Education: Joining the Dots

In our latest episode we're joined by special guests from two UK Multi-Academy Trusts - Tallyia Charalambous, Director of English at Laidlaw Schools Trust and Graham Findlay, Secondary School Improvement Lead at Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. Tallyia collaborates with senior, subject and literacy leads across her Trust to raise standards in English and instil a lifelong love of re...

In our latest episode we join the dots on the growing issue of speech and language challenges among UK primary and secondary school children, highlighting key findings from our YouGov survey of over 1,000 teachers. For our discussion, we're joined by Rachael Symons, Reading and Primary English Lead at Cabot Learning Federation. Her previous experience includes leading MFL in secondary schools...

In our first episode of 2025, we're joining the dots on the prevalent topic of inclusion and leadership. Our special guests for this discussion are David Bartram OBE, Director of Prescient Education, and Berna Bouwer, Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education. David has been a SEND policy adviser to the Department for Education, adviser to the Mayor of London’s education team and Director...

Welcome to another episode of 'Education: Joining the Dots', hosted by Ryan Hughes, Education Advisor. Our special guest for this episode is Becky St. John, a school assessment and performance data specialist who is passionate about helping schools and Multi-Academy Trusts use data effectively to improve outcomes. We join the dots on the value of standardised assessments and best practic...

In our first episode of the new academic year, we join the dots on the key topic of mathematics and hear from listeners sharing the challenges they're currently facing in school around the delivery of this core subject. Our Data Spotlight explains our brand new assessment, the New Group Maths Test (NGMT). We discuss this and more with our Assessment Specialist for Numeracy & Mathematics,...

In our final episode of this academic year, we're focusing on the important topic of staff wellbeing in schools - reflecting on the results of the UK TES School Wellbeing Report 2024. We're joined for our discussion by two very special guests - Kathryn Wilson, Headteacher at Randwick CofE Primary School, and Jordan Connell, Teacher of Food Preparation, Nutrition and Design Technology fro...

Our special guest for this episode is Mr J Bishop, CEO of Cornerstone Academy Trust in Exeter - which currently has four schools within it's partnership. We join the dots on the key topic of attainment and discuss how their Trust has addressed the end of mandatory Key Stage 1 SATs testing in the UK.  Our Data Spotlight focuses on the Progress Test Series, which measures attainment in English,...

In our latest episode we discuss the myths and assumptions on reading in schools. Our special guests are Richard Slade, Executive Headteacher, and Alicia Whytock, Head of School at Plumcroft Primary School in London. Our regular Data Spotlight feature explains myON, a cross-curricular teaching and learning tool from Renaissance which helps students acquire the essential skills to become fluent rea...

In our latest episode we join the dots on the link between speech, language and communication needs, and wellbeing. For our discussion we’re joined by Katy Mullin, a Speech and Language Therapist at Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, and Nicky Martin, a Senior Inclusion Consultant at North Star Inclusion Advisory Team, Walsall. Our regular Data Spotlight feature focusses on WellComm, our speech and lan...

In our latest episode we're joining the dots on the development of standardised tests - providing an insight into the complexities of the process, why it might take longer than you think, and how important it is that schools take part in our trials. Our Head of Research, Bernadetta Brzyska, discusses this and more with our Assessment Project Manager, Thomas Hooley. In our Data Spotlight featu...

In our latest episode we're joining the dots on the Whole Pupil View - a model that explains how data triangulation is key in helping educators fully understand their learners. We discuss this and more with our special guest Laura Stansfield, Primary Group Curriculum Assessment Coordinator at the Braeburn Group of International Schools. Our regular Data Spotlight feature shines a light on the...

In our first episode of 2024 we're joining the dots on all things SEND with our special guest Gary Aubin, SEND Consultant at Whole Education. Gary has worked in settings across the UK and internationally for many years promoting the successful inclusion of learners with SEND in mainstream schools. In our regular Data Spotlight feature, we explain the role of assessment in supporting SEND lear...

In our final podcast of 2023 we're joining the dots on the past year in education, plus what's in store for 2024, with our special guest Laura McInerney - education journalist, public speaker, and co-founder of Teacher Tapp (a daily survey app used by over 10,000 teachers). Claire McDougall, Head of Curriculum at Wellingborough Preparatory School, shares her transformative "lightbul...

In the latest episode of our podcast we're joining the dots on wellbeing and inclusion with our special guest Matthew Savage, a highly experienced Assessment, Wellbeing and DEIJB Consultant with a long and varied career in school leadership both in the UK and internationally. Our Data Spotlight focuses on understanding the mindset of learners using the Pupil Attitudes to Self and School (PASS...

In the second episode of our new podcast we're joining the dots on reading with our special guest Beth Morrish, Director of Secondary Literacy at Meridian Trust. We explain the importance of understanding Reading Ages using the New Group Reading Test. Also, Louise Steer-Jones from Sawtry Village Academy shares her "lightbulb moment" from using assessments to support the literacy jou...

In the first episode of our brand new podcast we're joining the dots on assessment at transition with our special guest Vicky Merrick, an Education Consultant with extensive experience in Trust and school level strategy and impact. We explain the importance of understanding cognitive abilities using standardised assessments such as CAT4. In addition, Samantha Krbacevic from Repton Prep shares...