Progress 8. Grades 9-4. Ofsted. RSCs. In the current accountability climate in schools, it can be easy to forget that students and their education are about more than numbers. But at what cost? What opportunities are we missing to connect? To create an important sense of community? When he was a student, Manny Botwe had a teacher with whom he shared a great relationship. This teacher took an interest in him and his activities outside school. But when Manny was getting into trouble he was there t...
Dec 01, 2019•28 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Deborah Firat is a parent governor. She has seen first hand the the difference it makes when teachers approach their pupils with unconditional positive regard. Her son Zak has autism and although he went to a good mainstream school, they didn't have the tools to maximise he potential. Dave Whitaker (Director of Learning at Wellspring Academy Trust) and Luke Mitchell (Head of Behaviour Support) share what they have learned from years of experience and some guiding principles about how to support ...
Nov 24, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Over the course of their careers, the Headteacher of Hawkswood Primary Pru (pupil Referal unit) Marie Gentles and her deputy Katie L'Aimable have begun to see patterns. They've gone from seeing their students' behaviour as isolated events to understanding that all behaviour is communication. Marie and Katie tell us what they've learned about what some behaviours are communicating and why understanding the root of behaviour is so critical. To get access to the podcast before anyone else, extra go...
Nov 17, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Having felt the pressure between parenthood and being a senior leader, when Sue Plant had the opportunity to become the Head of School of a brand new school, she was going to make sure her staff didn’t face the same challenges she faced. At John Taylor Free School, Sue tells us how she set out to make her school flexible working-friendly and recruited her whole staff in the first year without spending any money on advertising. All part of her plan to get the culture right and attract the best pe...
Nov 10, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Lisa Farmer had finally got her dream job as a headteacher. Soon after getting the job she discovered she was pregnant. Lisa and her husband were elated but she thought people expected her to step down from her new role. With no intention of stepping down Lisa began looking into flexible working options. She was looking for a co-headteacher to share the role with. But this was over a decade ago, before more case studies were available. So Lisa had to learn through trial and error... We also hear...
Nov 02, 2019•42 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Leann Swaine was the Associate Headteacher of East Barnet School when she wanted to make a change. One day she was in the school corridor when an event inspired her to go on the journey to make the school phone free. East Barnet is a mixed secondary with 1400 students. It’s a school big enough to make tasks like “going phone free” seem daunting. This week on We Are In Beta, Leann, now the Headteacher tells us how she prepared her staff and students for the upcoming change. Whether you agree with...
Oct 27, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 1
We Are In Beta opens its second series. Host Niall Alcock gives you a taste of what's new and what to expect from upcoming episodes. There's a new addition to the team too. Meet our new producer, Jay. Don't miss the first episode - out on October 27th 2019 - hit that subscribe button now. To get access the podcast before anyone else and extra goodies like our guests' research and book recommendations, the services they couldn't do without and links to the policies and documents they talk about i...
Oct 20, 2019•2 min
In this episode, Jeremy Hannay, Headteacher of Three Bridges Primary School in west London, shares his thoughts on How a trip to see the London 2012 Olympics gave him his life’s mission The best bits of the UK and Canadian education systems How teacher recruitment and retention crisie could become a thing of the past in every school The false dichotomy between high performance and happiness that exists in schools What performance management has been replaced with at Three Bridges How they have f...
Aug 11, 2019•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, Stephen Munday (Chief Executive, The Cam Academy Trust; Executive Principal, Comberton Village College & President of The Chartered College of Teaching), shares his thoughts on: In his interview, Stephen shares his thoughts on: How a cup of tea with his Mum’s friend was the catalyst to becoming the President of the Chartered College of Teaching His purpose and what he finds deeply inspiring about teaching Which role in a school prepares you well for becoming a headteacher Wh...
Jul 21, 2019•39 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode, Linda Emmett, Headteacher, All Saints Catholic College Chesire, shares her thoughts on: Why her job in IT inspired her to teach What she thinks is the most important thing when growing students as individuals The programme that inspired her to take on headship The organisations she’s worked with that have helped transform All Saints The language her team uses to encourage staff to speak up about their challenges Why she thinks Ofsted has a positive role to play and why schools n...
Jun 30, 2019•33 min•Season 1Ep. 9
To get access to the podcast before anyone else and receive a curated list of organisations and resources guests recommend, join the free We Are In Beta community mailing list here In this episode, Dr, Chris Tomlinson, Director of Harris Secondary and soon to be CEO of Coop Academies Trust, shares his thoughts on: Why his experience of education wasn’t great and what gave him confidence What he believes headteachers should all still do What he says is the key to leading 5 schools from inadequate...
Jun 16, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 8
To get access to the podcast before anyone else and receive a curated list of organisations and resources guests recommend join the free We Are In Beta community mailing list here In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Hannah Wilson, Executive Headteacher, Aureus Primary and Secondary Schools, Oxfordshire shares her thoughts on: How she got into teaching The time when could’ve left teaching for good and the time when she left a school without a role to go to next The skills she’s learne...
Jun 02, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
To get access to the podcast before anyone else and receive a curated list of organisations and resources guests recommend join the free We Are In Beta community mailing list here In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Clare Rees, Headteacher, Havelock Primary School, Ealing shares her thoughts on: Why it’s her ‘grandmother’s fault’ she became a teacher The advice her colleague gave her that she ignored Why she didn’t believe she could do a doctorate but took it on anyway How, over the ...
May 06, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 6
To stay up to date with interviews and updates from the We Are In Beta community and access links to all the resources, people and organisations guests mention sign up here In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Ed Vainker, Executive Headteacher, Reach Academy Feltham, shares his thoughts on: How he got into teaching How North America influenced his education philosophy Why Reach Academy Feltham may never have come to exist Why is he reluctant to shout from the rooftops about Reach Acad...
Apr 28, 2019•41 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Will Smith, Chief Exec at Greenshaw Learning Trust, shares his thoughts on: How acids and alkalis altered his life direction What everyone at Greenshaw is entitled to What impact changes to the Ofsted framework will have How he re-defines accountability The organisations that you probably think about that MATs are accountable to The leader mindset shift he thinks is required in the system His trust’s statement of intent around inclusivity The other...
Apr 09, 2019•34 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Evelyn Forde, Headteacher at Copthall School, shares her thoughts on: how her daughters inspired her to make a change, how she overcame the odds to secure her dream role at Copthall, how she led the school to achieve exceptional results, how she improved teaching and learning through incremental coaching, what she is doing to improve staff wellbeing, which stakeholders she included in developing the school’s culture, which headlines do headteachers...
Mar 22, 2019•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Elroy Cahill, the newly appointed headteacher at Kingsley Academy in Hounslow, shares his thoughts on: How one teacher transformed his view on education when he was going down the wrong road, What he thinks would be a grave error in relation to the new Ofsted framework, What Ofsted should do in circumstances of inappropriate off-rolling, Why he thinks morally driven leadership is important, Why is he thinks coaching is so important and where best t...
Mar 10, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this first episode of the We Are In Beta Podcast , Rob Carpenter, CEO of the Inspire Partnership - a group of 5 primary schools in southeast London, Medway and Kent shares his thoughts on: How the challenges he faced as a student led him to becoming a teacher What he believes great professional development to be How we can improve teacher retention Why school exclusions are on the rise and what we can do about it Why the new Ofsted framework offers schools an important opportunity How his par...
Feb 26, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 1
