IOE Insights

What does it take to create a study designed to last for generations? Professor Alissa Goodman joins Mark Quinn to talk about Generation New Era, a new birth cohort study that will follow 30,000 babies born in the UK in 2026. She describes how new approaches to data collection, including regular digital contact with families and the use of video data, will provide richer insights into children’s d...

This conversation traces Professor Li Wei’s path from classroom teacher to Director and Dean of the UCL Institute of Education, showing how lived experience drove his research questions. He explains language shift in three generations and why some children become English‑dominant despite living in multilingual homes. With deep expertise in bilingualism and multilingual education, he shares evidenc...

In an increasingly digital landscape, what can teachers do to guide, safeguard and support their students? Teacher training is largely designed for an analogue world, but teachers now find themselves in exactly the opposite of that. Disinformation and misinformation are on the rise and conspiracy theories have become ubiquitous. In conversation with our hosts Mark and Elaine, Jeremy Hayward weighs...

We explore retirement readiness, gender gaps in pension wealth, and the real-life consequences of inequality across the life course. Dr Amy Harrison speaks with Dr Sam Parsons about what long-running birth cohort studies can reveal about people’s lives as they approach retirement. Full show notes and links to research: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/worked-more-still-got-less-research-rea...

What does a PhD journey look like when you paint it rather than write it? Louise and Tooba are two international doctoral students at the UCL Institute of Education, and in 2026 they are navigating the third year of their PhD programmes. Each month they will meet to sit down, talk, and paint. These sessions turn reflective conversations into visual stories, using art to bring their PhD experience...

10-year-old Sofia hosts a friendly conversation with her guest Shania, a 9-year-old from Mumbai, about what sleep looks like in their day-to-day lives and compare bedtime routines. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/childrens-sleep-routines-bedtimes-dreams-and-how-sleep-affects-mood-and-school Podcast produced by UCL Sleep Education Research Lab .

High school teacher Mustafa Sakarwala speaks with Nandini Adusumilli (PhD student at Sleep and Education Research Lab at UCL) about why sleep is a core foundation for children’s and teenagers’ attention, learning, and exam recall. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2026/mar/sleep-memory-and-academic-performance

Chloe Morgan and David O'Connell share their journeys to becoming UCL advanced facilitators. They join this episode’s hosts, Mark Quinn and Nancy Karmali Belmonte, for a discussion on the power of facilitators in supporting other teachers to learn. Early career teachers all have busy school days; Chloe and David reflect on how facilitators can create safe spaces for ECTs to reflect on their practi...

Peter tells the story of how he was diagnosed with dyscalculia at 10 years old. Liz and Helen chat with Peter about his dyscalculia diagnosis. They explore the barriers people face as children and adults to identifying this under-researched and misunderstood specific learning difficulty. Peter shares the impact the diagnosis had on his experiences at school, expressing feelings of shame, and his j...

Mark Quinn speaks with Dr Gergo Baranyi about researching environment and health with a lifecourse approach, using data that follows people over time. Dr Baranyi describes how linking cohort data to administrative and geospatial sources can paint a richer picture of exposure than using a single home address alone. They discuss how these methods can connect housing and neighbourhood conditions to o...

Scott and Mia discuss the negative impact dyscalculia has had on their wellbeing. Scott and Mia talk to Liz and Helen about the negative emotions they associate with mathematics in and outside of the classroom. They explore how this differs from the way adults without dyscalculia might feel. They mention anxiety, panic, shame, anger, and frustration, as well as low self-esteem that follows them lo...

Rose shares the daily challenges she faces as an adult living with dyscalculia. Liz Herbert and Helen Williams speak with Rose about how dyscalculia affects her day-to-day life. Touching on school, employment, friendship, shopping, and even splitting the bill, they explore the barriers and difficulties one can face when living with this specific learning difficulty. Full show notes: https://www.uc...

