IOE Insights

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...

Professor Gill Wyness shares her expertise on the intricacies of university funding, the student finance system, and the ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access and attainment. Discover why the current funding model is under strain, how it impacts students from all backgrounds, and what urgent reforms are needed to secure the future of this vital sector. We also hear about the role higher educa...

Professor Eileen Kennedy shares her experiences regarding the ethical dilemmas encountered in the co-design context, where research participants are actively involved. What unforeseen ethical challenges might surface as the research progresses? Could there be situations where obtaining participant consent is not enough? How should one proceed in such cases? In this podcast episode, Eileen and Haka...

We explore the growing financial pressures on UK universities and what they mean for the future of higher education. From frozen tuition fees to the reliance on international students, the system is reaching a tipping point. But alongside the challenges, we highlight the research-driven solutions already emerging. Through expert insights and real-world stories, we uncover how universities are adap...

Dr Michelle Cannon joins Dr Hakan Ergül to explore the ethical dilemmas that arise when using digital technologies for creative work in the classroom. How do we strike a balance between guiding students in their storytelling while preserving their agency? What strategies can researchers employ to navigate the complexities of confidentiality, privacy, and consent in digital production? In this epis...

Evelyn Forde shares her lived experience, from not feeling she mattered in school to becoming headteacher of the year. Evelyn tells Mark and Elaine about finding her way back into education, after feeling like she didn't belong and was disillusioned with school. She talks about the importance of making both children and adults feel like they matter – which is shaped by one's actions, behaviour and...

Dr Sara Young reflects on her experiences collaborating with children in the context of migration. How feasible is it to uphold ethical principles amid the uncertainties of the field? Taking the participants' vulnerability into account, what ethical considerations should be made both before and during fieldwork to ensure that children are actively included as co-researchers? Sara shares her valuab...

Sarah and Phoebe from Freshwater Theatre show how drama builds creativity and empathy... and can improve wellbeing for teachers too. Sarah and Phoebe explore how drama can be a vehicle for teachers to enhance lessons and deepen learning – but also a way to inject fun into the classroom, for both students and the teachers themselves. They talk about how drama can enable teachers to have more agency...

What ethical questions does working with young children raise? A conversation with Dr Karen Wilkes. How should researchers approach collaborating with children in creative ways to ensure the research is beneficial for all involved? In this conversation, Karen discusses her thoughts and experiences on research ethics, offering advice to researchers working with children on ethics preparation prior...

Julie Dockrell talks to us about how oral language is the foundation for all other learning and what the implications of this are for teachers. Julie talks about how her research aims to help children develop a flexible use of language across different contexts, for instance through a programme that supports children's conversational skills. She explores the importance of developing children's inf...

There is no form of culture or society without music – it's something that's part of us all. We take a look at the power of music, and how it intersects with technology, health and wellbeing. Show notes and links: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/mar/we-are-all-musical-rftrw-s24e03

In this episode, Guy Claxton takes us beyond simplified conceptions of the learning sciences and explains why teachers are sometimes vulnerable to fads and trends. "We undersell ourselves as educators, educating young people for the future and for life, if we lazily assume that all we mean by learning is the kind of thing that leads to good grades in schools." Guy shares his hopes as an educator –...

Those in creative sectors have made it loud and clear that there’s been a lack of funding and a disregard for the arts in the school curriculum. We hear about why media, arts and play is so important from an educational perspective. Full show notes: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jan/state-arts-and-media-education-and-whats-play-here-rftrw-s24e02

The IOE Podcast is delighted to share with you an episode from the UK Data Service's ‘Experts’ Expert Podcast’ series . Professor Jennifer Symonds, Director of CLOSER, Robin Flaig, Co-Director of the UK Longitudinal Linkage Collaboration and Chief Operations Officer for Generation Scotland, and Dr Nigel de Noronha, Research Associate at the University of Manchester, discuss their personal data jou...