It’s Your Time You’re Wasting

Is Oracy a fad or part of the ongoing tradition of Western Education? Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode: https://oracyeducationcommission.co.uk/oec-report/ https://www.education-uk.org/documents/pdfs/2021-appg-oracy.pdf https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-commission-conversations/id1739353277?i=1000658062482 https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-commission-conversatio...

What is the case for school uniforms? Would schools become chaotic places (more chaotic?) without them? Do they provide a ‘discipline distraction’ for some naughty pupils to hit out against? All this AND MORE in today's episode! Some links which are referred to: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14777071/parents-fury-school-ban-skirts-gender-neutral-options.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campa...

A replay of our February 2021 interview with Professor Michael Young. The original is still viewable on our YouTube Channel, it has been reproduced here for new viewers but also for our growing band of listeners on sound only platforms, where the original wasn’t available… until now! NB: This broadcast takes the place of our usual Thursday broadcast this week. Hopefully you managed to catch our bo...

Are you the maker or the tool? Is AI a threat to schooling or an extension to the accessibility of knowledge for humanity? (First there was writing, then the book, the library, printing, the internet and now AI...) Some references in the chat: The Ballad of Accounting, Sung by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger: https://youtu.be/MY3kYU5CYmk?si=oMwecn8TQV2s9Xmz written by Ewan MacColl (I think we inadve...

Do schools contribute to whether we see ourselves as an Island of Strangers or not? Some links for your delectation: Our interview with ED Hirsch: https://youtu.be/H097vPnDpkI?si=erXALkeyInTYmRTY Our Interview with Michael Young: https://youtu.be/xi_AhfWjeis?si=oanbhXx4OC8vc_W8 EmanRTM: https://youtu.be/OXn4lFNVb-Y?si=nAQmw4B8cXkaA_tP Sutton Trust Report: https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/t...

Is the current vogue for coaching in schools a fad or fundamental part of good CPD?

Scripted lessons vs Teacher Autonomy Sam Gibbs article: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/teacher-autonomy-how-we-dumbed-down-teaching Greg Ashman Substack: https://fillingthepail.substack.com/p/on-scripted-lessons?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true Curriculum Revolutions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curriculum-Revolutions-practical-guide-enhancing/dp/1913622983/re...

Do the proposed changes to Ofsted’s inspection regime go far enough? (spoiler - no) Some of the articles mentioned in this episode: https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/close-ofsted-consultation https://schoolsweek.co.uk/can-ofsted-listen-its-way-out-of-its-political-bind/ https://daviddidau.substack.com/p/rewiring-inspection?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Autism, ADHD, and the burgeoning crisis in funding for schools. Are too many pupils being diagnosed with Special Needs? Some sources used in this episode: The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O'Sullivan (Review here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/the-age-of-diagnosis-by-suzanne-osullivan-review-do-no-harm) The Lost Girls of Autism by Gina Rippon (Here is an article by her in the New Sci...

What is more important in the teacher’s toolbox? Knowing how to teach or knowing what to teach?

In which we look at Sutton Trust data on private tuition, Cold Call - is it a good technique to use in lessons, and should schools show Adolescence to their pupils?

Martin & David discuss the differences between 'group work' (a set of pedagogical strategies) and 'working in groups' to see whether 'never doing group work' is a tenable position for a headteacher to take.

John Tomsett, Jane Manzone, Al McConville and David Medway reflect on the year in state secondary schools, an inner London primary school and an independent boarding school. Different experiences emerge but so do stories of human resilience. John Tomsett also talks about his book on Angling. ============================TIMESTAMPS========================= 0:00 Intro (no sound sorry!) 0:01:01 John T...

Including interviews with Sam Freedman and Toby Young, discussing exams, free speech for teachers to express their own views as well as the need for a range of perspectives to be presented to pupils. Also Martin and David discuss whether Inset days are a good thing. Including some items for discussion, this episode raises a lot of questions, join the chat below and keep a lookout for the full leng...

We discuss Eton - free speech for pupils and teachers, Mantle of the Expert, Oracy, and Debating, with the Baroness of Buckley, Claire Fox, Tim Taylor, Mary Myatt and the John Catt book of the week author - Sarah Davies

What do parents want for their child's education, do they worry about curriculum and pedagogy? Ed Dorrell and Jonathan Simons have been finding out for their organisation 'Public First'. James Pembroke gives us his thoughts about Primary Schools and data including how to measure progress. Carl Gombrich talks about the soon to been launched new university - London Interdisciplinary School and argue...

This week we have interviews with Barry Smith about leadership, Ros McMullen about Exams and her charitable venture 'Headrest' NB the web address for Headrest is https://www.headrestuk.co.uk (not the website referred to in the programme) and in the John Catt interview Tom Rees & Jennifer Barker talk about their contribution to the ResearchEd book on Leadership. Also David and Martin discuss wo...

#IYTYW This bumper edition explores the themes 'Progress and Tradition' - looking at rows with Conservative MPs and 'common-sense' in history teaching, and the challenges to schools on curriculum and behaviour policies following on from such movements as Black Lives Matter. A look at 'traditional' teaching of Latin and Classics and the 'John Catt book of the week '10 Things Schools Get Wrong'. Wit...

#IYTYW Can the poor catch up with the rich or have they lost too much education due to Covid? Pedro De Bruyckere gives us some answers. Martin Robinson looks at John Lydon's (Johnny Rotten's) rant on Good Morning Britain about voting for Trump - 'the thickos vs the left wing intelligentsia' and David Didau interviews Dr. James Mannion and Kate McAllister about their book 'Fear is the Mind Killer'...

#IYTYW. A short look back at our first half term of interviews. news and views, a discussion about 'No More Exclusions' and a look into Covid safety in the classroom.

This week’s episode of It’s your time you’re wasting! with Principal of Oak Academy, Matt Mood, Andrew Doyle discussing Critical Race Theory and Zoe & Mark Enser talking about their book, Generative Learning in Action. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fiorella-Mayers-Generative-Learning-Action/dp/1913622207/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=generative+learning+in+action&qid=1600534079&s=books&a...

***********************Show starts @10:00*********************** In this second episode of 'It's Your Time You're Wasting', Martin and David welcome Tom Bennett for a chat about Tom's new book 'Running the Room' ( https://amzn.to/3201KAr) and will discuss what going back to school is like from a Governors perspective. Also what if the numbers go up!? To our live viewers: apologies for the technica...

In this first episode of 'It's Your Time you're Wasting' David and Martin discuss the return to school, a 'mutant algorithm' and an uncommon kerfuffle. We'll also find out what Martin has been reading.

A 'webinar' in which David Didau asks Martin Robinson questions about the book 'Curriculum: Athena versus the Machine'. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curriculum-Athena-machine-Martin-Robinson/dp/1785833022/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-p13n1_0?cv_ct_cx=athena+machine&dchild=1&keywords=athena+machine&pd_rd_i=1785833022&pd_rd_r=966cd64c-7060-4ae9-88c0-a4de699a1573&pd_rd_w=su20B&pd_rd_wg=k...