The Schools & Academies Show Podcast

How can computing be taught in the most evidence-based effective way? In this episode James Robinson answers this question and offers advice to teachers on the best way to engage with pupils on the subject.      📎 Promoting Effective Pedagogy in Computing  How The National Centre for Computing Education is supporting front line teachers What does effective teaching in Computing look like? Where c...

This week Lauren and Alessandro have the pleasure to host a conversation with EdTech enthusiast Bukky Yusuf, on how technology has assisted educators and learners during lockdown and what role it will play with pupils going back to school.      📎 On-Demand Webinar - Implementing EdTech: How technology can enhance teaching and learning following COVID-19 How has the education sector adapted to usi...

On the eve of the return to schools in England, listen to this special episode on how to safely re-open schools, and what the priorities should be for this academic year. A selection of excellent national and international panelists discuss the current scenario and offer insights on how Australia, Canada and the United States have dealt and are dealing with school closure, lockdown and re-opening....

An inspiring talk from Andy Wolfe on empowering teachers and leaders in schools, the importance of timing and resilience, and the positive impact this has on learners. 📎 Flourishing Adults, Flourishing Children: Building Resilience and Nurturing Wellbeing in your (MAT) Teams Developing flourishing adults by investing in leaders’ character and wellbeing Re-thinking resilience and building stronger...

How a school serves its most vulnerable pupils is telling of the level of care it provides. When a school makes inclusion a focus, it should be mindful of features that vulnerable learners have in common, should either be children eligible for pupil premium or children with additional needs. Listen to Helena sharing insights on the approach to inclusion at David Ross Education Trust (DRET).  📎 Pr...

The Catholic Education Service perspective on the evolution of school system in England, and how it adapted its organisation to the subsequent reforms enacted by government. Listen to Paul Barber explain how the system has changed balancing consolidation and innovation, with clear and constant principles at its core: subsidiarity, solidarity, clarity and accountability.   📎 Lessons in Collaborati...

What's the importance of a strategy to implement and use technology in your academy? As schools use different software at the same point in time, it is important to map out what role each play in the organisation and make sure they form part of an integrated system. In this episode Winston Poyton provides advice on how to think about tech and get the best use out of it.    📎 Gaining a Techni...

How can a data-driven use of funding be used to review your practice and improve the outcomes of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities? What's the right way to collect, choose and analyse data? In this week's episode Karen and Richard from the Driver Youth Trust provide you with their recommendations on how to measure success and maximise funding value.   📎 Practical Ap...

In a context where schools are asked to deliver more with less, technology can be used to support staff and learners - maximising the efficiency of the back office, fostering collaboration and managing change across the organisation, so that educators can focus on what really matters: teaching.    📎 Freedom to Deliver Outstanding Education EdTech can proactively support staff and pupil engagement...

England is facing a shortage of teachers, but what are schools currently doing to increase the appeal of the teaching profession and support Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in their career? Listen to Debbie Clinton, Emma Hollis and Reuben Moore discuss what response is needed, focusing on professional development and wellbeing. 📘 Initial teacher training (ITT): core content framework   📎 Panel D...

Sarah Denton guides you through some great examples of implementation of modular building, showcasing how they represent an effective and efficient alternative to traditional building. 📂 You can access the presentation at this link . 📎 Modular Matters: Keeping Learning on Programme Making your school estates improvements more efficient Ensuring there is minimal impact on pupils during facilities...

What opportunities are available to schools and academies? How can you ensure that your organisation is appealing and receives bids? When is the best time of the year to access the marketplace? Hear from Pat Condon about the right moves you can make to attract the best suppliers. 📎 Tendering Outsourced Services – Procurement Hints & Tips Advice on the marketplace including key timings Perceiv...

Motivated by the desire to always serve the community at the best of their possibility, Pen Green Centre  is a reality based in Corby, Northamptonshire. Since their foundation in 1983, they followed the rapid change of the town and always strove to meet the needs of local working families. Listen to how the organisation found innovative solutions to generate income, which include establishing  a t...

