IOE Insights

In this episode, we talk about what it's like to return for a career in academia, the fluidity of career trajectories, and the importance of supporting neurodiversity in universities. Drs Keri Wong and Alina Pelikh are joined by Brian Irvine for a discussion on his personal career path and work experience over the years, which include his roles as a childminder, a teacher of Religious Education, a...

In this episode, we talk about what it's like to work for the Office for National Statistics and the differences between life in academia and life outside of it. Dr Alina Pelikh is joined by James Robards to talk about applying for jobs once you make a decision to change careers and the different factors that may influence that decision, including workload, logistics and responsibilities. James ta...

In this episode, we talk about pursuing a career outside of academia and discuss the many transferable skills we have as researchers that can be applied to other contexts. Dr Keri Wong is joined by Audrey Kittredge for a discussion on discovering what pursuing a career outside academia looks like, and how to successfully enter a new industry despite how daunting it feels to leave the research sett...

In this podcast we hear about whether or not young people who aspire to teach actually become teachers. Most research into teacher recruitment surveys existing teachers to retrospectively find out why they went into teaching. Emily MacLeod’s research seeks to track young people from childhood and into adulthood. What has Emily learned from her research so far? What recommendations are there for po...

Liam Anderson has packed a huge amount into his 8 years and, when you hear how he fills his days, you will understand how. Fortunately, he is also a mentor on the UCL ECF programme. Here, he tells us how he makes each mentor meeting specific to his ECT’s curriculum and how – together – they boost their subject and pedagogical knowledge.  Full show notes, transcript and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk...

In this podcast we hear about whether more pay and fewer working hours should be prioritised to address teacher shortages, and what can be done to support the retention of new teachers. In outlining the challenges current teachers face, and how might that have changed over time, Professor Caroline Daly also shares her thoughts about the idea of flexible working, and what research into the benefits...

Elaine and Mark add their mere 42 years of classroom experience to the 58 (and counting) of Annie Powell and Helen Lugger, meeting in the staffroom to answer questions put by ECTs on Twitter. When will it start to get better? How do you recover from a tough lesson observation? These, and other questions, answered by teachers who have seen it all before. Full show notes, transcript and links: ⁠http...

We know that teacher shortages are an issue in most developed countries. How has the pandemic and pay played a role, and what can be done to address this? Research for the Real World welcomes back Dr Asma Benhenda to talk about the issue of teacher shortages and how England compares to other countries. Emily MacLeod also finds out what policy and non-policy measures could do to improve teacher rec...

It’s widely reported that there are ongoing and severe teacher shortages around the world. But what do we mean by teacher shortages? In terms of causes, teacher shortages are driven partly by low teacher recruitment, meaning that not enough new teachers join the profession each year, and low teacher retention, meaning that a high proportion of existing teachers leave the profession to work in othe...

Kate Hill, a first year ECT, is an Art teacher at Chosen Hill School near Cheltenham. She talks about having ‘to be like a swan’, projecting calm when nothing seems to be going right. She described the benefits of our Wellbeing Charter – especially how her mentor and facilitator have given peer support when she most needed it. Full show notes, transcript and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2...

Sofia Eleftheriadou and Lisa Baines are post-doctoral researchers at UCL’s Centre for Educational Leadership. Sofia and Lisa came into the ECF Staffroom to share the initial findings of their longitudinal study, ‘The impact of the ECF programme on the work engagement, wellbeing and retention of teachers.’ They talked to us about how the research of the ECF is always mediated – through school leade...

This roundtable is the first event in the TCRU@50 programme of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Thomas Coram Research Unit. Following an introduction to TCRU’s history, the speakers reflect on race, multiculture, and conviviality in the shadow of Brexit, COVID, and the Windrush scandal, three events that have each exposed and exacerbated racialised inequalities.  Speakers: Prof L...

Join Dr Michael Spence (UCL President & Provost) and Professor Li Wei (IOE Director & Dean) as they discuss their shared love of languages: from raising bilingual children and language learning mishaps, to preserving heritage languages and the importance of supporting language teaching in schools. [BONUS CONTENT] You can also watch Dr Spence and Professor Li Wei speaking in Chinese about t...

