The Impact Podcast

In this second part of Jane and Fin’s look at Estyn recommendations, they discuss the inspectorate’s interim letters to schools. These letters give more information about what schools are doing and how they are meeting specific recommendations. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Bluesk...

In this first of two episodes, Fin and Jane look at some of Estyn’s recent recommendations to schools. What are inspectors telling schools they must work on and what are schools doing as a result? Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Bluesky: @impactwales.bsky.social * Instagram: https:/...

A quick message to explain why there’s no podcast this week. Fin and Jane will be back next week, but until then, why not delve into our back catalogue of episodes? Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Bluesky: @impactwales.bsky.social * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactwales/...

In this episode Fin and Jane return to the topic of the middle tier and look at how schools are being supported to improve. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Bluesky: @impactwales.bsky.social * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactwales/ Contact: Email: enquiries@impact.wales Te...

With a year to go until the Senedd elections, Fin and Jane set out the five key education issues in Wales and look at what each of the main political parties has said about them. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Bluesky: @impactwales.bsky.social * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com...

Having a wide vocabulary at a young age is an early indicator of later academic success. In this episode, Jane and Fin discuss how broadening pupils’ vocabulary can have an impact in the classroom, and on the outcomes of disadvantaged pupils in particular. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/10996466607139...

For five years, the Impact podcast has been saying things about education in Wales that others won’t, or can’t - truths that others can’t admit and opinions that others wouldn’t dare to share. In this episode, Fin and Jane discuss some of the things that still can’t be said. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/gr...

The expertise reversal effect suggests that teaching methods that work with pupils with little prior knowledge may be less effective for those with more knowledge. In this episode, Jane and Finola discuss what the effect is and how it impacts learning as well as sharing some examples. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.faceb...

Fin’s new book - Closing the Disadvantage Gap in Schools: A Visual Workbook - is being published later this month. In this episode she speaks to Jane about the book and four practical ideas to close the gap that teachers can use in the classroom. Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ * Blue...

It’s one of the most important things a teacher needs to know, but often one of the most difficult to do - teaching reading. In this episode Fin and Jane are joined by Sue Lloyd and Sara Wernham of Jolly Phonics to discuss how to teach reading. LINKS FREE webinar: Closing the Disadvantage Gap, April 9th, 4pm-4:45pm Book tickets here Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwal...

The teaching of early reading in Wales has been a hot topic recently. In this episode, Jane and Fin discuss the evidence Estyn Chief Inspector Owen Evans gave to a Senedd committee on this subject. The second part of this podcast will be available exclusively on our private Facebook group for teachers and leaders in Wales - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ LINKS FREE webinar: Clos...

Retrieval practice is the act of trying to recall previously learned information. In this episode, Jane and Fin discuss how it works and how you can use it in your classroom effectively. LINKS FREE webinar: Closing the Disadvantage Gap, April 9th, 4pm-4:45pm Book tickets here Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/g...

Fin and Jane are joined by educator Dr James Mannion, author of Making Change Stick: A Practical Guide to Implementing School Improvement. They discuss the challenges of implementing change in the classroom. LINKS Spring workshop: * Closing the disadvantage Gap – April 2nd Sign up here: Impact Wales Workshops Spring 2025 Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Priv...

The Welsh Government recently published a review of the school funding formula. In this episode, Jane and Finola discuss where school funding in Wales comes from, how it’s distributed and how it’s spent. LINKS Spring workshop: * Closing the disadvantage Gap – April 2nd Sign up here: Impact Wales Workshops Spring 2025 Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private...

Worked examples are an excellent way to manage pupils’ cognitive load. In this episode, Fin and Jane discuss the benefits of using worked examples and the “I do, we do, you do” teaching method. LINKS Spring workshop: * Closing the disadvantage Gap – April 2nd Sign up here: Impact Wales Workshops Spring 2025 Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook g...

The Welsh Government has published an update to the Middle Tier Review and the professional learning landscape in Wales. Jane and Fin summarise the news and what it might mean for schools. LINKS Spring workshop: * Closing the disadvantage Gap – April 2nd Sign up here: Impact Wales Workshops Spring 2025 Social media: * Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/impactwales123 * Private Facebook group:...

It’s been almost a decade since the publication of Successful Futures, the review by Graham Donaldson that led to the development of Curriculum for Wales. In this third of three episodes, Fin and Jane look at some of the key recommendations and themes from the original report. LINKS Spring workshops: * Effective questioning – February 20th * Improving reading for secondary schools – March 12th * C...

It’s been almost a decade since the publication of Successful Futures, the review by Graham Donaldson that led to the development of Curriculum for Wales. In this second of three episodes, Fin and Jane look at some of the key recommendations and themes from the original report. LINKS Spring workshops: * Effective questioning – February 20th * Improving reading for secondary schools – March 12th *...

It’s been almost a decade since the publication of Successful Futures, the review by Graham Donaldson that led to the development of Curriculum for Wales. In this first of three episodes, Jane and Fin look back at some of the educational changes that have taken place over the last ten years. LINKS Spring workshops: * Effective questioning – February 20th * Improving reading for secondary schools –...

It’s 2025, and in this first episode of the new year, Finola and Jane will be recapping all the education news and announcements you might have missed over the festive period. LINKS Heads and teachers in Wales can join our private Facebook group, Teachers in Wales - research-informed pedagogy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ Join our email subscriber list, just email: enquiries@i...

In the last episode of 2024, Jane and Fin look back at the work they’ve delivered in schools across Wales this year. From all of us at Impact Wales, we hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and we’ll be back in 2025! LINKS Heads and teachers in Wales can join our private Facebook group, Teachers in Wales - research-informed pedagogy: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1099646660713906/ Join our email...

Have teachers in Wales been rebranded? A Welsh Government consultation suggests teaching is out, and ‘enabling learning’ is in. Jane and Fin discuss this significant development. LINKS Curriculum for Wales updated sections of Framework guidance consultation: https://www.gov.wales/curriculum-wales-updated-sections-framework-guidance Heads and teachers in Wales can join our private Facebook group, T...

In this episode Fin and Jane look back at some of the work they have done with schools over the last ten years and ask - what do schools do well? What are the steps you need to take to make whatever you are doing as effective as it can be? LINKS Follow us on BlueSky: @impactwales.bsky.social Welsh Medium ‘Pedagogy at the Heart of CfW - Professional Learning Pack’: www.impact.wales/product/addysgeg...

How can you make learning effortless? In this episode, Jane and Fin discuss the research and some of the techniques teachers can use in the classroom. LINKS Follow us on BlueSky: @impactwales.bsky.social Welsh Medium ‘Pedagogy at the Heart of CfW - Professional Learning Pack’: www.impact.wales/product/addysgeg-yn-cig-addysgu-a-phwrpas/ Heads and teachers in Wales can join our private Facebook grou...

Generative learning is the process of making connections between new and existing learning. It is how learners become active participants in their own learning, rather than passively receiving information. In this episode Fin and Jane discuss how teachers can implement generative learning in the classroom. LINKS Follow us on BlueSky: @impactwales.bsky.social Welsh Medium ‘Pedagogy at the Heart of...