Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

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....

From the Archives 005: 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, Lyn Stone and Chris Such share the thoughts on the extent to which the way the English writing system is introduced can lead to spelling difficulties. Enjoy this episode? Let us k...

Episode 212: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Kylie McKee and Hugh Williams-Jones representing Velindre Cancer Centre to explore why we were raising money for this great cause at the TDaPE London Conference. Tickets for TDaPE Manchester can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-tickets-1132191919509?aff...

From the Archives 004: 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, Neil Almond and Chris Such share the thoughts on the extent to which is English orthography a representation of spoken language and what this means in the classroom. Enjoy thi...

Episode 211: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I’m joined by John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute to explore interleaving practice in mathematics lessons. Drawing on their expert edit, Helping Pupils Learn Maths , and insights from a seminal study, we dive into how interleaving can transform the way students engage with and retain mathematical concept...

From the Archives 003: 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 and Chris Such share the thoughts on summative assessments thanks to a question from a listener. Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you...

From the Archives 002: 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, Lisa Coe shares the four most prominent features of her mathematics lessons. If you're looking for the full episode, it's (S1,E2) Mathematics Subject Leadership with Lisa Coe and...

Episode 210: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , I'm joined by primary teacher, Charle Benkowitz, as we delve into the teaching of modern foreign languages in UK schools. From systemic differences with European neighbours to the broader purpose of language learning, this episode offers insights into how we can elevate language education for primary students. We discuss: How UK s...

From the Archives 001: 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 shares the four most prominent features of his lessons, along with his thoughts on effective teaching. This was the very first question I asked on TDaPE and I...

Episode 209: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , we revisit three of the most impactful questions from some of our most-listened episodes of 2024. Covering essential topics like the role of background knowledge in reading, effective spelling instruction, and the power of modelling, this episode provides interesting perspectives on the fundamentals of great teaching. If you’re lo...

Episode 208: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education , we revisit some of the most impactful questions from our four most-listened episodes. From the essentials of teaching multiplication tables to the intricacies of supporting struggling readers, these conversations have shaped the way teachers approach their craft. Whether you’re new to the podcast or returning to hear these transfo...