inspection & OfstedThis episode tackles Ofsted school inspections, offering practical insights and tips – large and small – for secondary schools to help you thrive when the inspectors call. Three experts offer a wealth of advice including some simple tenets of best practice for preparing for and handling Ofsted. Our advice covers the 90-minute phone call, what needs to be in place pre-inspection, being ‘Ofsted-ready’ without burdening staff, and what data you need to have in place. We offer tips for hosting the inspection team and managing the two days, including the emotional stress. We discuss protecting staff we...2023-01-251h 14
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Improving primary school attendanceThis episode looks at how primary schools can boost pupil attendance, including tackling persistent absenteeism and supporting families. Three experts discuss the current trends and challenges in primary school attendance, including the legacy of Covid. We identify and discuss the main barriers to attendance – including anxiety, school avoidance, SEMH needs, problems with punctuality, poverty and school uniform – and offer strategies and tips for how they can best be overcome, including ideas for positive interventions. We touch on Ofsted’s expectations and attitudes around attendance and discuss how to engage with parents and carers, includ...2023-01-1159 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Mental health in schoolsThis episode offers practical advice and ideas for how secondary schools can support and protect the mental health of their students. NHS data shows that almost one in five students aged 7 to 16 have a probable mental disorder. Our experts discuss the most pressing issues they are seeing and offer advice for how schools can respond. We discuss creating a mentally healthy school culture, whole-school strategies, the role of the mental health lead, tips for things we can do to make a difference, building resilience after Covid, and staff CPD. We advise teachers on...2023-01-111h 13
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective school governanceThis episode considers what effective governance looks like in the secondary school and how school leaders and governors can work together successfully and productively. We speak with three school leadership experts about: The distinction between the strategic and the operational and to what extent should governors be operational? How can we support governors who have little or no experience of schools? What makes for an effective chair and vice-chair of governors? What does an effective link governor role look like? How does governance change between individual schools and chains of schools within MATs? Which governance structures work best? What...2022-12-071h 05
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Effective middle leadershipThis podcast considers what effective middle leadership looks like in the primary school, including subject leadership, handling Ofsted's subject deep dives, and strategic middle leadership. Our experts consider the traits of effective middle leaders and how we can support our staff to develop these skills. We focus especially on subject leadership, including how middle leaders can ensure they are ready for Ofsted subject deep dives and how schools can support and empower subject leaders. We ask what strategic middle leadership looks like and how it can be developed, with examples of good practices...2022-12-0750 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Diversity in School LeadershipThis episode looks at leadership diversity in schools, offering a practical discussion about what diverse leadership looks like, how we can develop diverse leadership culture, and the benefits this can bring. We discuss how we “practise” diverse leadership – what should be in place to do it well and what are the crucial factors? How can we be vulnerable and admit mistakes – embracing the fear that this work can generate? What should we avoid when trying to achieve diverse leadership? We tackle the implications for recruitment processes, considering dos and don’ts. How do we create an inclusive...2022-11-2359 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Teacher wellbeing: Avoiding burn-outIn 2016, teacher and school leader Peter Radford finally quit the chalkface after burning-out and breaking down due to untenable workload and wellbeing pressures. In this episode – the second of two staff wellbeing podcasts – we hear his story and seek advice for other teachers battling poor wellbeing, high workload, and poor work/life balance. Peter talks about his own experience and how others can spot the signs before it is too late. For schools, we discuss the tenets of creating a mentally healthy working culture, including six basic psychological needs for staff. For teachers, we discuss prot...2022-11-0956 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Managing school budgets and financeThis episode considers how primary schools can balance their budgets, raise funds, and make the most of limited financial resources. Two school finance experts discuss tips, ideas, and advice, including tenets of best practice in optimising your school’s budget and for effective financial management. We discuss challenges including rising energy and National Insurance costs, and falling pupil rolls. We also offer a range of ideas for reducing expenditure and generating income. We consider areas where schools can work together to achieve economies of scale and hold suppliers to account, and how school im...2022-11-021h 02
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Protecting teacher wellbeing: Part 1Tens of thousands of teachers quit every year due to poor wellbeing and work/life balance. Across two episodes, we look at how schools can support the wellbeing of teaching staff and what teachers can do to protect their wellbeing. In part one, we discuss how to create a whole-school culture of wellbeing, including mentally-healthy working environments, the pillars of psychological safety, and everyday wellbeing. We consider how line managers can support colleagues and spot problems, how schools should respond if staff are struggling, and what teachers can do – including how to say no, sleeping pr...2022-10-261h 10
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Boosting school attendanceOne in four children are persistently absent from school and new government guidance means attendance is a priority this term. In this episode, we discuss why students struggle to attend school, the barriers they face, and effective approaches/strategies to help raise attendance. We seek tips from children’s commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and the Education Endowment Foundation, discussing the findings and recommendations from two school attendance research reviews. We ask what secondary schools can do to support students who struggle to attend, including how to engage with families, with a range of...2022-10-121h 18
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Effective appraisal & performance managementThis podcast discusses effective appraisal and performance management practice in primary schools. Three experienced school leaders discuss principles of effective appraisal systems, including elements of a successful appraisal and tips for setting objectives. How can we place CPD at the heart of performance management and make the process collegiate/collaborative? How can we identify a teacher’s strengths? What can we do if a teacher is underperforming, especially to support new teachers? Other topics include building trust, preparing for appraisals, school culture, getting feedback right, creating the conditions for professional learning, and how he...2022-10-051h 00
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: School budgets and financeWith soaring costs and real-terms school funding cuts, balancing the books has become a huge challenge. This episode offers practical advice for effective school financial planning and management. We consider the funding situation on the ground and contemplate some worst-case scenarios for the year ahead. We discuss how we can approach the challenges we face, touching upon generating efficiencies, managing cashflow, benchmarking, financial planning metrics, costing development plans, and more. We consider how business managers can work effectively with the headteacher and governors/trustees – including offering robust challenge – and the process of setting budgets for both...2022-09-281h 13
