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Education podcasts from 5 recommended shows. Sign in to choose your own.

4 June 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: A headteacher's guide to retirement planning

This podcast discusses the retirement choices open to school leaders and headteachers, tips for effective pension planning as well as the implications of early and phased retirement options. We speak with two experts from Wesleyan Financial Services to discuss principles of effective retirement planning and what headteachers need to think about and plan for. We focus on the provisions within the Teachers' Pension…

49 minSave

3 June 2025

The School Leadership Podcast

Rethinking teacher appraisal

The removal of performance-related pay in 2024 marked a turning point in how schools approach teacher appraisal. But why was performance-related pay a problem in schools? What does the research actually tell us? And what do teachers really need for meaningful professional growth? Gareth Conyard, director of education at the Teacher Development Trust (TDT), and Andrea Bean, its research and evaluation manager, answer…

41 minSave

7 May 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: A brilliant primary school library

This episode offers advice, ideas and examples for effective library provision in the primary school, including tips for whole-school literacy support. We meet with two primary school professionals and an expert from the National Literacy Trust to get their view of what makes for excellent primary school library provision. We discuss how to create a thriving school library provision when space and budgets are limited…

1 hr 1 minSave

25 April 2025

The School Leadership Podcast

Cybersecurity for school leaders

How do you keep your school’s IT systems and data safe? From ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ backups and the cloud to patching, passwords and multi-factor authentication, this episode looks at some of the most common cybersecurity concerns – and some of their solutions. With the UK’s schools and trusts increasingly reliant on digital technology for a range of functions, robust procedures are vital to protect against damage and…

45 minSave

7 April 2025

Ofsted Talks

Improving the way Ofsted inspects education

Would you like to learn more about our proposed new report cards, or how we’ll inspect inclusion? Ofsted is consulting on changes to our education inspections. Host Mark Leech (Deputy Director, Communications) speaks to Ofsted’s Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver, Lee Owston (National Director, Education) and Claire Stewart (Deputy Director, Inclusive Education) about our consultation proposals, including our new…

31 minSave

2 April 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Speech, language and communication needs in the primary school

This episode describes ideas and advice for identifying and supporting pupils with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) in the primary school classroom. SLCN are now the most common need for the 1.2 million pupils who are on SEN Support in England's schools – and the evidence tells us that there will be many more who are going undiagnosed. The podcast features two SENCOs and a speech and language therapist…

1 hr 14 minSave
Evidence into Action

Why manipulatives matter in the maths classroom

In this episode, Host Alex Quigley and the EEF’s Maths Content & Engagement Specialist, Grace Coker, are exploring why manipulatives matter in maths. They speak to Dr Sue Gifford to discuss the research evidence around the use of manipulatives and are then joined by practitioners from both primary and secondary schools to find out the benefits of using manipulatives in their settings. Dr Sue Gifford (Early Childhood…

42 minSave

1 April 2025

The School Leadership Podcast

Lessons in negotiation: tools to help school leaders build better relationships and calm a crisis

In this episode, former Metropolitan Police hostage and crisis negotiator Nicky Perfect shares strategies to help school leaders deal with difficult everyday situations by improving communication with pupils, parents and colleagues when emotions are running high. Using lessons learned confronting the extremes of human behaviour, Nicky talks about what to say – and what not to say, explains the importance of a ‘really…

31 minSave

11 March 2025

Evidence into Action

Teaching: an art or science - part 3

In the final episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’ host Harry Madgwick meets with Yamina Bibi to discuss how teachers can best exercise their professional judgment, with insights from a panel of experts. Episode 1: Teaching: an art or science - part 1 Episode 2: Teaching: an art or science - part 2 Yamina Bibi (Project specialist at Chartered College of Teaching and freelance consultant)…

26 minSave

5 March 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Nurturing your school's future leaders

In this episode we discuss leadership succession planning and how primary schools can spot, develop and nurture the school leaders (and headteachers) of tomorrow. Across two halves, the podcast speaks to four school leaders to find out how they spot, encourage and develop potential leaders in their schools and trusts. We ask how we can talent-spot these leaders – what kind of leadership traits and characteristics are…

