Bedrock Talks from Bedrock Learning

What if the supports we give students could raise the bar instead of lowering it? We sit down with Alex Fairlamb, Trust Teaching and Learning Network Lead and Assistant Principal, and author of The Scaffolding Effect, to unpack how temporary, responsive scaffolds help learners move from guided practice to genuine independence without sacrificing high expectations. We dig into scaffolding as a core...

The education system is at breaking point. With unprecedented exclusion rates and 44,000 teachers leaving the profession last year alone, something has to change. Enter Krystian Liptrot, CEO of Life Changing Education (LCE), who's pioneering an approach so revolutionary it deserves your full attention. When host, Andy, visited LCE's facilities in North Manchester, he was struck by someth...

What happens when students can decode words perfectly but can't comprehend what they're reading? Dr. Megan Dixon, a literacy expert who bridges the worlds of classroom teaching and cognitive research, unpacks this growing challenge facing schools today. The conversation dives into what Dixon calls the "elongation of the ability range" - the widening gap in reading proficiency t...

Could disciplinary literacy be the missing piece in primary education? Prepare to have your assumptions challenged as education advisor Shareen Wilkinson reveals how young learners can benefit from thinking, reading, and writing like subject specialists – years before secondary school. Most educators associate disciplinary literacy with secondary education. Yet, when implemented thoughtfully in pr...

What if our understanding of reading development has been missing crucial elements? Dr Laura Shapiro, developmental psychologist and senior lecturer at Aston University in the UK, challenges conventional wisdom about literacy instruction and reading engagement in this thought-provoking conversation. Shapiro brings a refreshing perspective, explaining how she accidentally fell into literacy researc...

When literacy becomes everyone's responsibility, something remarkable happens to a school's culture. In this captivating conversation, we speak to Lauren Bishop (Literacy Coordinator and English Teacher) and Natalie Miles (Assistant Head) from The Bishop's Stortford High School about their journey to place vocabulary at the heart of their curriculum. What began as a targeted interve...

What if every secondary school teacher knew how to teach a child to read? What if we stopped treating literacy as simply spelling and grammar exercises and instead recognised it as the foundation of all learning? In this thought-provoking conversation with English teacher and literacy lead Jennie Shearer, we explore the troubling reality that most teachers have never been taught how to support str...

Host Andy Sammons welcomes two extraordinary educators who are transforming how schools approach literacy: Kaley Macis-Riley, Senior Lead for Quality of Education, and Laura May Rowlands, Head of English. Both working in schools with high levels of disadvantage, they share candidly about their journey to establish thriving reading cultures in an age dominated by smartphones and digital distraction...

What happens when we treat reading as a checkbox rather than an ongoing developmental journey? Jenny Webb, Director of English and Literacy at Carlton Academy Trust, pulls back the curtain on the challenging reality of literacy in UK schools today. Despite government claims about improvements in reading standards, educators are experiencing something quite different in classrooms. Jenny explains h...

How do schools successfully implement change that actually sticks? Mark Miller, Director of Bradford Research School, joins us to break down the recent updates to the Education Endowment Foundation's implementation guidance - revealing why the social dimensions of change might be the most critical factor for success. The conversation dives deep into why schools often rush past the crucial &qu...

Natalie Wexler joins Andy Sammons to tackle one of education's most persistent challenges: the artificial barrier between reading and learning. This eye-opening conversation dives deep into why traditional approaches to reading comprehension don't work - and what cognitive science tells us actually does . Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap and co-author of The Writing Revolution , unpac...

Aaron Leary's journey - from a student grappling with language to co-founding Bedrock Learning - illustrates the transformative power of literacy in education. This episode explores personal experiences, teaching philosophies, and future aspirations in the PedTech sphere. Literacy, Aaron reveals, is more than just words; it’s a tool that shapes our thoughts and identities, a concept that lies...

Carl Gombrich is the Lead Academic at London Interdisciplinary School and oversees curriculum design, teaching, and learning. He was previously a Professorial Teaching Fellow of Interdisciplinary Education at UCL and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. In this episode, prepare to rethink higher education as Carl shares his journey in pioneering a revolutionary academic model. Di...