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Closing the writing gapIn this episode, Alex Quigley offers tips and ideas for the explicit teaching of writing skills in the secondary classroom. Drawing on his book, Closing the Writing Gap, Alex explains how secondary teachers of all subjects can improve their students’ writing skills – and why this is important. We discuss general principles, the Simple View of Writing, explicitly teaching and modelling the stages of writing, using talk and rhetoric, disciplinary literacy, teaching grammar, sentence composition, handwriting, and spelling. Alex offers us some easy exercises/techniques including tips for improving sentence construction, editing-revising-rewriting, checking work back...2022-09-1447 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: School inspection & OfstedThis episode tackles Ofsted inspections, offering practical advice for primary schools to help you thrive when the inspectors call. Two experienced headteachers offer tips and ideas, big and small, for handling Ofsted from start to finish. We tackle subject deep dives, explaining how they are working in practice and how we can prepare without adding to workload, including tips for subject/middle leaders. We discuss: Handling the emotions/pressure of inspection as a school leader, tactics for if things go wrong, the 90-minute phone call, things to prepare in advance, supporting colleagues & protecting...2022-09-071h 01
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Back to school – A leadership checklistThe SecEd Podcast: Back to school – A leadership checklistAre you ready for the new school year? This podcast offers a checklist for senior leaders in secondary schools to help you prepare for the autumn term and beyond. Our experts discuss common ‘new year’ tasks for school leaders as well as common problems at this time of year. We focus on the school improvement cycle and self-evaluation – what should be in place and what lies ahead for the School Improvement Plan? We talk staffing, including CPD, succession planning, induction of new staff, staffing shortfalls, and communicating priorities. We talk parental engage...2022-08-311h 18
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Tackling the consequences of povertyThis episode considers the consequences that poverty has for children and their education and offers practical ideas for how primary schools can address these. We look at the national picture of child poverty, causes and impact, and the barriers it creates to education and school. Our experts offer key principles for how we can work to counteract the impact of disadvantage in schools and a wealth of practical ideas – large and small – for supporting pupils. We discuss family engagement, the curriculum, how the Pupil Premium can be used, boosting Pupil Premium registration, and pitf...2022-07-061h 05
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Supporting students with Long CovidAt least 250,000 children and young people are living with Long Covid including an estimated 4.8% of secondary-age students. This episode looks at the implications for secondary schools and what we can do to support these students academically and pastorally. We discuss the many and varied symptoms of Long Covid and the impact they can have on learning, education, and wellbeing. We offer ideas and interventions – big and small – to address these issues and support pupils suffering from this often-debilitating illness in the classroom and beyond. The advice is relevant to anyone working with young peop...2022-06-291h 02
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Creating parent-friendly schoolsThis episode considers effective parent/carer engagement and asks how we can create parent-friendly schools. Our experts offer principles for effective parental engagement and discuss how schools can get parents/carers on board, how we can build positive relationships, and tips for headteachers new in post. We talk school gates, bacon sandwiches, and ideas for how we can make our schools more “parent-friendly”. There are tips for getting parents to show an interest in learning at home and for handling difficult conversations and difficult parents. Other topics include parent conferences, homework, webs...2022-06-151h 10
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: A teacher’s guide to memoryThis podcast tackles memory – asking what teachers need to know about how students learn, forget and remember information. Our experts offer a wealth of tangible teaching strategies as they discuss short-term, working and long-term memory, how they work and interact, and the implications for how we teach. We discuss how we can direct pupils’ attention, the limitations of short-term memory, and how to help students manage the cognitive load. We discuss how to present information effectively so that students pay attention to it, how to build knowledge or schema, prior learning, pre-testing, and we a...2022-06-151h 15
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Year 6 to 7 transitionThis episode looks at supporting pupils as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. We chat with two secondary schools and two feeder primaries about common transition challenges and solutions. We look at when transition work should begin, what the process looks like, engaging with parents, identifying pupils who may struggle, and supporting vulnerable pupils. We discuss tried and tested ideas for transition interventions, activities and taster days. Other topics include curriculum consistency, academic support, year 7 transition activities, open evenings, year 7 pupil ambassadors working with year 6 pupils, and the...2022-06-011h 18
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Year 6 to 7 transitionThis episode looks at supporting pupils as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. We chat with two secondary schools and two feeder primaries about common transition challenges and solutions. We look at when transition work should begin, what the process looks like, engaging with parents, identifying pupils who may struggle, and supporting vulnerable pupils. We discuss tried and tested ideas for transition interventions, activities and taster days. Other topics include curriculum consistency, academic support, year 7 transition activities, open evenings, year 7 pupil ambassadors working with year 6 pupils, and the...2022-06-011h 18
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Extra-curricular activities in schoolsThis episode considers extra-curricular activities and what effective provision looks like in the secondary school. What are the common challenges when delivering extra-curricular provision? What kind of activities work best? How do we schedule these activities – when and where? How do we ensure equitable access and do we 'target' students? We also discuss how we can staff extra-curricular provision and encourage staff to take-on activities. And how do we encourage student take-up? How can our provision support a 'broad and balanced' curriculum offer? What role do external partnerships have to play? And should we quality-assure an...2022-05-181h 14
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Supporting vulnerable pupils: Trauma & Adverse Childhood ExperiencesThis episode takes a practical look at how primary schools can support vulnerable pupils, including looked after children and those living with trauma and adverse childhood experiences. We ask what form ACEs and trauma can take, what impact they have, and what being a trauma-informed school involves. We consider therapeutic approaches and how to create calming classroom environments. We discuss: making behaviour management more effective and less reactive; the common mistakes schools make and how can we avoid them; responding to emotionally based school-based avoidance; and helping vulnerable children to successfully manage their...2022-05-041h 01