1 hr 12 minSave

4 March 2025

Evidence into Action

Teaching: an art or science - part 2

In this second episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Harry Madgwick meets with Sarah Stock, Director of Newcastle Research School, to discuss teachers’ use of research evidence, with insights from a panel of experts: Sarah Stock (Director of Newcastle Research School, Primary School Improvement Lead NEAT Academy Trust) Panel: Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and…

33 minSave

27 February 2025

Ofsted Talks

Preparation for adulthood

What's the picture of local areas and how well they are working to prepare children and young people with special educational needs for adulthood? What support are they offering to allow young people to reach their full potential? Preparation for adulthood arrangements in local areas: a thematic review - GOV.UK Briony Balsom 0:07 Hello everyone, and welcome to this edition of Ofsted talks. I'm Briony Balsam, and this…

30 minSave

25 February 2025

Evidence into Action

Teaching: an art or science - part 1

In the first episode of a three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Harry Madgwick (EEF senior content and engagement manager) and expert guests including: Damilola Ajagbonna (Deputy Headteacher, Hitchin Boys’ School) Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and…

31 minSave

19 February 2025

The School Leadership Podcast

The future of school inspection: what school leaders need to know about Ofsted’s plans for reform

Plans to change the way schools in England will be inspected were unveiled by Ofsted earlier this month. These would see schools graded on a five-step scale across a wider range of individual areas – from ‘exemplary’ to ‘causing concern’, with a separate assessment of whether safeguarding standards are met. Here, NAHT's general secretary Paul Whiteman and assistant general secretary James Bowen address some of the…

37 minSave

5 February 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Managing SEN in the primary school

With the numbers of pupils with SEN rising year-on-year, this episode offers advice for primary school leadership teams (especially SENCOs) about the effective management of SEN across the primary school. Our expert panel begin by offering their principles of best practice for managing SEN. We then discuss how can school leaders can best support their SENCOs and what SENCO need in order to be effective in their role.…

1 hr 16 minSave

28 January 2025

The School Leadership Podcast

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: what school leaders need to know

Published in December and currently making its way through parliament, the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill would bring about changes to laws affecting safeguarding and schools. The bill includes new rules on branded uniforms, an end to automatic academisation for schools judged to be ‘causing concern’, free breakfast clubs in state-funded primaries and a unique identifier for all children. Join…

23 minSave

14 January 2025

Evidence into Action

Breakfast clubs

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Kirsten Mould and expert guests. They discuss breakfast club provision in schools, implementation challenges, impact, and advice for those looking to set up breakfast club provision in their setting. Lindsey McDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast, @LindseyMac_ @Magic_Breakfast (Start – 19:50) Toni Hayzen, Headteacher, Pembroke Park Primary School and…

44 minSave

8 January 2025

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: School food

In this episode we discuss how to deliver excellent and high-quality school food on a budget in your primary school. We chat with two headteachers and the founder of the Chefs in Schools charity to explore ideas and options for how schools can deliver quality food experiences for pupils. We ask how we can work with families to improve packed lunches and also discuss how we can raise money via our food growing and…

56 minSave

19 December 2024

The School Leadership Podcast

How can we make school leadership sustainable?

What does being a leader in a primary or secondary school today really involve? How does the role vary across the UK? And how can we make it more sustainable? In this episode of NAHT’s podcast, Professor Toby Greany of the University of Nottingham and Dr Tom Perry of the University of Warwick are joined by NAHT’s assistant general secretary James Bowen in a conversation addressing these questions and more.…

34 minSave

16 December 2024

Ofsted Talks

Serious youth violence: not just a 'city problem'

Ofsted's report into multi-agency responses to serious youth violence: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/multi-agency-responses-to-serious-youth-violence-working-together-to-support-and-protect-children Safer London's report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-and-families-experiences-of-multi-agency-support-when-impacted-by-serious-youth-violence https://saferlondon.org.uk/ Briony Balsom…