What if we could trace the arc of a generation from the very beginning to understand how our earliest environments shape our adult lives? Coming up on Research for the Real World , we explore the work of the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies by following cohorts born in the 1950s all the way to a new generation arriving in 2026. Join our IOE researchers as they unpack decades of unique data to r...

Teddy Morgan advises leaders on how they can help fellow ECTs to thrive in their first years. Teddy, Mark and Elaine talk about the importance of feeling a sense of connectedness to the place where you teach – a sense of feeling valued for the work you do. Good leaders shape school cultures; they talk about how leadership can help teachers understand how meaningful their work truly is, from admin...

How can we sustain creative futures in our local communities? In this final episode, Anne, Barry and Gus join our host Liza to discuss how established institutions can build long-term, sustainable relationships with East London’s creative community. This conversation unpacks how shared resources, collaborative mentorship, and inclusive infrastructure can uplift underrepresented creative entreprene...

Dr Wilton Lodge says it's not enough to just decolonise our curriculum. Wilton, an Associate Professor (Teaching) at UCL, discusses how teachers can confront their own biases about what knowledge is powerful, and be more responsive to the diverse cultural perspectives in every classroom. "Inequality in education is not accidental. It is produced through curriculum choices, pedagogical practises, a...

Tessa Blair (East London Teaching School Hub) tells us how mentors can support the development of positive orientations to learning. She tells Mark and Elaine how a professional culture tied to learning and mentorship can make a big difference in the lives of early career teachers (ECTs). Tessa explains that mentors can help foster an inclusive and encouraging culture for ECTs, guiding them throug...

How do you support the next generation of creative leaders? Explore how East London’s creative ecosystem nurtures talent after the 2012 Olympics. Host Liza Fletcher and guests dissect bridging gaps between institutions and grassroots organisations, affordable spaces, and youth entrepreneurship in the Olympic Boroughs. With a focus on growth, representation, and accessibility, this episode challeng...

A holistic view of how phonics, writing, reading and language come together to make a child truly literate. Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking tell Mark and Elaine about the "double helix" of reading and writing, an approach that combines phonics teaching with engaging reading and writing activities. They chat about the importance of creating a balance – between fostering a child's early love for...

Ruby Williams was told her hair was too big for school - and she refused to accept it. In this episode, Ruby and her mother Kate speak with Alison Wiggins about the emotional and legal journey that followed. Their story is a call to action for educators and institutions to do better. Full show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/oct/fight-protect-black-hair-schools-lets-talk-about...

In this episode, we hear about the cultural landscape within the Olympic boroughs, and the evolution that has occurred in the wake of the 2012 Olympics. Our panel of speakers share their insights on the opportunities and challenges of reaching under-represented audiences through initiatives such as education, screenings, exhibitions, and workshops. They talk about their success stories in engaging...

As headlines warn of university closures and staff cuts, Professor Huw Morris offers a deeper look at the forces reshaping UK higher education. In conversation with Dr Elin Arfon, he explains why some institutions are struggling more than others, and what role government, regulation, and research can play in building resilience. They also explore the growing shift toward tertiary education and ski...

In this episode, Louise Stoll tells us her story of 'improve-isation'. Louise tells Mark and Elaine about her career to date. She talks about the importance of building capacity for learning and supporting pupils to thrive in an uncertain future. "You need people to enable you to take risks, to say it's not going to be perfect the first time. It really is important for leaders at all levels to enc...

In this episode, Dr Benjamin Abrams speaks with Hend Aly and Dr Heather Rolfe about their research into public attitudes and how these views shape migration policy and the future of higher education. They explore surprising findings from their report, the role of media narratives, and the strategic challenges facing UK universities. With global competition for talent heating up, this conversation...

What does supporting teacher wellbeing look like? And how can school leaders create a culture of wellbeing? Samantha O'Sullivan's research finds that teacher wellbeing is found in authentic recognition of their work, appropriate CPD, time to do the job well, good colleague relationships, and autonomy to make decisions for themselves. In other words, all things that leaders can influence for the be...