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Appraisal & performance managementHow can school leaders ensure that teacher appraisal and performance management processes are fair and effective. Our experts discuss what an effective appraisal and PM policy looks like and what kind of evidence the process should require. We discuss how to set objectives to enhance mastery and protect teacher autonomy, what happens to those objectives once set, and how they should be monitored and measured. We explain why we should avoid data-driven objectives and how to manage the process to ensure “no surprises”. We discuss lesson observations, how to have challenging conv...2022-05-041h 13
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Making homework effectiveAll homework should have a clear purpose – but what? This podcast asks what secondary teachers should consider when planning homework. We discuss the purposes of homework, different types of tasks, and which are most effective. We agree some golden rules for setting homework, ask how much we should be setting, and what teachers should avoid doing. We discuss what we should do with the results of homework. Should there always be feedback? What about checks or whole-class feedback? Should homework always be 'marked'? How can we tackle misconceptions? How can we use peer-marking an...2022-04-2056 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Reading and literacy across the primary schoolWhat is the best way to teach pupils to read and how can teachers ensure every child leaves primary school a fluent reader? This episode considers the components of effective whole-school reading (and literacy) strategies. The podcast is packed with teaching tips and techniques as well as whole-school ideas to engage pupils and boost reading skills. We discuss: early years & early reading work, reading aloud, improving fluency, using the school library, fostering reading for pleasure, the kinds of books that will spark a love of reading for life, the DfE's 2021 Reading Framework, common...2022-04-061h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: A teacher’s guide to retrieval practiceThis episode considers how teachers can use test-enhanced learning – commonly known as retrieval practice – as well as spaced learning and interleaving techniques to help students remember/recall the information they are taught. Our experts discuss what these approaches look like in the classroom and the evidence and reasoning behind them. We consider activities that work best, what to avoid, test difficulty, feedback, addressing misconceptions, how memory works, how to create the gaps for spaced learning, how many times we should 'retrieve', and offer tips for getting started. The podcast coincides with a SecEd seri...2022-03-301h 12
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Beating exam anxiety: Preparing your students for their examsThis episode looks at how we can help students to prepare for their GCSE and A-level exams, including handling the anxiety and stress that exam season can bring. Our experts discuss supporting students academically and pastorally, including tackling the impact of Covid on exam preparation. We look at preparing students so they know what to expect, building techniques to use on the day, spotting the signs that students may be struggling, and revision support, including teaching ideas and revision tips. We talk sleep, handling the distraction of social media, and how students can...2022-03-231h 14
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Trauma & adverse childhood experiencesThis episode looks at how secondary schools can support students living with trauma & adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). We ask what form trauma/ACEs can take and what impact they can have on young people and their education. We discuss signs to look-out, the key tenets of effective support, how to build strong relationships and trust, and creating safe spaces. We discuss behaviour as a form of communication, how to handle incidents/meltdowns, how to be curious about the causes of behaviour, “fight-flight-freeze-fawn”, and why “connection before correction” is crucial. We discuss the four...2022-03-161h 08
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Getting school governance rightThis episode considers what outstanding governance looks like in the primary school, how to be a great governor, and how school leaders and governors can work together effectively. We ask how headteachers can foster strong, professional relationships with governors, and vice-versa. We advise new headteachers how they might begin to build working relationships with governors, including questions to ask during your first meeting, and we advise governors how to build relationships with new heads. We consider governor workload, how heads can handle 'difficult' governors, what we can do when the relationship breaks down...2022-03-021h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Preparing students for post-16 educationThis episode considers how we can work with key stage 4 students, both academically and pastorally, to prepare them for the step-up to post-16 study. Our experts discuss why this transition point is so vital and the key challenges post-16 students often face. We consider: How we can help students to handle the increased independence of post-16 study, including study and research skills, time-management, self-organisation, and the increased difficulty of the curriculum? When should this preparatory work begin? What is role of FE/sixth form colleges in supporting schools? What does good careers guidance look like?2022-03-021h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Edtech 2.0: Making the most of technology in schoolsAfter 2021 – the year of experimentation – this episode talks all things #edtech, looking at examples of recent best practice and the elements that are crucial to successful technology-use in schools. We offer tips to teachers on risk-taking with edtech as well as making a success of hybrid learning. We also discuss: Confidence-building, edtech trends, CPD/training, good edtech leadership, supporting parent engagement with and via technology, and online assessment. We ask what edtech developments our panelists are looking forward to seeing in 2022 and what edtech skills and CPD teachers should be prioritising. You...2022-02-161h 06
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Keeping children safe: Effective safeguarding in schools (part 2)This two-part episode offers advice and tips for good safeguarding practice and how we can keep children safe. In part two, we chat to three colleagues working in primary schools about their safeguarding work, examples of best practice, and useful ideas. They discuss current trends, effective safeguarding principles, and how to ensure a culture of “it could happen here”. Themes include SEND, Covid, spotting the patterns, effective communication, empowering staff to question narratives, supporting volunteer staff, peer-on-peer abuse, online safety, attendance, domestic abuse, and referring to social care. Part 1 featuring safeguarding expert Elizabeth Rose...2022-02-1657 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Keeping children safe: Effective safeguarding in schools (part 1)This two-part episode offers advice/tips for good safeguarding practice in schools. In part one, safeguarding expert Elizabeth Rose speaks about current safeguarding trends and how schools can respond. Themes include the consequences of Covid-19 for safeguarding, safety of children outside school, the growing trend of online safety challenges at primary level – including peer-on-peer incidents, social media, cyberbullying, online abuse & self-generated images, and online gaming. Elizabeth advises on making successful referrals, applying thresholds of need, and information-sharing. Other topics include Early Help, parental communication, pupil voice, and staff training. Don't miss part two of this po...2022-02-0249 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: How to be a great SENCOThis episode looks at how to be an effective SENCO – considering best practice in the role, key duties, and how we can carry these out to a high standard. Our experts discuss what a SENCO can and should do in order to be effective, and how we can overcome common challenges – including insufficient time for the role and high workload. We offer advice for someone who is new to the role and we discuss tips for engaging with (supporting & empowering) teaching staff, as well as handling difficult colleagues who expect too much. We also discuss parental engagement.2022-02-021h 13
