The Garden Pod

Deputy Head, Dan Plant, discusses curriculum models and the knowledge we teach our students.

English teachers Dru Goldman and Maddy Allen give advice for getting children to read and explain the benefits of reading. For more information, click here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ukP1XPFPSPJ9vvK28wlBcEYvu97xcusX/view?usp=sharing

Secondary and Primary PE teacher, Abbie Burke, talks about the developments in the curriculum and improving PE provision for all students.

Maths Leader, Shalome Benjamin, explains the role of manipulatives in developing mathematical fluency.

Early Years Leader, Ratna Dalal, explains the importance of motor skills and how practitioners and parents can support their development.

SEL Teacher, Renie Leng, talks about the importance of adult social and emotional development for parents.

Nursery teacher and leader, Bethany Freeman, talks about Jungle School and the benefits of outdoor education for children.

Head of CCAs, David Crane, talks about the importance of extracurricular opportunities and why schools seek to offer a holistic education.

Deputy Head, Lindsay Round, talks about how we make changes in the classroom to help support a sense of belonging for all members in our community.

One of our school counsellors, Tanya Ramanah, talks about psychological flexibility and how important it is for young people and mental health.

Head of Computing, James Abela, talks about the benefits and dangers of AI, and the importance of teaching students how to use it.

Simon Mann returns as Principal of GIS. Here he speaks about his vision for education and what he hopes to achieve this year.

Members of the Primary Leadership Team, Etienne Visser, Sam Crews, and Tiffany Lacey-Edwards, discuss the Topic Curriculum and learning outside the classroom in the bumper episode of the GardenPod.

Director of Professional Learning, Amy Marsh, speaks to teacher-librarian Roger Fortune about modern children’s literature, its relatability and realism, and concerns for parents.

Lindsay Round speaks with the leaders of our anti-racism working party, Al Archer and Dave Whitney, about our strategic work on Belonging and the culture of schools.

Director of Professional Learning, Amy Marsh, speaks to CEO of Sea Change Mentoring, Ellen Mahoney, about developing social and emotional competencies.

Director of Professional Learning, Amy Marsh, speaks to language experts Tom Ball, Paloma Lozano, and Alan Robertson about the importance of language learning for everyone.

Director of Professional Learning, Amy Marsh, speaks to Head of Secondary Computing, James Abela, about his pioneering work in supporting all learners, for which he was nominated for a Trailblazer in Inclusion award

Deputy Head in Primary, Kelly Hersey, speaks to LS teacher Trish Henderson about how we use data in school to support students’ well-being and personalised learning for each child.

Deputy Head in Primary, Etienne Visser, and Assistant Headteacher, Antonia Confalone, discuss how learning through play supports brain and child development and how this can extend to the home.

Deputy Head of Secondary, Lindsay Round, and Deputy Head of Primary, Etienne Visser, discuss strategic work around intercultural learning they have been involved in, and why Belonging is a key strategic focus at GIS this year.

Director of Learning, Damian Graizevsky, speaks to Kkabir Bhalla from the Learning Strand of our Student Leadership about the GIS Learner Skills and awards. This episode of the Gardenpod will be of particular interest to GIS parents and students.

Head of Secondary LS Rebecca Weeks discusses executive functioning with Amy Marsh, This is a set of skills that include organisation, attention and task initiation. This podcast is particularly relevant for parents.

Deputy Head in Primary, Kelly Hersey, speaks to our innovation lead, James Wright, about his groundbreaking work with data and PowerBI to make vast amounts of data accessible and useful to educators.

Director of Learning Damian Graizevsky speaks to Liza Phillips about the importance of service learning and the skills students develop by being authentically involved in service.