Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe

On this episode of  Mind the Gap , Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Bruce Robertson, Scottish school leader and author of  The Teaching Delusion  series. Bruce shares his path from chemistry teacher to system leader, and what led him to write a trilogy of books on improving teaching in schools. Together, they explore the gulf between intention and implementation in school improvement,...

We've reached the 100th episode of Mind the Gap ! In this special anniversary episode, Tom and Emma look back at five years of making the podcast, reminiscing about interviews with a multitude of guests. They also talk about what they're doing now and where the podcast is headed next. Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in...

On this episode of Mind the Gap , Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, teacher educator, instructional coach, and creator of The Playbook Project. Bronwyn shares her journey from music teacher to one of Australia’s leading voices on instructional practice, reflecting on what it really takes to support effective teaching in context. Together, they explore the power and...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson is joined by journalist and author Jenny Anderson to discuss her acclaimed new book The Disengaged Teen —a powerful exploration of why so many young people are tuning out of school and what we can do about it. Drawing on extensive research, real-world stories, and her own experience as both a parent and reporter, Jenny introduces her framework of fou...

On this episode of  Mind the Gap , Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson are reunited with co-host Tom Sherrington, returning from an extended break with fresh insights, global experiences, and a surprising new passion: yoga. Together, they reflect on what’s changed—and what hasn’t—in education during Tom’s time away, diving into international comparisons, curriculum development, and the evolving culture...

On this episode of Mind the Gap , Emma Turner is joined by Shareen Wilkinson, Executive Director of Education at LEO Academy Trust, and author of books for both children and teachers. Shareen shares insights from her new book, Disciplinary Literacy in Primary Schools , offering a fresh, practical lens on reading, writing, and speaking across the curriculum. Together, they explore what it really me...

On this episode of Mind the Gap , Jon Hutchinson is joined by educator, researcher, and author Neil Gilbride to explore the powerful concept of self-efficacy—and why it matters now more than ever in schools. Drawing from his new book, Neil delves into the psychological foundations of self-efficacy, its relationship to agency, and the practical ways it can transform classroom practice. He shares in...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Saeed Atcha MBE, social entrepreneur, charity leader, and former Social Mobility Commissioner. Saeed shares his remarkable journey from growing up in care to founding Youth Leads UK at just 15 years old, creating a platform to amplify young voices and drive social change. Together, they explore the power of purpose, the...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Zach Groshell, educator, consultant, and author of  Just Tell Them: Explicit Teaching and the Science of Learning . Zach shares insights from his book, which challenges traditional assumptions about instruction and advocates for a structured, interactive approach to teaching. Together, they explore the misconceptions sur...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Chris Such, primary educator and author of The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading and his newest book, Primary Reading Simplified . Chris returns to discuss his latest book, which moves beyond research principles to offer a concrete model for reading instruction. Together, they explore the challenges of teaching...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Emma and Jon reflect on a year of transformation in education and discuss the insights gained from their fascinating guests. This annual roundup dives into critical topics such as the growing recognition of Early Years education, flexible working in leadership, and the evolving challenges in recruitment and retention across the profession. Emma shares her delight a...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson are joined by Liz Pemberton, renowned as "The Black Nursery Manager" and a transformative voice in early years education. Liz reflects on her journey from managing family-run nurseries to establishing her anti-racist training and consultancy company. She delves into the significance of cultural safety, psychological safety, and her pi...

On this episode of  Mind the Gap , Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts. Leora shares her journey from teaching in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a leading voice in educational policy and academy trust leadership. Together, they explore the evolution of academy trusts, the importance of stable leadership, and the challenges o...

On this episode of Mind The Gap , Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner welcome Aziza Ajak, an influential voice in education leadership and curriculum development. Aziza shares her journey from classroom teacher to vice principal, offering insights into her impactful work on curriculum coherence and systemic equity. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of bridging primary and secondary educ...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner welcomes Emma Sheppard, founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher (MTPT) Project. Together, they explore Sheppard's journey in founding the project, starting with her own experiences of motherhood and her passion for maintaining her professional identity as a teacher. The conversation dives into the challenges working parents face in balancing ...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson welcome Dr. Dan Wuori, a renowned expert in early childhood education. Together, they discuss the vital role of early years development, highlighting Dan's work in policy advocacy and his social media presence, where he blends adorable videos of children with deep analysis of early development principles. Dan shares insights from his...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Julian Grenier, a leading expert in early years education. Together, they discuss the foundations of early childhood learning, focusing on the crucial role of relationships and the development of coherent, supportive environments for young learners. Julian emphasizes the need for consistency in early years curricula, say...

In this special season finale of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Yamina Bibi, a dynamic deputy head teacher and author of  Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching . Yamina shares her journey from a shy, introverted new teacher to an influential leader in education, driven by her passion for teaching, learning, and mentoring. The conversation highlights her dedication t...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Dr. Megan Sumeracki, co-founder of The Learning Scientists. Megan shares her journey from being an educational psychology professor to co-creating The Learning Scientists, highlighting the motivation and challenges behind making cognitive science research accessible. The discussion delves into the concept of elaboration...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Josh Goodrich, founder of Steplab. Josh shares his journey from being an English teacher and deputy principal to creating Steplab, an organization focused on improving professional development through instructional coaching. The discussion covers the core elements of Josh’s book,  Responsive Coaching  including awarenes...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by David Didau, known in the education blogosphere as The Learning Spy. David shares his journey in education, discussing his transition from teaching to becoming a prominent voice in education and research, and then back to teaching. The conversation explores key topics such as the role of cognitive science in teaching, t...

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Christine Counsell, founder of Opening Worlds and a key figure in curriculum development. Christine discusses her journey from a history teacher to running the history PGCE course at Cambridge University and eventually founding Opening Worlds. She explains how her company supports primary schools in developing a fully r...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Nikki Sullivan and Rachel Higginson to delve into the significance of oracy in education. The discussion explores the multifaceted role of oracy, emphasizing its importance not just in speaking and listening but in fostering confident and effective communication. Nikki and Rachel highlight the necessity of integrating s...

On this bonus episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington talks to Bron Ryrie Jones about responsive teaching. The two discuss the hurdles of gathering information in real-time and the procedural changes needed to embed responsive habits into teaching. Bron emphasises the difficulty of overcoming embedded teaching habits, while Tom underscores the importance of every child's participation in the...

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Jade Pearce and Isaac Moore, co-authors of a new book, Bjork & Bjork's Desirable Difficulties in Action . The four of them talk about what the term 'desirable difficulties' refers to, and how using challenging pedagogical strategies can actually aid pupils' learning. Jade and Isaac explain much of Ri...