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: School Leadership – The First 100 DaysThis episode looks at how middle and senior leaders should approach the first 100 days in any school leadership role with lots of advice and tips for school leaders new in post. We discuss: How to prepare for a new leadership role and identify early priorities; what a new leader should do and avoid doing in their first week; how we can engage effectively with new colleagues, including ‘difficult’ colleagues; how to build a culture of trust and bring colleagues with us; levels of leadership; what to do when something goes wrong; the traits of effective leadership and lead...2022-01-191h 19
The Headteacher Update PodcastThe Headteacher Update Podcast: Leading School Improvement & Self-EvaluationThis episode asks what great school improvement practice and processes look like and how to ensure self-evaluation work in schools is effective. We discuss the key tenets of school improvement, including change management, culture and ethos. We ask what a cycle of improvement should look like and how headteachers new in post might begin this work, including building relationships, winning hearts and minds, and listening to and involving all stakeholders. We discuss common traits of effective improvement practice, key challenges or barriers (and how we might overcome them), and how we can ensure that improvement...2022-01-051h 08
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Parental Engagement in Schools: How to build effective relationshipsThis episode discusses effective parent/carer engagement work for schools, offering advice and ideas. We discuss a parental engagement timeline (when this work should begin and how it can be sustained), handling conflict with parents, how to engage with “hard-to-reach” parents, community out-reach, and protecting staff workload. We discuss best practice for your school website and how parental engagement has changed during the pandemic, including the future of parents’ evenings (online and face-to-face). We discuss the importance of positive communication and how this can be done effectively, including proactive communication plans and online parent...2022-01-051h 16
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Preventing challenging behaviour in schoolsIn this episode, we catch up with Adele Bates, a behaviour specialist, ex-teacher and author of Miss I Don’t Give a Sh*t: Engaging with challenging behaviour in schools. Our practical discussion looks at how we can deal with and prevent challenging behaviour, what challenging behaviour looks like, when it occurs and handling incidents. We ask how we can create safety, boundaries and routines, including seating plans, how we can "see the child, not the behaviour", including issues of punishment and shame, how to "check-in" with students, communication of unmet needs, "teaching" self-regulation, and bu...2021-12-081h 14
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: The Future of Digital Learning in Schools & How Edtech is Evolving Post-CovidThis episode looks at how digital learning in schools is evolving in the wake of the pandemic and what it will look like in the months to come. We discuss lessons learnt from Covid, how the pandemic experience has changed practice and use of technology – and where we go next. We offer ideas for edtech practices that free-up teachers to teach, including pedagogy, homework, assessment, blended learning, flexible working and CPD. We look at what we can do to close the digital divide. This podcast has been produced with Pearson and comes with a...2021-12-011h 24
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: The Future of Digital Learning in Schools & How Edtech is Evolving Post-CovidThis episode looks at how digital learning in schools is evolving in the wake of the pandemic and what it will look like in the months to come. We discuss lessons learnt from Covid, how the pandemic experience has changed practice and use of technology – and where we go next. We offer ideas for edtech practices that free-up teachers to teach, including pedagogy, homework, assessment, blended learning, flexible working and CPD. We look at what we can do to close the digital divide. This podcast has been produced with Pearson and comes with a...2021-12-011h 24
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Diversity and inclusion in the classroomHost Adele Bates leads a reflective and practical discussion on diversity and inclusion in the classroom – how we can achieve this and what it looks like. We touch upon representation, avoiding tokenism, evaluating the resources we use to deliver our curriculum, and ask how we can include all students and ensure everyone feels they belong. We discuss how we can connect with pupils from diverse backgrounds. Other themes include advocacy & allyship for diverse colleagues, BAME & LGBT+ representation, and the experiences of children in care in our classrooms. Adele’s previous podcast considered diversity acro...2021-11-241h 11
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: High-impact CPD in schoolsThis episode considers best practice for effective CPD programmes and performance management in schools, offering some really practical ideas, examples and advice. Our expert panel reflect on their general tenets of good CPD, before discussing what an effective CPD programme or cycle looks like and giving examples from their respective schools. Other themes include teachers leading their own CPD, research-driven CPD, how to ensure CPD is focused on pupil outcomes, getting buy-in from staff, evaluating the impact, including support staff, and more. We consider professional, collegiate performance management and performance-related pay processes too.2021-11-241h 15
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Anti-bullying work in schoolsThis episode is published ahead of #AntiBullyingWeek 2021 (November 15-19) and looks at how schools can prevent and respond to bullying behaviours and incidents. We discuss core principles of anti-bullying work, including school structures, policies & culture, what whole-school approaches look like, effective anti-bullying policies, using student voice, effective school culture, LGBT+ inclusion & more. We look at the role of education, including making children aware of what bullying behaviours are and supporting them to manage disagreements. We consider how to respond to incidents of bullying, including breaking down barriers to reporting and how to engage with perpetrators o...2021-11-101h 07
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Effective SEND practice across the primary schoolIn this episode we look at the principles of effective SEND practice, teaching and support in the primary school. We discuss effective leadership of SEN, championing SEN in your school, communicating effectively with colleagues, and achieving consistency. We look at ensuring SEN is the responsibility of all school staff (not just the SENCO) and creating a culture of inclusion. We ask how schools can maximise outcomes for SEN pupils given funding challenges and touch upon specific teaching strategies, parent/carer engagement, as well as using pupil profiles to support teaching staff with Education, Health and...2021-10-271h 05