Being an ECT cheerleader and a facilitator of their pedagogical progress. Haili Hughes is a writer, expert on mentoring and facilitator on the UCL ECF programme.  Haili took us through the ‘long, winding road’ of her career, and shared with us her passion for mentoring. She says that mentors have a huge job on their hands to be conversant with the research behind the ECF, arguing that mentor devel...

This podcast aims to bring the latest academic research on the Holocaust into the classroom. ‘Survivors’ is a conversation between Dr Rebecca Clifford of Swansea University and Dr Tom Haward of the UCL Centre for Holocaust Education about her book ‘Survivors: Children’s Lives After the Holocaust.’ Aimed at educators who are teaching about the Holocaust, it’s also fascinating for anyone just curiou...

Siobhan Goffee is co-host of the podcast series and coaching programme for educators, ‘Joyblockers – and how to get rid of them’. Siobhan talked to us about when teaching can feel like being in a bad relationship. Living off the adrenaline of teaching, being constantly in survival mode, and struggling to admit you are struggling. And she talked about joy, creativity, community: the things that bri...

Why the ECF programme needed to be adapted for teachers in special schools Melanie Hogan is the deputy headteacher at Castlebar Special School in Ealing. Melanie invited us into her school to talk to us about the specific needs of ECTs in special education, how the ECF programme supports them, and what more we can still do to make the programme really work for this important group of teachers. Sho...

Our guest Professor Douglas Bourn is aware that “hope” can often be considered an idealistic and utopian term, but if it is grounded in real-life issues and challenges, then it can provide a valuable approach to learning about global issues. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2022/dec/pedagogy-hope-rftrw-s18e03

Emanuele Frascadore is in his first year of the ECF Programme at Rosedale College, in Hayes. He talks with us about how we can create an inclusive environment for LGBT+ students and staff. Show notes, links and transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2022/nov/breaking-cycle-inequality-making-space-lgbtq-issues-ecf-staffroom-s01e07 ECF Staffroom speaks to Early Career Teachers, mentors and parti...

It’s widely acknowledged that more climate change or sustainability education is needed. What’s probably missing is the kind of learning, aims and agendas required to be at the heart of teaching. Dr Laura Outhwaite hears from Dr Stuart Tannock about his work linking academic research to engage communities to achieve social, economic and environmental justice.  We hear about the challenges facing c...

Tayaba Chaudhry, Celeste Leonard and Liv Moran are in their second year of their ECF Programme at Burnage Academy in Manchester. They are joined by Erin Brown, their induction tutor, and talk to us about how the practitioner inquiry approach has shaped professionals. Show notes, links and transcript . ECF Staffroom speaks to Early Career Teachers, mentors and participants at all levels of the UCL...

This podcast features work that helps highlight the role of children and the duty of adults in raising awareness of this crisis and caring for the environment, so that the burden and responsibility does not fall solely on young people. Our presenter Dr Laura Outhwaite is joined by Dr Lizzie Rushton to discuss the importance of providing opportunities for teachers, teacher educators and young peopl...

[PREVIEW] With students and young people increasingly aware of the impact of climate change and wanting to do something about it, in this season of Research for the Real World we're focusing on how education systems can be reimagined to embed sustainable development principles and practices to bring about positive change and climate justice. In this season of Research for the Real World we'll hear...

Kate Atkin is a Deputy Headteacher at Balby Central Primary Academy in Doncaster. As a facilitator on Year 2 of the Early Roll Out Programme, she shares with us how she made practitioner inquiry come alive for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) and mentors, and the positive impact this has had. Full show notes, links and transcript . ECF Staffroom speaks to Early Career Teachers, mentors and participant...

Jill Whitehouse is a Deputy Headteacher in South Gosforth First School. She is a mentor and a facilitator on the ECF programme. She talked to us about her many years’ experience working with new teachers, and what it has taught her about how to make best use of our resources. Full show notes, links and transcript. --- ECF Staffroom speaks to Early Career Teachers, mentors and participants at all l...