Episode description

Join Matt and Femi as they talk to Barry Smith about his experience of taking over and turning around a failing school.

Barry Smith was a founding Deputy of Michaela School, Wembley.  The kids’ amazing French and his unique approach to MFL teaching created huge buzz at Michaela.  He went on to become head of Great Yarmouth Charter School - the tenth head in 10 years, at a school that was rated inadequate for a decade.  In 5 months, Ofsted declared Charter, ‘a miraculous turnaround’.  Barry went on to lead the turn around of inadequate Hackney New School.

Barry now works freelance, mostly supporting headteachers with culture, behaviour, courtesy, teaching & learning, systems, and he has his own podcast: Barry Smith Education.