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Early Career Teachers: Thriving and SurvivingThis episode offers advice to early career teachers (ECTs) to help you thrive during your first year/s of teaching. The discussion features two ECTs (one first year & one second year) as well as an experienced mentor. We discuss common challenges for new teachers and offer advice for ECTs across key areas including SEND, work/life balance, workload, lesson-planning, differentiation, self-care and wellbeing. We look at coaching and mentoring – what are the essentials to make this support effective and how can ECTs to get the most from their mentors? We end the podcast with recommendations for further reading/support.2021-10-2748 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Curriculum Design – Implementation & ImpactOfsted’s inspection framework requires schools in England to focus on the intent, implementation and impact of their curriculum. Last year, Matt Bromley, author of School and College Curriculum Design, discussed his six-step process for curriculum intent (https://bit.ly/3cl68fY). Now we invite Matt back to focus on curriculum implementation and impact. Implementation: Translating curriculum into teaching and long-term learning; acquiring and applying learning; how pupils’ memory works; effective learning environments; the right culture and systems; workload; collaboration; CPD... Impact: What is assessment? What are we assessing? How can we ensure asse...2021-10-131h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Coaching and mentoring in schoolsThis episode looks at coaching and mentoring as part of effective CPD practice in schools. Our experts define coaching and mentoring, how one differs from the other, and how coaching and mentoring practices in schools have changed over the years, including different models and how to measure impact. We discuss the essentials that need to be in place in order to make coaching and mentoring effective, including managing expectations, questioning skills, listening skills, switching between coaching and mentoring, and accountability. We also discuss the challenges: What doesn't work well and why? What lessons...2021-09-2943 minThe Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Effective Pupil Premium practice in schoolsThis episode looks at the principles of effective Pupil Premium work in primary schools, offering practical advice, ideas and guidance. We speak to three schools – in Portsmouth, London and Derby – about their innovations, approaches and their “golden nuggets” of practice. The discussion touches upon Family Support Workers, learning mentors, pupil wellbeing, targeted academic support, encouraging talk, transitions, high expectations, parental engagement, and metacognition. We discuss tracking progress, Pupil Premium reporting, how to ensure families take up their entitlement, and how to identify all disadvantaged children. We ask what Pupil Premium has achieved...2021-09-291h 04
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: School ImprovementThis episode offers practical advice, ideas and reflection for effective school improvement practices and processes. Four school leaders discuss the core elements and philosophy of effective school improvement, including vision, values & strategic priorities. We consider how to get everyone on board, communication and change-management, consistency, collaboration, distributed leadership, succession planning, CPD, building trust and social capital, middle leadership, supporting high-quality teaching & learning, the EEF Implementation Cycle, and how to stop chasing outcomes and focus on processes. We discuss common priorities and areas of focus and ask where our panellists would begin if they...2021-09-151h 19
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Sexual harassment & safeguarding: Creating a culture of safety in schoolsThis podcast looks at the Everyone's Invited testimonies and Ofsted’s review into sexual harassment, abuse and violence in schools – and the implications for safeguarding practice. We look at how schools can respond effectively to Ofsted’s recommendations, not least the requirement that we “assume that sexual harassment and online sexual abuse are happening”. How can we encourage victims to report incidents, change school culture, ensure pupil voice is at the heart of our response, and review RSHE provision? What kind of staff training is required? How do we review school policies and respond to different...2021-09-011h 18
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Curriculum design in the primary schoolThis episode looks at the principles of effective curriculum design, offering practical advice, ideas and guidance for primary school leaders. As well as good practice, the discussion looks at curriculum design in light of Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework and its renewed focus on curriculum intent, implementation and impact. We discuss steps that school leaders can take to ensure an effective, relevant and coherent curriculum. Other themes include ensuring the curriculum is relevant to your context, creating a vision, the hidden curriculum, achieving a broad and balanced curriculum, identifying end-points and threshold concepts, diversity and in...2021-08-251h 13
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Reducing carbon emissions in schoolsThis episode looks at student-led eco-work in schools as well as how schools can reduce their carbon emissions. Our panel includes both teachers and students and offers a range of ideas large and small for projects and cost-saving initiatives. The podcast is inspired by the Let’s Go Zero schools campaign. We look at practical carbon reduction ideas, wider eco-work including single-use plastics and food waste, how student eco-teams can work, using the free En-ROADS simulator resource, and the Youth Climate Action Network. We consider how schools can save money by prioritising carbon reduction, including en...2021-08-181h 17
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Early years educationThe reforms to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) come into effect in September. The government’s Development Matters non-statutory guidance has also been revised and 'rival' sector-created guidance entitled Birth to Five Matters has been published too. This episode looks at the imminent reforms and how primary schools and early years settings can prepare. Themes include reducing teacher workload, the assessment cycle, and CPD and training. We also consider general best practice for Reception/early years provision, touching upon themes of learning journals, parental/family engagement, useful resources, rough and tumble play, literacy, resources, an...2021-07-2847 min
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Staff wellbeing across the schoolThis episode looks at how primary schools can support the good wellbeing of their staff and communities. Our experts discuss how school leaders can develop a culture of wellbeing, including themes of workload, wellbeing initiatives, collaboration and teacher autonomy. We discuss protective factors for staff, including mental health training, our sense of purpose and the links between pupil and staff wellbeing, overcoming imposter syndrome, self-care (especially as a headteacher), and how to say 'no'. We signpost to resources to support schools and we round off by asking our guests what one change they...2021-06-3050 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective marking and feedback for teachersFollowing our popular podcast on quality first teaching (https://bit.ly/2R5PIT8), this episode looks specifically at effective marking and feedback practice for teachers. Our experts offer ideas and tips to ensure your marking and feedback is effective. Themes include: the purposes of teacher assessment, school assessment policies, consistency across the school, using assessment to inform curriculum-planning, target-setting, tracking progress, using assessment data, assessment points, and addressing misconceptions. We offer tips to reduce workload, including how to “live mark” during lessons, verbal mark schemes, self & peer-assessment, code-marking, hinge questions, exit tickets etc. And...2021-06-301h 19
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: What do our students need from schools post-pandemic?There is much talk about catch-up, lost learning and a Covid generation. Many politicians and commentators have adopted this deficit model to discuss schooling post-pandemic. But have we stopped to ask what our children actually need? Or what school should look like from September for those of us who reject this deficit mindset? This podcast sets out to do just that. Our guests, who include two headteachers and two students, discuss issues ranging from mental health & wellbeing to curriculum and mentoring. We also consider the Covid innovations we want to hang on to.2021-06-161h 15