Ever wondered how English education is evolving to meet the demands of our rapidly changing world? Join us for a fascinating conversation with Elizabeth Draper, a trailblazer in the realm of English education, as we uncover the profound shifts shaping this field. With over three decades of experience and her current role as deputy chair of the English Association, Elizabeth shares invaluable insig...

Bedrock's Andy and Morgan are joined by Stephanie Hammond, who's a Teaching and Learning Consultant offering bespoke training, auditing and support in pre-phonics skills, early reading, phonics and spelling. As a Primary Teacher with over 20 Years of experience, Stephanie has worked alongside, trained and coached numerous EYFS practitioners, TAs, teachers, senior leaders and Headteachers...

With 20 years of teaching experience, Sophie Prescott has held various leadership roles across schools in the Midlands. From a background as a science teacher, her current responsibilities now include overseeing Reading and Literacy, supporting disadvantaged students, and contributing to SCITT development. She is passionate about each of these areas, and as a non-English specialist, she is uniquel...

Prepare to transform your approach to education technology with insights from Richard Anderton, the Digital Transformation Lead at the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP). Richard joins us to unpack his extensive role, focusing on how ATLP's digital strategies extend beyond simply handing out devices to students. Learn about the critical elements of online safety, the far-reaching implic...

How can you transform your teaching practices to be more engaging and effective? In this episode, we sit down with Mike Gardner, the Teaching and Learning Lead for Maritime Academy Trust, to explore his successful strategies for enhancing education across 13 primary schools in southeast London and Kent.  From his innovative start-up, The Oracy Shift, which prioritizes communication skills, to his...

Discover the hidden gems of Further Education (FE) as Holly Barnes-Lomax joins Bedrock Talks.  Holly is the Teaching, Learning and Quality Lead at an FE college in Chesterfield. She takes us behind the scenes to explore the variety of courses, from vocational training to adult education, and the specialised support provided to SEND students.  With her extensive experience, Holly sheds light on her...

Sarah Davies is the author of Talking about Oracy which focuses on the development of effective communication beyond the parameters of the classroom.  She is currently an Assistant Head Teacher at a secondary academy in the north-west of England. Alongside her teaching, she has also written articles for SecEd, The Headteacher and the Teaching Times, as well as presenting at regional and National R...

After so many comments, thoughts and requests from the first episode, Dani Walley returns to Bedrock Talks to discuss leadership and teacher development. Dani is an Assistant Principal leading on teaching, learning and curriculum in a large secondary school. Previously a Director of Humanities, Dani is passionate about empowering staff and students to succeed. She has a forthcoming publication foc...

Katie Chanter is a literacy leader for a large secondary comprehensive school, and has extensive experience of teaching English- including language development in early years. She has successfully implemented Bedrock, both tier 2 and 3 vocabulary, in her school.  In this podcast, she discusses her gradual approach to a successful implementation, and how she has successfully navigated the territory...

Discover how to ignite a passion for reading and learning in your students with insights from Val Dewhurst, the dynamic Head of Library and joint Bedrock Learning lead at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School (Quags). In our latest episode, Val speak to us about the library as the centrepiece of literacy in a school, as well as a place of safety and celebration for young people to come and enjoy reading....

Ever wondered how AI can revolutionise education? Get ready to meet Patrick Hickey, the AI Teaching Guru, who turned traditional teaching on its head by embracing cutting-edge technology. This episode features Patrick’s remarkable journey into the world of artificial intelligence, starting with his creative experiment of generating a prequel to the classic movie Home Alone using ChatGPT. We unpack...

What if understanding dyslexia could transform your child's reading experience? Join us as we sit down with dyslexia specialist Sally Raymond, who shares her heartfelt journey into the field, driven by her daughter's struggles with reading. Discover the crucial role parents play in offering unconditional reading support, highlighting how such support can significantly enhance a child&apo...