Shows
Education SenseInterview with experts: What does the dream school look like? What would a dream school look like?Join us - co-hosts David Marshall and Isabel Rich - and our guest, Dr Rebecca Torrance-Jenkins, as we discuss what a dream school might look like…In this episode, we chat about some of the aspects of life in a school that perhaps is not working for pupils, particularly for those who have learning needs.Rebecca discusses a panoply of solutions to make school a better learning environment for all students. She talks us through some changes we can make to the pastoral, social and curriculum of...2025-08-111h 04
Education SenseThe digested read: Why Don't Students Like School? by Daniel WillinghamWelcome to Education Sense, a new podcast from the team behind The Rest is Education!This week's episode is brought to you by David Marshall and Isabel Rich. Together with teacher, Steph Vega, we'll be discussing Daniel Willingham's seminal education text Why Don't Students Like School? We will summarise what the book is about and also tease out some of the practical tips about how we can all become better classroom teachers. It's an episode that covers theory about how the brain learns but also some usable strategies for all. Resources: The first...2025-06-0449 min
Education SenseHow do we kindle curiosity in children? How do we make space for the curious child? In a society where we are eroding subjects such as music, art and dance from the curriculum, where knowledge and achievement are valued above play and creativity, how do we encourage curiosity in children and allow it to thrive inside and outside the classroom?Ross Borthwick, Isabel Rich and David Marshall approach the question of curiosity in Episode 5 of Season 3 with...well, curiosity. It's something all schools want to promote - or say they want to promote - but what exactly is it, and how do...2024-12-1848 min
Education SenseWhat makes an innovative secondary school curriculum?Part two of our mini-series on school curriculum sees co-hosts Isabel Rich and Ross Borthwick interview Neil Burch, Senior Master and former Deputy Head Academic at Bradfield College, a leading independent senior school.Neil has been teaching for over twenty years having worked in both state and independent sector, here in the UK and overseas. His role has enabled him to be involved with, amongst other things, curriculum design. He has also been a governor at The Willink which is a comprehensive school in Berkshire and at an international school in France.Isabel is a...2024-12-0452 min
Education SenseWhat makes an excellent primary curriculum? In this episode, David Marshall welcomes guests James Page and Dr Cindy Gause-Vega to discuss the question:What makes an excellent primary curriculum?James Page is Chief Executive of Haringey Education Partnership (HEP) which has 120 member schools and supports 35,000 school-age children.Dr Cindy Gause-Vega is an educational consultant based in Prague focused on professional learning and collaborative inquiry-based learning. She is former elementary school principal in the Czech Republic with experience working across three countries and two continents.This episode is part 1 of 2 looking at the value of curriculum, with a...2024-11-2046 min
Education SenseAre the best lessons taught outside of the classroom? In Scotland, the government states that all children will have the opportunity to experience a four-night residential trip at some point during their time at school. With at least two-thirds of our educational experts based in Scotland, we took this opportunity to examine the role of education outside the classroom.This week co-hosts Ross Borthwick and Isabel Rich are joined by Tom Mason, Head of Outdoor Learning, to discuss the value and impact of learning outside. Together, they look at the origins of outdoor education and its transition from the periphery of the education world to its...2024-10-0952 min
Education SenseWhat does a child centred education look like? Since the age of smart phones, navigating friendship, safety and self-esteem is ever more perilous and challenging for young people. Parents are seeing their children grow up in a world increasingly different from their own, while schools are having to adapt to a blurring of home life, school life and the online world.In Episode 1 of Season 3 of The Rest is Education, we ask what an education centred around the child and seen through the eyes of a child might look like.In this episode, David and Isabel are joined by Ramita Anand, educational consultant...2024-09-2547 min
Education SenseHow can we help support wellbeing in schools? In this week's episode, we discuss the mental health crisis affecting staff in schools and look at some of the best ways to help develop a supportive wellbeing culture in schools. David talks with Hilary Plant and John Ansell, both experts in their own fields and experienced at providing support for schools in this area.Hilary is a local authority governor at a North London primary school. In addition to being the vice chair, link governor for SEND and inclusion and wellbeing governor, she is also a practising psychotherapist and has worked for many years in public...2024-06-0546 min
Education SenseWhy is boarding on the rise?With increasing numbers of pupils boarding, both within the UK and overseas, Ross is joined by highly experienced boarding practitioners Vicky and James Eales. The trio discuss the reasons why, despite the stereotypes, boarding is on the rise*. *ISC Census 20232024-04-2459 min