32 minSave

4 December 2024

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Executive school leadership

In this episode we take a deep dive into the different roles and models of executive school leadership, looking at best practice and how executive leaders can best support individual schools. Our panel of experts ask what different executive leadership roles exist and what purpose they serve; we consider the different structures and models of executive leadership, too. We discuss how executive leaders can effectively…

1 hr 2 minSave

6 November 2024

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Effective teacher recruitment and retention in schools

In this episode we look at the recruitment and retention of teachers in the primary school, including how to attract the best teachers and ideas and tips for how to keep hold of them. The podcast features three experienced school leaders who begin their discussion by each offering their three core principles of best practice for effective recruitment and retention. We then consider how we might go about finding the…

55 minSave

8 October 2024

Evidence into Action

Retrieval practice

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Rachael Cattrall, EEF Content Specialist Alumna) and expert guests. They discuss the evolution of retrieval practice and insights into cognitive science, including how these principles and practices are being applied in classrooms. Dr Tom Perry, Associate Professor, University of Warwick (Start - 24:10) Rachel Wilson, Year 6 teacher & Deputy Research…

57 minSave

2 October 2024

Ofsted Talks

Young Offender Institutions: a decade of decline

Here's the report discussed in this episode of the podcast: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/thematic-review-of-the-quality-of-education-in-young-offender-institutions-yois Mark Leech 0:03 Hello. Welcome to Ofsted Talks. My name is Mark Leech, and today I'm hosting a conversation about young offender institutions, or YOIs for short. I'm very pleased to be joined by not one, but two of His Majesty's chief…

24 minSave
The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Teaching oracy in the primary school

This episode focuses on how we can teach oracy and speaking skills in the primary school, with practical tips, ideas, resources and advice. Our expert panel discuss what oracy is, why it matters, and the impact we have seen on pupils' speaking skills since Covid. We look at how we can teach oracy in the classroom and across the curriculum, including practical activities for the explicit teaching of oracy as well as…

1 hr 23 minSave

4 September 2024

The Headteacher Update Podcast

Headteacher Update Podcast: Behaviour management in the primary school

In this episode three school leaders discuss effective behaviour management strategies and approaches in the primary school. We ask how we can build a culture that supports consistent behaviour management across the school. Furthermore, what does an impactful behaviour policy look like and how should it be applied in practice to ensure consistency in classrooms, corridors and playgrounds? The panel also discusses…

54 minSave

28 August 2024

Evidence into Action

Implementation in schools

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirsten Mould, EEF Senior Content and Engagement Manager, and expert guests. They discuss implementation in schools following the recent update of the EEF's implementation guidance report. They explore how we think about implementation and what it looks like in a practical sense. Jonathan Sharples, Associate Professor, EEF (Start - 28:23) Phil Stock…

1 hr 9 minSave

21 August 2024

Ofsted Talks

Good decisions: children with complex needs in children’s homes

Host Mark Leech listens in to Lisa Pascoe, deputy director (regulation and social care policy), Helen Humphries (specialist adviser for residential care) and Jenny Bird (research lead) as they discuss the findings from our recent research report ‘Good decisions: children with complex needs in children’s homes’. Read the report ' Good decisions: children with complex needs in children's homes ' Read the blogs…

24 minSave

26 June 2024

Evidence into Action

Using research evidence well in education

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Kirstin Mulholland, EEF Associate for School Engagement and Evidence Use, and expert guests. They discuss using research evidence well in the context of education, exploring the development of a culture and capacity for engaging with evidence in schools. Prof Rob Coe, Director of Research and Development at Evidence Based Education, EEF Senior Associate…

1 hr 8 minSave

17 May 2024

Ofsted Talks

Ofsted Big Listen

In this episode, Mark Leech (Deputy Director, Communications) speaks with Wendy Ratcliff (HMI, Early Education), Dan Lambert (SHMI, Schools) and His Majesty's Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, about Ofsted's Big Listen. Ofsted's Big Listen closes on 31st May and we want to hear from everyone we work with and work for. Take part here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ofsted-big-listen . Transcript: Mark…

14 minSave
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