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: How schools can tackle the consequences of povertyThis episode considers the impact of poverty on children, families and education – and what schools can do to address these consequences. We look at the national picture of increasing child poverty (4.3 million children and rising), the causes of poverty, the barriers it creates to education, and the impact of Covid. We discuss why free school meals is a poor proxy for poverty and how schools can understand the (often hidden) poverty in their families and communities. We focus on a range of practical ideas for supporting pupils/families and consider how we can break the ba...2021-06-021h 19
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Effective teachers and teaching in the primary school classroomThis episode dissects the secrets to great and effective teaching in the primary school classroom. Host and former primary headteacher Helen Frostick and three expert guests look at some of the pedagogical elements that make for great lessons, the qualities that great teachers have and how we can support and develop our teachers to excel. Topics and themes include supporting early career teachers in particular, mentoring/coaching, CPD, staff collaboration, developmental observations, using technology & developing edtech expertise, performance management, recruitment, engaging with educational research, growth mindset, metacognition and more.2021-05-261h 11
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective secondary school transition for year 7 pupilsIn this episode, Matt Bromley interviews colleagues from four secondary schools to find out how we can ensure an effective transition of pupils from year 6 to 7. The panel shares perennial good practice advice for transition and ensuring a smooth start in September, but also touches on the particulars of transition in 2021 as pupils recover from the impact of Covid-19. We discuss issues relating to teaching & learning, pedagogy, pastoral and wellbeing issues, administration & management, liaising with feeder primary schools and families, and more. The podcast offers lots of quick, practical and useful ideas.2021-05-191h 19
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Diversity & equality in schools – culture, curriculum, workforceHost Adele Bates leads a reflective and practical discussion on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the school, especially within the curriculum, school culture and workforce. Adele and guests, including #DiverseEd’s Bennie Kara, author of A Little Guide for Teachers: Diversity in Schools, discuss how far we have come and what needs to happen next. Topics include decolonising/diversifying the curriculum, LGBT, whole-school approaches, workforce training and changing school cultures. We consider EDI within school policies, recruitment and school values/culture. Where should schools start with this work? How do we get pa...2021-05-051h 12
The Headteacher Update PodcastHeadteacher Update Podcast: Supporting pupil wellbeing & mental healthThe inaugural episode of the Headteacher Update Podcast looks at pupil wellbeing in the primary school. Our expert panel offer practical ideas & tips for supporting pupils during the summer term & beyond, including in the context of Covid-19. We discuss key challenges & potential solutions and strategies, touching touch upon issues of staff wellbeing, managing the continuing Covid disruption in terms of pupil wellbeing, & supporting families. We discuss wellbeing evaluations, how to teach mental health strategies including in PSHE, character curriculum approaches, attachment awareness, issues of SEN, attendance challenges, Ofsted inspection, mindfulness, the power of physical exercise...2021-04-211h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective safeguarding practice in schoolsThis episode offers a wealth of practical insights, advice & ideas for effective safeguarding practice in schools. We look at general good practice as well as safeguarding during Covid-19. Our experts tackle issues including the key principles of effective safeguarding, safer working practice, making effective referrals/working with children’s social care & the 'trends' to be aware of in 2021 (sexual harassment/abuse, self-harm, online abuse, esafety). We look at safeguarding considerations for September, how safeguarding practice has evolved during Covid-19, what changes are here to stay, the issues we are on the look-out for & what our re...2021-04-211h 27
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: The Secrets to Quality First TeachingIn this episode, three guests – who have more than 34 years’ teaching experience between them – dissect what exactly Quality First Teaching looks like in the classroom, offering practical ideas, guidance, tips and reflection. We tackle issues such as teacher CPD, subject knowledge, and research-led teaching. We look at the environment for learning, some key principles of effective pedagogy, stretch, challenge and high expectations as well as explanations and modelling. We also tackle questioning techniques, how to tackle misconceptions, practice and revision, as well as feedback and assessment.2021-04-071h 18
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Inclusion & SEND in schools during Covid-19This episode focuses on issues of SEND, inclusion and diversity in the school environment in the context of the Covid pandemic, our students returning following national lockdown, and how we might build back better. Host Adele Bates leads a wide-ranging discussion which offers practical reflections, empathy and advice across areas including students’ lockdown experiences, issues around the current transition back into school, supporting students who struggled or disappeared during lockdown, anxiety, advice for parents, advice for SENCOs, and more. The discussion also touches upon issues of diversity and equity, building back better after Covid, and su...2021-03-2454 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Teaching students who use English as an additional language (EAL)This episode looks at how we can effectively teach and support students who use English as an additional language (EAL) in the classroom. With advice from three experienced teaching experts, we consider who our EAL students are, the five bands of language proficiency, the tenets of good classroom practice, learning materials, translanguaging, high expectations, assessing learners’ progress, effective resources, and more. We also look at family/parental engagement, how to support students when they first arrive in your school, whole-school approaches and supporting EAL students during Covid-19.2021-03-101h 18
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Vulnerable Learners & Covid-19This episode looks at the plight of our vulnerable learners as schools re-open once again to all students after the third Covid-19 national lockdown. We consider barriers to learning and wellbeing that vulnerable learners face and what our priorities must be coming out of Lockdown 3.0. We discuss: what we have learnt about effective remote education, teaching & lessons, the cancelled Summer 2021 exams, student progression, working with families, SEND, questions to ask ahead of full school re-opening & more. We also talk wellbeing & mental health, including attendance, anxiety, county lines, safeguarding issues, pastoral care and more.2021-02-241h 28
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective Middle Leadership in SchoolsThis episode looks at the skills, traits and approaches that effective middle leaders need to employ in the secondary school environment and offers practical advice, tips and reflections from three practising middle leaders. We discuss how to work with and lead your teaching colleagues, how to manage tricky colleagues, how to work with those who are more experienced than you, and how we can best support struggling colleagues. We also look at communication, maintaining professional boundaries, workload and team morale, career progression, CPD, developing your team, and developing a culture of mutual trust – among other ar...2021-02-101h 16
