Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this special season finale of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Yamina Bibi, a dynamic deputy head teacher and author of Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching. Yamina shares her journey from a shy, introverted new teacher to an influential leader in education, driven by her passion for teaching, learning, and mentoring. The conversation highlights her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, discussing the importance of role models and networks in supporting early career teachers. Yamina emphasises practical strategies for thriving in the classroom, managing workload, and building professional relationships. The conversation also touches on the significance of coaching and the impact of positive mentorship on teacher retention.

Yamina Bibi is a Deputy Headteacher, English teacher, Coach and Consultant in London with experience of leading Teaching and Learning, Curriculum, and Mentoring and Coaching of teachers at all stages of their career. Yamina has a NPQSL and a Masters in Teaching from University College London, Institute of Education and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. She is also a network leader for WomenEd, a global charity organisation seeking to support female teachers and leaders in education. Yamina is also the co-host of Series 1 of The #DiverseEd podcast and is a contributing writer for several educational books. Yamina regularly blogs about coaching and mentoring, school leadership, effective research informed practice at www.msybeebs@wordpress.com. Follow her on X at @msybibi

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Dr. Megan Sumeracki, co-founder of The Learning Scientists. Megan shares her journey from being an educational psychology professor to co-creating The Learning Scientists, highlighting the motivation and challenges behind making cognitive science research accessible. The discussion delves into the concept of elaboration, exploring how connecting new information to existing knowledge enhances learning. They also touch on memory and aging, addressing how cognitive processes change over time and strategies to mitigate these effects. Megan provides practical suggestions for effective retrieval practices, emphasizing techniques that help students retain and recall information more efficiently. Lastly, they discuss the complexities of translating research into real classroom practices, offering insights on bridging the gap between theory and application to foster evidence-based teaching.

Dr. Megan Sumeracki is a cognitive psychologist specializing in learning and memory. She received her Masters in Experimental Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and her PhD in Cognitive Psychology from Purdue University. She is now an Associate Professor at Rhode Island College teaching, advising, writing, and conducting research with students. She co-founded the Learning Scientists in January 2016 and is the author of three educational books, the most recent being The Psychology of Memory. Follow her on X @DrSumeracki

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠

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Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Carl Hendrick, author of two books about the science of teaching and learning and a third about bridging the gap between research and practice. Carl said he approached finding the research papers for his books in the same way that he would have compiled an album of seminal classic rock tracks, but with the criterion of having the greatest use for teachers and school leaders. The discussion turned to how education research is conducted and how "a lot of debates in education are people in different stages talking past one another". Carl also says that we now have a good understanding of the science of learning, but the three agree that especially in the early years and early primary education, even research-proven pedagogical practices like interleaving can't take the place of play-based learning, for example. Listen now to hear more on how teachers can really engage with educational research.

Carl Hendrick works at the Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam where his focus is on bridging the gap between research and practice. Carl was a secondary English teacher for 18 years in a range of different contexts and completed his PhD in education at King’s College London. He is the co-author of How Learning Happens, How Teaching Happens, and What Does this Look Like in the Classroom. Follow Carl on Twitter ⁠@C_Hendrick⁠

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Jon Hutchinson. The three of them talk about Jon's role at Reach which aims to weave five important threads into their community partners' educational systems: curricular coherence, understanding the principles of great teaching, maintaining relationships, understanding the community, and strong leadership. A large part of the conversation focused on the current curricular incoherence that plagues many schools. Jon says about teachers, "You're just one small part of that kid's journey, and it is incumbent on you and on the broader system to think about that journey in a much more coherent way." Finally, the trio discuss Reach's booklets, the Meno Academy videos Jon makes with his brother, and the effectiveness of instructional coaching.

Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham now director of Reach Foundation. He has taught across both KS1 and KS2, and also tutors on Ambition Institute’s Masters in Expert Teaching. Jon has sat on expert panels for the Department for Education, Ofsted and the Standards and Testing Agency. Follow Jon on Twitter @jon_hutchinson_

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Amanda Wilson. The three of them talk through Amanda's unorthodox journey to headship, and the traits that she has found most important throughout her educational career: confidence, authenticity, and empowerment. Those three themes shine through in her book, Letters to a Young Generation: Aspiring School Leaders, and Amanda says they are especially important for Black leaders, whose confidence can be mistaken for aggressiveness, and whose authenticity can be difficult to maintain without a strong support network. Amanda believes it is crucial for leaders to keep an eye out for promising candidates and "send the elevator back down" to help bring them up, which is the idea behind her company Crux Leadership Development.

Amanda is the headteacher of St Alfege with St Peter’s CofE Primary School and has 25 years’ experience in the education sector. She is a qualified coach with an MA in Coaching and Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University and is an EMCC Senior Practitioner. She has a track record for supporting teachers in securing leadership roles, and in 2023 Amanda published the book Letters to a Young Generation: Aspiring School Leaders which aims to encourage the next generation of Black school leaders. Follow her on Twitter @AmandaWilson910

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Professor Rob Coe. The three of them talk through the history of Rob's work as a teacher and then a researcher. Rob's work on the EEF Toolkit and the Sutton Trust report highlighted existing evidence about cost-effective interventions, and the publications shattered a lot of educators' previously held beliefs. Rob says that subsequent arguments with teachers led to discussions about pedagogy, and he maintains that educators need to be focussed on actual learning, not proxies for learning. At the end of the episode, Tom, Emma, and Rob talk about the latest educational craze - instructional coaching - and what the research actually says about it, as well as where research about coaching is headed.