Education SenseThe Best is History: Is history the best subject? In episode 5 of season 2, David and Ross are joined by Rebecca Kennedy de Lorenzini to discuss the question, 'Is history the best subject?' Our working title 'The best is history' riffs off the popular UK-based podcast The Rest is History, a far grander and more established purveyor of fine historical discussion than us: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786However, we think you'll agree, once you've listened to this 47-minute episode, that the historical discussion on offer here is as good as any you'll find. We have educational thinking, historical philosophy and a few...2024-02-2846 min
Education SenseHow is assessment evolving? In this assessment-focused episode, Ross interviews Julia Martin, the ISEB's effervescent CEO, on how the UK's oldest examination board is pioneering new forms of assessment after 120 years.The Independent Schools Examination Board, founded in 1903 and utilised by 340 schools worldwide, is leading the way with a raft of innovative assessments from the project-based iPQ to revolutionary creative writing analytical tools designed to assess comparative judgement.Join Ross and Julia as they explore what drove the creation of each assessment and discuss how the assessment landscape is changing at an extraordinary pace.Julia has very...2024-01-311h 04
Education SenseHow can we use AI in education? In Episode 3 of Season 2, we address the pressing question of AI in education.David is joined in The Rest is Education (digital) studio by Holly Thomas and Barry Cooper.Barry is Principal of The Global College, an IB institution based in Madrid: https://theglobalcollege.com/Holly Thomas is Head of IT and Digital Innovation at a prep school in North London.Organisations mentioned on the podcast include IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools): https://iaps.uk/ and IE Business School in Madrid: https://www.ie.edu/business-school/Open AI...2024-01-1732 min
Education SenseIs a school house system still relevant? In this episode, Ross and David explore the British house system from its (probable) origin in the clans and dynasties of medieval Europe to the sorting hat and houses of Hogwarts. With a few diversions to Latin mottos and international schools, they discuss boarding houses, sports days and house chants. Outside of Harry Potter, houses are ultimately a place of pastoral care and cross-year friendships for pupils throughout the school.2023-12-1542 min
Education SenseWhy should we teach classics? Season 2 of The Rest is Education begins with a discussion about classics in education. David speaks to Anna Bell from the charity Classics for All, alongside author, musician and classics teacher Julia Gray, asking the question, 'Why should we teach classics?'In this episode, mention is made of the organisation and charity Classics for All, details for which can be found here: https://classicsforall.org.uk/Julia refers to the apps Quizlet and Blooket, information about which can be found here:https://quizlet.com/en-gbhttps://www.blooket.com/2023-11-2241 min
Education SenseIs there any point in homework? Ross and David welcome guest presenter Isabel Rich to discuss the value of homework in schools. We explore some of the research around homework and discuss our own experiences as teachers and parents. The poem read by David to begin isHomework! Oh Homework by Jack Prelutskyhttps://www.poemhunter.com/poem/homework-oh-homework-2/Books Discussed John Hattie - Visible Learning: The Sequel (2023) https://visible-learning.org/2023/01/visible-learning-the-sequel-2023/Dominic Salles - The Slightly Awesome Teacher (2016) https://www.johncattbookshop.com/products/the-slightly-awesome-teacherYou can email us at: therestiseducation@gmail.comOr find us on Twitter at: @RestEducation2023-07-0552 min
Education SenseHow can artificial intelligence help teachers write reports?Join co-host Ross Borthwick on this extraordinary episode as he interviews New Zealand tech pioneer and founder of revolutionary report-writing software Reportal.ai, Frazer Findlater. Frazer introduces us to the website that makes report writing a breeze and explains how artificial intelligence is helping teachers worldwide to write better reports. Hold onto your pods as this one is going to create some waves. Watch this space!www.reportal.ai2023-06-1026 min
Education SenseWhat makes a great colleague?Staffroom chats, after work socials, friendly corridor greetings - all these interactions make life a bit better in the day-to-day life of a school. But on days when things are really tough, connecting with a colleague can be a lifesaver. Ross and David chat great colleagues on this Rest is Education special looking at the social life of schools.2023-06-0737 min
Education SenseDoes service have a place in education?This week, join Ross and David as they discuss what schools can and are doing to develop kind citizens. It features an interview with Alan Marshall, David's Dad, who undertook national service in the military in the early 1950s. The recording of this episode coincided with the 200th sovereign's parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst - the UK's military leadership college and whose maxim is 'Serve to lead' - as well as the launch of BBC Countryfile's 'Wild Britain' campaign, which aims to encourage one million acts of kindness towards the environment this year. 2023-04-191h 00
Education SenseWhat is PISA and why is it so important?PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) is a worldwide study by the OECD intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils' performance in maths, science and reading. This week, David interviews Lucy Crehan, qualified teacher, author and educational consultant. Her book Cleverlands (2016) combines educational research with an exploration of the world's top performing education systems, for which she travelled to help out in schools and live with teachers in Finland, Canada, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and Shanghai. She has worked with governments in England, Brunei and Myanmar, and spoken about her work at conferences in nine countries...2023-04-0537 min
Education SenseWhat's the power of the picture...book? This week, Aaron and David are joined by Isabel to discuss picture books and how they can be used to support children's learning from early childhood through school and beyond.2023-02-1550 min
Education SenseWhat are Thinking Schools?At just over 360 worldwide the Thinking Schools Network is growing but just what does it mean to be a Thinking School? Is it right for all schools and does an organisation need to join the network to be a 'Thinking School'? This week join David, Ross and special guest George Wienekus as they explore what it means to be a 'Thinking School'.2023-02-0259 min
Education SenseNew Year, New Zealand!To kick off 2023, David and Ross interview a former colleague: New Zealander Thomas Primrose. Now the deputy head overseeing curriculum development in one of New Zealand's oldest schools, Thomas shares why it's an exciting time to be involved in education at both Hereworth and New Zealand as a whole.2023-01-1856 min
Education SenseHow do we build a culture of learning in schools? For our final episode of the year, David interviews Shane Leaning, Head of Teaching Development at Nord Anglia, China. Shane is responsible for professional development at eleven bilingual schools across the region and oversees programmes such as the teacher training programme and the Becoming Bilingual course.In this episode, Shane takes listeners through the processes and features of professional development and discusses how his team implements big changes while also allowing for individual school and teacher autonomy. 2022-12-1458 min
Education SenseHow do teachers become better teachers?Teachers are lifelong learners. Like many professions, CPD sits at the heart of the career and is an essential aspect of personal growth and pupil impact. But what actually is effective CPD and how do schools cultivate this? Aaron, Ross and David explore this question in episode 7, looking at the current research and delving into their own (good and bad) experience of professional development to find the answers. 2022-12-081h 08
Education SenseHow do teachers become better teachers?.Teachers are lifelong learners. As with many professions, CPD sits at the heart of education and is an essential aspect of professional growth as well as pupil impact. But what actually is effective CPD and how do schools cultivate this? Aaron, Ross and David delve into current research and explore their own experience of CPD (the good, the bad and the ugly!).2022-12-081h 08
Education SenseHow can we use the World Cup as a teachable moment?This week, Aaron attempts to persuade David to use the Qatar Football World Cup as a teaching opportunity. Tune in to find out whether he was successful and for some ideas as to how you could begin the conversation in your setting.2022-11-3034 min
Education SenseHow do we teach for a sustainable future?Following the interview in E04, Aaron, David and Ross discuss ways in which the Sustainable Development Goals can be taught in a variety of settings.As promised in the episode, here is a list of resources for teachers:http://www.teachsdgs.org/resources.htmlhttps://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/campaigns/https://www.globalschoolsprogram.org/https://www.thekindnessbank.co.uk/un-global-goalshttps://unccelearn.org/https://www.transform-our-world.org/homehttps://www.thekindnessbank.co.uk/https://www.project-everyone.org/2022-11-2346 min
Education SenseHow are we teaching the Sustainable Development Goals?With COP27 taking place this week, Ross invites fellow sustainable development enthusiasts Helen Sundaram and Eve Jardine-Young onto the pod to discuss the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Join us this week as we discuss how the 'global to-do list' is being taught in schools and what the future holds for this crucial subject.Helen founded The Kindness Bank in 2021 and works with schools to support their delivery of the SDGs in the classroom. She is campaigning to have the SDGs firmly embedded within the UK's National Curriculum.Eve grew up in Malawi, has...2022-11-161h 14
Education SenseWhy are teachers staying in the profession?With the majority of new entrant teachers leaving the profession within five years, Aaron, Ross and David explore the reasons why and where teachers are remaining in the profession.2022-11-0929 min
Education SenseWhy are teachers leaving the profession?With teachers fleeing the profession like never before, Ross, Aaron and David discuss the factors driving this mounting problem. Is it pay, working conditions, lifestyle change, the aftermath of Covid-19 and how it changed the profession or the lure of working overseas? One thing is for sure, without staff retention, schools are thrown into a cycle of continual flux.Join us this week to identify the problems before looking at what is keeping some teachers in the profession beyond five years in E03.2022-11-0232 min
Education SenseWhat is Gamification? There can be little doubt that children enjoy playing games and gamification appears to be taking the world of education by storm. Gamifying the classroom has become so accepted over the last decade but how exactly is it being used and to what effect? Aaron, David and Ross discuss the pros and cons of game-ifying the classroom in the first ever episode of The Rest Is Education.2022-10-0932 min