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective teaching for SEN studentsIn this episode, we consider what effective teaching for SEN students looks like in the mainstream school classroom. The discussion considers the principles of good teaching for SEN students, common barriers to success, and the implications for pedagogy. We touch upon the use of teaching assistants, models of intervention, and how we should work with families. Other themes include the SEND in Mainstream Schools Guidance, implementing the graduated approach (Assess, Plan, Do, Review), and adaptive teaching (dispelling the myths of differentiation). And we consider Cognitive Load Theory, masking, sensory overload, and making the curriculum and...2021-01-271h 19
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Teaching metacognition – developing independent learnersIn this episode, we interview former headteacher and author Jackie Beere and former teacher and school leader Kevin Piper about metacognition and self-regulation. The panel define their terms and discuss ways to help students develop metacognitive skills in order to support their wellbeing, their learning and progress. They debate whether metacognition can be taught as a transferable skill or if it is domain-specific, and discuss the importance of a teacher modelling different learning strategies. The podcast offers a number of teaching ideas and strategies.2021-01-131h 05
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Covid-19 & SchoolsThis episode looks at Covid-19. We discuss how schools have coped during the autumn term. Their biggest successes and the biggest challenges. What lessons have we learned? What good practice advice can we give? We also touch upon how we are planning for the spring and summer terms 2021. We are joined by three headteachers from schools in Tier 2 and 3 areas and Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. Topics: Leadership, remote education, staff wellbeing & fatigue, workload, government guidance, school budgets, risk assessment, catch-up funding, exam preparation, parental engagement, mental health...2020-12-161h 27
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Effective Pupil Premium practice in schoolsThis episode looks at the impact the Pupil Premium has had over the last 10 years on closing the attainment gap. The panel discuss the causes of academic disadvantage and explore some solutions for schools, including tackling the vocabulary gap, improving quality first teaching, and putting in place targeted interventions and support. It features Debi Bailey, CEO of Newcastle East mixed MAT, Charlotte Bowyer, Pupil Premium Coordinator and Assistant Headteacher at King Ecgbert School in Sheffield, and Marc Rowland, Deputy Director of the National Education Trust & author of A Practical Guide to the Pupil Premium.2020-12-021h 15
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Relationships, Sex & Health Education in SchoolsThis episode offers practical advice, guidance and tips for schools delivering the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum, which has been a statutory requirement since September. Our experts, including from the Sex Education Forum, discuss how things are going so far, specific challenges schools have faced in delivering effective RSHE, the impact of Covid-19, the role of RSHE in supporting students post-lockdown, the right to withdrawal, delivering LGBT+ elements & more. We offer advice for schools delaying delivery until the summer and we also feature a case study of one school’s approaches.2020-11-181h 10
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Reducing teacher workload in schoolsMatt Bromley talks to headteacher Phil Denton, head of English Chloe Testa, and education trainer Peter Radford about teacher workload. They discuss the impact burn-out can have on teachers' wellbeing, as well as the consequences of low teacher retention and explore possible solutions. They discuss the importance of school culture, explaining that often it’s the nature of the work teachers are asked to do that causes anxiety. They argue that teachers should be afforded autonomy when it comes to planning and assessment. They discuss the impact Covid-19 has had on workload and what schools might learn about flexible working.2020-11-041h 00
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Managing Student Behaviour in SchoolsThis episode of the SecEd Podcast offers a practical discussion about behaviour management across the school and in the classroom, with advice from three school leaders. Themes: Effective whole-school approaches; sanctions & consequences; behaviour as communication; King Ecgbert School’s Consistent Behaviour Model Policy; exclusion; internal exclusion; parental engagement; low-level behaviour; classroom management & teaching tips; reasonable adjustments; behaviour & Covid-19. Featuring Paul Haigh, headteacher of King Ecgbert School in Sheffield; Sarah Birch, regional standards leader at the River Tees MAT in the North East; Steve Baker, executive headteacher, Kilgarth and Gilbrook Schools in Birkenhead and author of A...2020-10-211h 08
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Supporting SEN & Looked After ChildrenThis episode of the SecEd Podcast focuses on how schools can best support both SEN students and looked after children as we continue our recovery from the coronavirus lockdown. We discuss what barriers to education and wellbeing these children are facing so far this term and offer practical suggestions for how schools and teachers can support them. Topics include interventions, whole-school approaches, parental engagement, curriculum design and examination preparation. Featuring Paddy Smith, Head of Student Welfare at Bede Academy in Northumberland; Garry Freeman, an experienced SENCO and National SEND System Leader; Clare Brokenshire...2020-10-141h 10
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Remote education, edtech & Covid-19This episode is the final of four Back to School podcasts offering advice to schools this autumn term and beyond. In this episode, we consider the technological legacy of Covid-19, effective remote education, and the role of edtech in supporting teaching and learning. With Bukky Yusuf, Al Kingsley & Paul Haigh, we discuss lockdown (what worked, what didn’t), the digital divide, remote teaching pedagogy, safeguarding, parental engagement, CPD, lesson-planning, flipped learning & more. These podcasts complement SecEd’s recent series of 12-page Back to School Guides, which can be downloaded for free at https://bit.ly/SecE...2020-10-071h 11
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Back to School – Teaching & Learning Post-LockdownThis episode is the third in a four-part Back to School Series offering advice to schools as the autumn term begins. This time, we consider what teaching & learning should look like in schools after the Covid-19 lockdown, this term and beyond. With Dr Niki Kaiser & Dr Robin Bevan, topics include teaching & learning approaches & interventions, effective pedagogy, assessment, curriculum, exam preparation, remote learning & more. These podcasts complement SecEd’s recent series of 12-page Back to School Guides, which can be downloaded for free at https://bit.ly/SecEd-Back2School2020-09-231h 16
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Digital and employability skillsIn this episode of The SecEd Podcast – produced in partnership with Pearson – we explore the role schools can play in teaching the digital and employability skills that students will need in the future. We discuss the importance of teaching key skills and developing core knowledge and understanding as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, as well as through the discrete IT qualifications. We also take a look at the new Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Computer Science, why it has been introduced, and what students studying computer science will be able to use the qualification for...2020-09-1659 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Back to School – Teacher & Staff WellbeingThis episode is the second in a four-part Back to School series offering advice to schools as the autumn term begins. In this episode, we consider how schools can support the good mental health and wellbeing of their teachers who are returning after the Covid-19 lockdown. We also offer tips to school staff themselves on keeping mentally healthy. Topics include bereavement, talking about mental health, spotting the signs, NQTs, anxiety, tips to help, whole-school advice & more. The podcast complements SecEd’s recent series of 12-page Back to School Guides, which can be downloaded for free at...2020-09-091h 08