Professor Rob Coe is Director of Research and Development at Evidence-Based Education and a Senior Associate at the Education Endowment Foundation. He was previously Professor of Education and Director of the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University, where he worked for 20 years doing research, evaluation, teaching and policy engagement. Rob was a co-author of the EEF’s Teaching and Learning Toolkit, the Sutton Trust report ‘What makes great teaching?’ and the ‘Developing Great Teaching’ report for the Teacher Development Trust. Follow him on Twitter at @ProfCoe

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Zaretta Hammond. The three of them talk through much of Zaretta's work, identifying the components of the ready for rigor framework, the differences between 'shallow' and 'deep' culture, and how culturally responsive teaching involves leveraging cultures to create a richer learning environment. They also cover how to build a rapport with students, the idea of 'active demandingness', and finally close on the idea that teaching isn't the art of being nice - it is readying students for rigour (or rigor), as there is a natural joy and satisfaction that emerges from rigorous learning.

Zaretta Hammond is a former classroom English teacher who has been doing instructional design, school coaching, and professional development around the issues of equity, literacy, and culturally responsive teaching for the past 18 years. She has trained instructional coaches in reading development, especially targeted at students of colour and English learners, and is the author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain. Follow her on Twitter ⁠@Ready4rigor and check out her blog at ready4rigor.com

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by educational power couple Dr Pippa and Bradley Busch. The four discuss the effects of COVID on children's development, how to make the school environment more low stakes to make students more comfortable, and their favourite classroom strategies to help pupils learn better.

Dr Pippa Busch is an Educational and Child Psychologist with over 20 years of experience of working in schools and children's services. She is an evidence-based practitioner specialising in ASD and attachment. Follow her on Twitter @PippaBusch

Bradley Busch is a Health and Care Professions Council registered psychologist and director of InnerDrive. He has worked with over 300 schools helping them use psychological research to improve learning. In sport, he has worked with Premier league footballers and has consulted with Team GB Olympians and Paralympians. He is the co-author of the best-selling book The Science of Learning. Follow him on Twitter @BradleyKBusch

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠.

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by special guest Lekha Sharma. The trio discusses how to build a school culture, and Lekha talks about how she believes a positive school culture is a prerequisite for great curriculum and pedagogy.

Lekha Sharma is a School Improvement Lead for the Avanti Schools Trust, leading on curriculum and assessment and has over ten years of experience teaching and leading in schools in a range of contexts. She is the author of the recently published book Building Culture: A handbook to harnessing human nature to create strong school teams. Follow Lekha on Twitter @teacherfeature2

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠.

In this episode, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner delve into the profound insights and powerful moments experienced during their conversations with incredible guests. They highlight the importance of making primary education accessible to all and teachers' duty to leave a lasting legacy through their teaching.

Tom and Emma discuss the significance of routines and norms that support teachers in creating successful learning environments. They ponder why some of Tom's ideas receive criticism despite their potential to greatly improve schools. They marvel at the transformative approach of Mark McCourt, whose teaching style creates a connected set of ideas starting from simple concepts.

In their interviews, the duo expresses deep appreciation for the expertise shared by Dylan Wiliam, Efrat Furst, and Sarah Cottingham, emphasizing how these sessions serve as professional development opportunities. They also explore the value of cognitive science research in primary practice and its relevance for secondary teachers.

Throughout the episode, Tom and Emma spotlight inspiring individuals such as John Thompson, Johnny Utley, Caroline Derbyshire, Vic Goddard, and the enigmatic storyteller Sufian Sadiq. They acknowledge the influence these guests have had on their thinking and the impact they have made within the education community.

As hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner reflect on the impact of their guests, it becomes evident that Mind The Gap is more than just a series of interviews. The platform introduces listeners to various voices, ideas, and strategies that can transform the educational landscape. From influential academic figures to inspiring stories of resilience, each episode adds to the collective knowledge and drive for positive change. As listeners, we are encouraged to take these lessons and inspirations into our professional journeys, creating a brighter future for education.

Participants

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. His books include ⁠⁠Teaching WalkThrus: Five-step guides to instructional coaching⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Teaching WalkThrus 2: Five-step guides to instructional coaching⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Teaching WalkThrus 3: Five-step guides to instructional coaching⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Rosenshine’s Principles in Action⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠The Learning Rainforest Fieldboo⁠⁠k. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠
Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Turner is the author of ⁠⁠Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Let’s Talk About Flex: Flipping the Flexible Working Narrative for Education⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Simplicitus: The Interconnected Primary Curriculum & Effective Subject Leadership⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Simplicitus Altius: Leading the Interconnected Primary Curriculum⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Initium: Cognitive science and research-informed primary practice⁠⁠. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠.