Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Episode 227: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by mathematics educator and doctoral researcher Will Mcloughlin to explore the complex and vital theme of conceptual understanding in mathematics education. Drawing on his teaching experience in the UAE and his academic research into how conceptual understanding develops, particularly through the use of animations...

Archive 012: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share her thoughts on implementing change on a school-wide level. Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of thinking that shapes high-quality classroom practice across the globe. Enjoying the podcast?...

In this special episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , Chris Such returns to tackle three brilliant questions from our listeners, exploring the intersection of pedagogy, leadership, and literacy development. Drawing on years of research and classroom experience, we dive into some of the most commonly debated areas of primary practice: Should we go through test papers with the whole c...

Archive Episode 011: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , expert leader and education research enjoyer, Lloyd Williams-Jones returns to share the research paper he believes every primary teacher should read. More than just a recommendation, Lloyd breaks down why this paper matters, how it connects to everyday classroom practice, and what makes it so transformative f...

Episode 225: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Stuart Welsh to explore what it takes to design effective professional development sessions that truly make an impact. We discuss the thought processes behind planning professional development episodes, the models that can scaffold effective session design, common mistakes to avoid, and the essential ingredient...

Archive 010: In this archive episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , we revisit a powerful response to a question about school-wide change with education leader Lloyd Williams-Jones. Lloyd explores exactly what it means - and takes - to successfully instigate and sustain meaningful change across an entire school community. Drawing from extensive leadership experience, Lloyd provides p...

Episode 224: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , we bring you a special "Standing Room Only" session led by Gareth Metcalfe. Following last week's discussion, Gareth returns to walk us through the thinking and practicalities behind his project Deconstructing Word Problems . In this CPD-style talk, Gareth shares: ​The rationale behind deconstructing word problems and the need for...

Episode 223: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Gareth Metcalfe and Elliot Morgan to explore the ideas behind Gareth's latest project: Deconstructing Word Problems . After three years of development and classroom testing, Gareth shares the thinking and pedagogy that underpin his approach to designing word problems that genuinely help students understand...

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , Emma Lindley-Thompson and John Jackson dive into a landmark study by Bethany Rittle-Johnson and Jon Star: Does comparing solution methods facilitate conceptual and procedural knowledge? We explore: The premise of the study and how the researchers tested their hypothesis through equation-solving tasks. Key findings that shed light on the benefi...

Episode 221: Writing First, Assessment Second – A Conversation with Chris Youles This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Chris Youles for a timely conversation about writing assessment —why it often feels so difficult, how we’ve arrived at this point, and what we can do to realign assessment with the true purpose of teaching writing. We explore: Why assessing writing h...

Episode 220: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Alex Gingell to explore the power of whole-staff rehearsal in teacher development and coaching. Drawing on his personal experience of professional development, Alex outlines why this approach holds such promise for schools looking to build consistency, confidence, and expertise across their teams. We discuss: Alex’s...

From the Archives 009: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Adam Smith shares his thoughts on the features of a high-quality religious education offering in schools. Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen....

Episode 219: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , Anna Hackett and I dive into what’s in store at the upcoming TDaPE Manchester Conference on Saturday, 29th March 2025. We explore the talks, themes, and workshops that will bring together educators passionate about primary education, with practical insights to enhance teaching and learning. From mathematics to professional develop...

From the Archives 008: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the way David Ausubel structures his hierarchy of concepts and what this means for teachers. Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the co...

TDaPE Manchester Tickets Episode 218: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , Stuart Welsh is joined by Adam Lowing to explore sustained school improvement —what it takes to make meaningful changes that last. Drawing on extensive experience working with schools at different stages of their improvement journey, Adam shares insights into leadership, culture, and professional developme...

Unseen Question 003: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a mathematics teaching across a school. ⁠TDaPE Mathematics Playlist⁠ (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes) Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen...

Episode 217: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute return to explore the next extract from their expert edit—this time, focusing on concreteness fading and its role in mathematics teaching. We discuss: The relationship between procedural knowledge and conceptual understanding and how this influences mathematics instruc...

Unseen Question 002: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a consistent, research-informed approach to mathematics teaching. TDaPE Mathematics Playlist (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes) Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, whereve...

Episode 216: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Juli Ryzop and Elliot Morgan to explore disciplinary literacy —what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform learning across subjects. Understanding how literacy functions within different disciplines helps students access, engage with, and critically interpret subject-specific content. We discuss: What dis...

Unseen Question 001: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to incorporate retrieval practice into lessons without contributing to cognitive overload. TDaPE: Retrieval Practice Playlist (Over 11 hours of retrieval adjacent episodes) Enjoy this episode? Let us know in...

Episode 215: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , we continue our discussion on Ofsted’s reform proposals with Shannen Doherty and Louise McLaughlin. In this second part, we explore the next three points in the proposal, looking at how changes to inspection methodology, full and monitoring inspections, and accountability for state-funded schools could reshape the education landsc...

From the Archives 007: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Lloyd Williams-Jones explores how he took the ideas of Christopher Such to improve reading across his school. Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you lis...

Episode 214: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by Shannen Doherty and Louise McLaughlin to discuss the first two points in Ofsted’s reform proposal - Report Cards and Inspection Toolkits. We take a deep dive into the potential benefits, the likely impact on schools, and the unintended consequences that could arise from these changes. We discuss: The rationale behind...

From the Archives 006: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the David Ausubel's key ideas and why they might be important for teachers. Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, where...

Episode 213: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by secondary art teacher Andrea Welsh to explore the importance of art education and how to ensure high-quality art lessons despite the pressures of a packed timetable. We discuss: Why art is often overlooked and how it contributes to students’ education and development. The four key features of an effective art lesson....