Changing Conversations

In this episode, we reconnect with James Nottingham from Challenge Learning. James has recently published his 12th book, Teach Brilliantly we consider what's changed over the years and why this book and why now. We dig into the topic of engagement, what it means and what it looks like - how do we know learning is happening?

In this episode, we are joined by Andy Griffith and Margaret Pollock. Andy is the co-author of Teaching Backwards, Engaging Learners and the Outstanding Teaching Intervention. Margaret is DHT at St Luke's High School in Barrhead. Andy's new book is called The Working Classroom and having spent some time with the team at St Luke's it was great to have the opportunity to explore the principles and ideas within the book along with Margaret's experience and reflections.

Simon's conversations are among our most popular episodes and in this conversation, we chat about why the concept of sustainable improvement might have resonated so much with you.

Simon shares some candid reflections following his visit to Scotland in September. He suggests 3 areas we might useful to consider - precision, alignment and sustainability.

We then circle back to the sustainability idea and explore the pruning principle and how it might help us to create the sustainable improvement we so eagerly seek.

In this episode we chat with Hollie Edwards, Director of Mental Health and Wellbeing at a Junior School in Kent. She is also the author of 'Reflective Supervision in Education: Using Supervision to Support Pupil and Staff Wellbeing'. Hollie shares her experience and insight about offering supervision in the schools she works in. She shares the challenges as well as what works and we reflect on the importance of recognising the human behind the educator role.

In this episode, we chat with Anne Paterson about rural education. Often considered the 'poor relation', Anne is passionate about helping us see the opportunities of rural education as well as recognising the skillset that leaders require and develop in these settings.

David is the Head Teacher of Dunoon Grammar School. Having recently won 2 prestigious awards in relation to community collaboration David shares their story. It didn't happen overnight, David shares some of the elements that have supported them to get to where they are, how they sustain that and what next.

In this episode, we chat with Kirsty from the School of Facilitation about the difference between training, facilitation and coaching. Kirsty shares some insights and reflections on the skillset, mindset and observable behaviours of good facilitation. We also unpick the difference between designing and delivering or facilitating.

In part 2 of our conversation with Santiago we move to consider how we stimulate change. We know we need change, we have the vision and the will but how do make it happen?

This episode has been recorded in collaboration with Education Scotland and the Scottish Learning Festival Conversations.

In the first of a special 2-part conversation with Santiago we explore his purpose and passion and how that guides his work today. Santiago is passionate about his message and the impact his work is having. One word consistently used to describe Santiago is 'inspiring'. We hope this conversation brings to life the key ideas in his work and why must take action.

This episode has been recorded in collaboration with Education Scotland and the Scottish Learning Festival Conversations.

Joined by Kara, Jeanette and Ashley we explore their new book, Learner Agency - A Field Guide to Taking Flight. Their book really is a resource to help you at whatever stage you are at, to develop learner agency. We reflect on some of the enabling conditions both for children and young people and adults.

Zahra is the CEO of Winning Scotland. In this episode we reflect on mindset both in schools and in other areas of life and work. Zahra shares her experiences of mindset in life and work and we reflect on how we need to continue to develop our understanding and development of mindset.

In this episode we chat with Gail Preston, Head Teacher and Head of Establishment for Rosehill High School in East Lothian. Rosehill High School is a brand new school so this is a rare and pretty unique opportunity and as I'm sure you can imagine, an exciting one! Gail kindly took time out to share and reflect on the highs, the lows and all the things in between. Although Gail has a unique opportunity there's lots here for all of us to think about and consider.

In this episode we dive into 'hard conversations' with Jennifer Abrams. Jennifer's work focuses on adult to adult communication and she's written many books and articles on the topic. This is a conversation of insights and reflections as well as practical ideas to consider.

We were delighted to chat again with Paul Bloomberg and this time he was joined by his colleague and co-write Vivett Dukes. In this conversation we explore their new book, Amplifying Student Voice - through culturally responsive and sustaining assessment. This was an honest and heart felt conversation about their equity work and their process of bringing this book into being. They talk about listening and engaging with an open heart, we invite you to listen with an open heart and an openness to possibility.

Dr Lucy Kelly is an Associate Professor in Education at the University of Bristol. Her research interest is reflective practice as a positive tool for educator wellbeing. She is the Principal Investigator for the 'Reimagining the Diary' project and author of 'Reimagining the Diary' published just last month.

Oliver Burkeman is a journalist and author, whose latest book is Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals. This is a book about embracing our limitations, our imperfections and shifting our relationship with time. We explore the key messages from 4000 weeks and the particular nuance of our experiences as educators. 

Inspired by Atomic Habits by James Clear, Project Habit is all about small doable shifts in practice that support learners to develop agency in their own learning. We explore why and how the book came about and how our understanding of habits can help us improve and develop our practice.

The Project Habit: Making Rigorous PBL Doable by Michael McDowell and Kelley Miller is available now.

Oscar is on a mission to create a 100 million good listeners in the workplace. We're doing our bit by helping share the mindset and practices of listening well in this conversation. Listening is a mindset and in this episode we explore what that means.  

In this episode we chat with Jamie Thom, author of three books, podcaster and lecturer at Napier University. We journey through different elements of Jamie’s interests such as slow teaching, teacher resilience and supporting new teachers.

As the official podcast partner for the World Education Summit we are delighted to bring you this special episode with Professor Viviane Robinson.  When we spoke nearly 2 years ago she mentioned that she was writing her final book and so we are thrilled to be able to pick up the conversation again.  In this conversation Viviane brings to life what she means by Virtuous Leadership and we explore what doing the right work in the right way means.

Virtuous Educational Leadership - Doing the right work, the right way by Viviane Robinson.