Heads & Tales

On this week's episode, we are joined by Cherie White. Cherie is the CEO of Think for the Future, a social enterprise that is driven to make an impact on the education system by offering innovative support to young people and schools to improve outcomes.

On the latest instalment of Heads & Tales, we were joined by Ali Henderson , the CEO of Royal National Children's SpringBoard Foundation . Ali's journey from 10 Downing Street to leading impactful initiatives in the charity sector is truly incredible and especially pertinent to those in the independent sector.

On this week's episode, we unravel the fascinating career trajectory of Robin Davies, the newest addition to the founding team at Charterhouse, Lagos, who called in all the way from Nigeria. With over 25 years of experience in independent education, Robin's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. From his adventurous years in environmental education to his impactful roles in UK and internationa...

Back with our first episode of 2024, we have Oli de Botton. Oli is the CEO of The Careers & Enterprise Company – our national body for careers education.

Episode 23 brings Justin Pinnells , Academic Director of CATALYST by Winchester College . An articulate and sophisticated thinker, Justin’s episode includes: 🎓 How he would change GCSEs for the better 💻 His vote for the best online learning platform for students 💡 Why we need to be worried about AI

This week on Heads & Tales, we are delighted to be joined by a giant of the education world, Joseph Spence , Master of Dulwich College . Check out his episode including: 🎭 The perfect play for getting young people interested in theatre 📚 His version of the ideal GCSE assessment process 🎓 The two essential things for success as a headteacher

We’re thrilled to bring you the dynamic duo behind Sharky & George for episode 22 of Heads & Tales. Featuring:  🎈 The real reason they started throwing parties  👩‍🏫 Their key insights on the life of teachers  👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The biggest secret to keeping families happy

Sharath Jeevan OBE , the Executive Chairman of Intrinsic Labs . Sharath was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen's New Year's Honours for founding and leading STiR Education, arguably the world's largest intrinsic motivation initiative. Including: 💪🏻 the secret behind intrinsic motivation 📚 the key book that’s influenced his thinking ↪️ why he chose to deviate from a conventional career

Will Orr-Ewing , Founder of Keystone Tutors and Arka Learning . Will is a friend of Oppidan and an expert on all things 1:1 support. This episode includes: 💻 His ‘most unpopular opinion’ on a key trend within education 🔎 The truth about the tutoring system 📝 What he would do to make GCSEs and A-Levels more effective

We’re thrilled to have Dr Helen Demetriou , Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge, on Episode 19 of Heads & Tales. Including: •Why friendships are so key in education •Promoting diversity at universities like Cambridge •What she thinks will happen to the British Baccalaureate

We are delighted to have James Dahl , Master of Wellington College . Including: •the big lie he told on the 3rd day of his teaching career •his take on GCSE reform •what role independent schools will have in 5 years

This week we are delighted to welcome Haili Hughes , Principal Lecturer in Mentoring and Professional Development at the University of Sunderland . It’s Episode 17 and it brings one of the world’s leading experts on mentoring in education. Including: • Her two key journalistic mentors • The vital research field of her doctorate • The best way to develop effective mentoring practices in schools.

We’re back with a brilliant new episode featuring Sandra Davis Partner in Family Law at Mishcon de Reya LLP . Sandra has over 40 years' experience of family law practice and specialises in complex high net worth and ultra-high net worth cases, often with an international element and involving complex tax and trust issues. Her clients include celebrities, entrepreneurs and financiers. Sandra is a f...

Episode 15 and we are thrilled to welcome Gifty Ghansah, Principal of the African Science Academy , which was founded by Tom Ilube and the African Gifted Foundation . The doors to the African Science Academy (ASA) opened in August 2016 as Africa’s first specialist STEM-focused academy for girls. Including: 🌡 How we can get more women into STEM 📚 Why some subjects are more traditionally associated...

Episode 14 features Ed Kirwan , Founder of Empathy Week which helps schools enable every student and teacher to feel seen, heard and understood by developing the skill of empathy. Including: ✅ The problem with the standard definition of empathy ✅ His passion for filmmaking ✅ His advice to teachers on how to create a culture of empathy

Episode 13 is a belter with William Goldsmith who has been Head of Bedales School since September 2021, having initially joined the school as Deputy Head (Academic). He was previously Director of Teaching and Learning and Head of English at Latymer Upper in West London which followed teaching in state and independent schools. Including: •What his Dad taught him about leadership •His personal take...

It’s Episode 12 and we have an amazing conversation with Joe Seddon , Founder and CEO of Zero Gravity , a technology company that supports low-income students into universities and careers. In October 2020, Joe was appointed as a Trustee of the British Youth Council and he is also a Governor of Lister Community School. Including: • How he met his mentor in a pub • His personal take on the future o...

Episode 10 is an in - depth interview with Colin Bell , CEO of COBIS - Council of British International Schools . Originally joining COBIS in 2010, Colin works with and supports talented students, support staff, teachers, leaders and governors from British International schools of global quality spanning over 80 countries worldwide. Including: •How the British education system compares globally •H...

This week we’ve got an incredible conversation with Vikas Pota , Founder & CEO of T4 Education . T4 is a digital platform he established as a response to the challenges posed by the pandemic on education, globally. Including: 🍲  A recent dinner conversation with the Global Education Director of the World Bank 🏆 His friendship with Andria Zafirakou who won the ‘World’s Best Teacher prize’ in...

Episode 8 and we are thrilled to welcome Tom Ravenscroft - Founder & CEO of Skills Builder Partnership . The Skills Builder Partnership brings together more than 550 schools and colleges, 130 employers and 100 other skills-building organisations around a common language and approach to building essential skills. Tom was the 2009 UK Entrepreneurship Teacher of the Year. He has served as a non-e...

Episode 7 of Heads & Tales and the big guests keep on coming with Olly Newton , Executive Director of the Edge Foundation . Edge is an independent, politically impartial foundation working to inspire the education system to give all young people across the UK the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to flourish in their future life and work. Before running Edge, Olly spent 12 years in th...

Episode 6 of ‘Heads & Tales’ is one of our biggest yet, featuring Director of Secondaries at United Learning , Dame Sally Coates . Featuring: 🪟 What happened to every single window at the school where she was first headteacher. 💬 A career altering conversation with then Justice Secretary, Michael Gove. 🏫 How family challenges led her into an extraordinary career in education.

It’s Episode 5 and this one is special: an in-depth chat with Ed Fidoe , currently CEO at the LIS: The London Interdisciplinary School . Before LIS, Ed co-founded School 21, an innovative 4 – 18 school in Stratford, East London, designed for children from all starting points and backgrounds. Prior to founding School 21 Ed worked at McKinsey & Co and ran a theatre production company. Including:...

Headmaster of Stowe, Dr Anthony Wallersteiner. It was a rollicking and revealing conversation, including: 👎🏻 Why he was hopeless at prep school 🌍 What Richard Branson and the organiser of the Kindertransport have in common 🎧 Why Led Zeppelin caused him to fail his Maths O-Level.

Episdoe three is an in-depth interview with the CEO of ISEB, Julia Martin. Featuring: 🚀 How she got into the assessment industry 📚 How Exams will change in the future ✏️ Top tips on preparing for the Pre-tests