Birmingham is the largest and one of the most deprived local authorities in Europe. It has one the highest number of children with English as an Additional Language (EAL); some of the 400 schools in its territory have between 30 to 40 different languages spoken within the same institution. In this context, spotting special needs in children has proven even more difficult. Listen to Terri Cawser (B...

How can the Human Resources department assists in solving the matter of excessive workload? As the new Ofsted Inspection Framework drew new attention to it, Christina Pontig (North Tyneside & Northumberland Council) is helping schools address the cause of the issue. You can access the presentation at this link . 📎 Supporting Schools to Address the Expectations within the Ofsted Inspection Fra...

Andrew Walls from Sidney Stringer Academy presents the journey the trust embarked in transforming and centralising the IT infrastructure across all of its schools. 📎 Case Study: Centralised IT Network and Staffing in a MAT Building a centralised WAN so that you can run your MAT IT as if it is a single school Cost efficiencies and performance gains from pursuing a centralised MAT IT model Centrali...

What is the best approach to pupil behaviour in class? In his presentation Tom Bennet presents the key findings of the Independent Review of Behaviour in Schools 2017, and discusses the resulting recommendations. 📎 How Can We Raise Standards of Behaviour in Schools? Examining the key issues illustrated in the Independent Review of Behaviour in Schools, 2017, and the resulting recommendations Disc...

Sue Wilkinson ( AfPE ) shares insights on the benefits of Physical Education, sport and Physical Activity on wellbeing of learners in primary and secondary schools. It also reiterates the importance of PE in the school curriculum, what funding is available and how to prepare for an Ofsted inspection. 📎 Improving Student Wellbeing through PE, Sport and Physical Activity Sharing the evidence of imp...

Stephen Morales ( ISBL ) leads this week's episode with a talk on how to plan a 5-year school budget. At the core is Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning, as an effort of joined-up leadership - with pedagogy, governance and business working seamlessly together. 📘 The presentation can be found at this link https://saashow.london/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/7.-Stephen-Morales.pdf 🔧 For mor...

In this episode Jen Persson ( Defend Digital Me ) shines a light on how schools can fairly collect children's data and the need for awareness on how commercial organisations use them. 📎 Who Needs to Be Told What? What Schools Must Do to Meet Their Duties on Data Protection and Privacy What does a day-in-the-life of a datafied child look like at your school, and can you explain it?  Do you un...

In this week's episode Leora Cruddas (CEO, Confederation of School Trusts) presents CST's assessment on the status of academies within society and the civic role they must play. CST believes that, because of high accountability and efficiency, the academy model should be taken as an example for the whole schools system; but at the same time the narrative on academies portrayed by the med...

Listen to Steve Baker's insightful presentation on how brain development influences behaviours and learning, and what educators need to consider when they interact with children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.  Supporting Children and Young People with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Difficulties How the brain develops over time and what influence this has on behavi...

This week's episode deals with one of the most pressing topic in education: teacher wellbeing. You can hear how both a research paper presented by Dr Bronwen Maxwell (Sheffield Institute of Education) and a case study from Woodland Academy Trust draw very similar conclusions on what is the best way forward.  Wellbeing as Entitlement - Supporting Staff Wellbeing the WAT way Not just workload –...

What obstacles do women face in the EdTech sector and what can be done to make sure that more women are promoted into leadership roles in the education sector? Listen to this week's episode where Debbie Clinton, member of the GovNet Education Advisory Board, leads this panel of successful women, discussing their experience: Ensure every school leader is a leader of EdTech and innovation Highl...

What role do schools play in protecting children online? Listen to advice and insights provided by Adam Medlycott (CEOP Education Officer, National Crime Agency) and Alison Watts (Chair e-Safety Safeguarding Board, Children’s Services, Buckinghamshire County Council). Keeping Children Safe Online with Thinkuknow  Gain insight into children’s lives online Learn about the evolving online threat, inf...