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Back to School after Covid – Student Wellbeing and Mental HealthThis episode is the first in a four-part Back to School series offering advice to schools as the autumn term begins. In this episode we consider how to support the good wellbeing and mental health of students returning to school after the Covid-19 lockdown. Experts including Dr Pooky Knightsmith consider some of the issues that school staff can expect to see in the coming weeks. We also offer advice on spotting the signs of any wellbeing problems and what we might be able to do to support students. The podcast complements SecEd’s re...2020-08-261h 06
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Teacher retention & recruitment – strategies for schoolsOne in 10 secondary teachers leave the profession every year. In this SecEd Podcast, we look at the latest research into the school workforce and we discuss practical strategies to support teacher retention and recruitment in secondary schools. On retention, we tackle issues including workload, flexible and part-time working, supporting early career teachers, CPD & autonomy, and pay & conditions. We also consider the state of teacher recruitment and what schools can do to attract the best candidates. Guests include Phil Denton, headteacher at St Bede's Catholic High School in Ormskirk; Chris Parkinson, executive headteacher of Bosworth Academy...2020-07-1559 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Technology & digital strategy in schoolsIn this episode, we look at what makes an effective digital strategy in schools. What does a digital strategy look like? Why is it important? What purpose does it serve? Who creates it? What form does it take? Lots of practical advice and reflections with themes including whole-school technology strategy, deployment, procurement, budgets and planning, issues relating to teaching and pedagogy, the challenges when deploying technology, edtech evidence, blended learning, the impact of Covid-19, and more. Featuring Al Kingsley, chair of the Hampton Academies Trust & MD of edtech company NetSupport; Paul Haigh, head of King...2020-07-011h 09
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Coronavirus & vulnerable students: Post-lockdown supportIn this SecEd Podcast we speak to three experts about how we can support vulnerable students post-lockdown as they return to our schools. Our focus includes looked after children, previously looked after children, those with mental health challenges, disadvantaged pupils, and those with SEND. The podcast offers a range of practical advice, with themes including the challenges at-risk students may present with, spotting the signs, potential interventions and pastoral support, safeguarding implications and more. In conversation with SecEd editor Pete Henshaw are Darren Martindale, service manager, vulnerable learners & virtual school head at City of Wolverhampton...2020-06-241h 19
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Teaching skills & knowledge in the secondary schoolMany educators see a role for both skills and knowledge in the curriculum – but the national debate continues to pitch one against the other. In this podcast, Pete Henshaw chats with Jez Bennett and Chris Holmwood from the 5 Dimensions Trust in Milton Keynes about how schools can embrace both skills and knowledge education and what this might look like. We look at what Ofsted has to say on the matter, how we can promote skills within a system of terminal examinations, and hear about the innovative ASK (Academic Skills and Knowledge) framework in place at Shenley Brook En...2020-06-1759 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Embedding literacy, numeracy & digital skills across the curriculumIn this SecEd Podcast, Matt Bromley interviews assistant headteacher, Zoe Evans, about her work on embedding literacy, numeracy and digital competency skills across the curriculum at her school in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Zoes takes us through the process she followed including the creation of a ’skills team’ and the identification of the common skills that students need to use in most subject disciplines. Zoe also talks about establishing a common language for learning across her school, and of the importance of consistency in the key words and definitions teachers use, in order to aid tran...2020-06-0339 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Creating confident teachersIn this SecEd Podcast, produced in partnership with Access 1st, producers of the SEN-HUB CPD service, we discuss practical ideas and approaches to support teachers to be confident and effective in their practice. We consider what a confident teacher looks like, themes of CPD and wider school support, school culture and collegiate working, school leadership, staff wellbeing and mental health among other issues. Pete Henshaw, editor of SecEd, gets ideas and tips from Mark Grimmett, a lead practitioner and teacher of mathematics at Guildford County School, David Higginbottom, an assistant headteacher at the Gosport and F...2020-05-271h 10
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: GCSEs – The Forgotten ThirdIn this SecEd Podcast, Matt Bromley interviews former headteacher, David Birch, about his work as part of the Forgotten Third Commission, which looked into how to improve the prospects of students who do not achieve at least a Grade 4 pass in GCSE English and maths. The fact that this represents about a third of 16-year-olds year-in, year-out is not an accident but the product of the system of comparable outcomes whereby the spread of GCSE grades is pegged to what cohorts of similar ability achieved in the past. The Commission points out that young people wh...2020-05-2043 min
SecEd PodcastOvercoming barriers to effective CPD in schoolsThis SecEd Podcast offers a range of practical, research-based advice on what an effective CPD programme in schools might look like and how we can evaluate our CPD to ensure it is effective and has impact for our students. We also consider support staff, subject-specific CPD vs pedagogy-led CPD, and teacher autonomy when it comes to leading their own CPD. SecEd editor Pete Henshaw speaks with Maria Cunningham, head of education at the Teacher Development Trust, a national charity supporting evidence-led CPD practice in school, and Ben Solly, principal of Uppingham Community College in Rutland...2020-05-0648 minSecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Curriculum Design: Part 2In this two-part SecEd Podcast, we speak with expert Matt Bromley, a former teacher and school leader, SecEd editorial board member, and author, about curriculum design. Based on his new book, School and College Curriculum Design, Matt takes us through his six steps for effective and coherent curriculum design, focusing on Ofsted's new inspection requirements as well as general best practice principles. These six steps are to: Agree the vision, Set the destination, Assess the starting points, Identify the way-points, Define excellence, and Diminish disadvantage. The first podcast in this series covered steps...2020-04-2228 min
SecEd PodcastThe SecEd Podcast: Curriculum Design in the Secondary School: Part 1In this two-part SecEd Podcast, we speak with expert Matt Bromley, a former teacher and school leader, SecEd editorial board member, and author, about curriculum design. Based on his new book, School and College Curriculum Design, Matt takes us through his six steps for effective and coherent curriculum design, focusing on Ofsted's new inspection requirements as well as general best practice principles. In conversation with SecEd editor Pete Henshaw, Matt offers a range of practical advice and reflection, as well as some key questions to help schools evaluate their own curriculum design work.2020-04-1527 min
NetSupport RadioSecEd Magazine editor, Pete Henshaw, discusses the trends and hot topics coming from his readershipPete Henshaw, Editor of SecEd magazine, chats to NetSupport Radio about schools’ increased focus on evidence, the benefit of a digital strategy, not being swept away by the latest technology, VR and AI – and more.2020-01-2410 min