HEP Talks

The Education Brief: Saturday 26 April 2025 - Top stories include:Teacher job adverts are down, and the education sector is bracing for a staffing squeeze.Pupil suspensions surged by 12% last spring, with the North East topping the exclusions charts.An Inspector Calls reigns supreme for literature GCSEs, but calls for change are growing louder.School budgets are under fresh strain as pay rises and food costs outpace funding.This week's deep dive: Why CPD failsWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/articles/z7mdp9q#zrfwvj6Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/roundtable-what-educators-really-think-about-the-new/id1608692574?i=1000703953285Reading - https://home.edurio.com/resources/insights/culture-driven-recruitment/AI Tool - https://gemini.google/overview/deep-research/?hl=en-GBMusic by Slo Pony

Welcome to HEP Talks: Roundtables, where we take the big questions in education to our member schools.In this second episode on Ofsted, we're diving into the recently proposed changes to the inspection framework—what they say, what they really mean, and whether they hit the mark.Joining us for this episode, we have:Jade-Simon Bacon, Headteacher at St Michael's C.E. Primary SchoolLucy Walker-Collins, Headteacher at Stroud Green Primary SchoolStephen McNicholas, Headteacher at St John Vianney Primary School and Our Lady of Muswell Catholic Primary SchoolJames Page, Chief Executive of HEPFran Hargrove, Deputy Chief Executive of HEPThe roundtable covers the rise of report cards and toolkits, and whether ‘exemplary' is just the new ‘outstanding' in disguise. Spoiler alert: it's complicated...

The Education Brief: Saturday 5 April 2025 - Top stories include:Ofsted is considering renaming the proposed ‘secure' grade on its five-point school report cards.A new trial suggests AI could “revolutionise” how student writing is assessed.Bridget Phillipson has called for more male teachers to act as role models for boys.The cost of repairing England's crumbling school estate will exceed £13.8 billion.This week's deep dive: One City, Two WorldsWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://news.sky.com/story/the-system-just-doesnt-work-more-children-than-ever-are-not-in-school-report-finds-with-more-than-11-million-lost-days-13331143Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/paglayan/Reading - https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/children-missing-from-education/AI Tool - https://aicoursecreator.eskilled.io/Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 29 March 2025 - Top stories include:The Schools Bill has ignited fierce debate between councils and academies over admissions.Oracy is now back in the spotlight of the national curriculum review.Ofsted's Sir Martyn Oliver has declared full support for headteachers who ban mobile phones.International schools are growing uneasy over the US government's rapid rollback of DEI policies.This week's deep dive: Haringey Racial Equity Conference 2025We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8FPQKWxdXIListening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-did-lockdown-impact-children/id267300884?i=1000699223582Reading - https://www.ippr.org/articles/who-is-losing-learning-solutionsAI Tool - https://manus.im/loginMusic by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 22 March 2025 - Top stories include:The government's interim curriculum review outlined 4 areas of focus for the national curriculum.Severe absence has reached its highest point on record, especially affecting those with SEND.The UK's "lost learning crisis" has worsened; researchers propose 10 bold solutions.Government support for rising employer national insurance contributions could fall short by 35%.This week's deep dive: Covid-19: Five years laterWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLVxvWufeTAListening - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028v06Reading - https://sendmatters.co.uk/2025/01/29/send-provision-and-parents-communicating-the-why-that-drives-our-what/AI Tool - https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/ai-tools-education-2025/Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 15 March 2025 - Top stories include:Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver insisted that inspections must involve grades.School leaders have warned that budgets for next year are even tighter than expected.Councils given approval to divert £82 million from education budgets to cover SEND deficits.The latest TES investigation into academy CEO pay has revealed soaring salaries.Teacher retention payments are failing to reach schools in areas hit hardest by staff shortages.This week's deep dive: HEP Women's Leadership Conference Day(Special thanks to Heather de Silva)We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/articles/zrcf8p3Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-future-of-education-with-ravi-gupta/id1667373657?i=1000696228542Reading - https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/stop-panicking-over-teens-and-social-media-a8aad571?st=Xa2dDr&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalinkAI Tool - https://x.ai/blog/grok-3Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 8 March 2025 - Top stories include:England's £11 billion EHCP budget is not improving outcomes for children with SEND.School leaders across England are facing an alarming surge in parental abuse.Concerns are growing over the government's decision to scrap behaviour hubs.The government's supervised toothbrushing scheme is set to roll out in England.This week's deep dive: Human Intelligence in the Age of AIWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/articles/z33hcxs#zbfgmbkListening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-myths-mastery-motivation-getting-fluent-with/id1516532537?i=1000692227939Reading - https://www.tes.com/magazine/analysis/specialist-sector/how-reform-ehcps-benefit-schools-and-families-send-supportAI Tool - https://claude.ai/newMusic by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 1 March 2025 - Top stories include: Ofsted is set to trial its proposed new inspection framework with visits to around 240 schools. New analysis reveals that CEO pay at the largest multi-academy trusts continues to rise. Teachers in four Haringey secondary schools have gone on strike over plans to raise class sizes. The 750 schools that will take part in a pilot offering free breakfast clubs have been announced.This week's deep dive:  Your round-up of education updatesWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://steplab.co/watch/great-teaching-unpacked-episode-1-harnessing-attentionListening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3RKzI8HvcHtVDzkrwDVdFsReading - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/what-do-the-latest-policy-changes-mean-for-governors/AI Tool - https://teacherbot.io/Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 15 February 2025 - Top stories include: Ofsted reports marks down for behaviour have halved since Covid, but teachers disagree. Teach First has announced James Toop as its new CEO. 60% of academy trust CEOs say new reforms would have no impact on their schools. Government minutes reveal a heated exchange between Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh.This week's deep dive:  Haringey Governor Conference 2025We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/articles/zm9vwsgListening - https://www.ted.com/talks/rethinking_with_adam_grant_sam_altman_on_the_future_of_ai_and_humanityReading - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/its-time-to-finally-put-re-in-the-national-curriculum-where-it-belongs/AI Tool - https://klingai.com/Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief:Saturday 8 February 2025 - Top stories include:Academy trusts are under growing financial pressure.The government is investing £2 million in a new “writing framework” and literacy training.The Education Secretary has voiced concerns over the growing number of parental complaints.School leaders have slammed the government's new intervention plans for “stuck schools.”This week's deep dive: Improving the way Ofsted inspects educationWe'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading!Watching -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsXlEwh8VKkListening -https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/will-the-debate-over-vocational-and/id1591570847?i=1000684947421Reading -https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/40-years-of-bett-uk-how-ai-is-shaping-the-next-era-of-education/AI Tool -https://www.deepseek.com/Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 1 February 2025 - Top stories include: Schools are becoming a vital safety net for struggling families. Exam board Pearson has been fined £250,000 pounds after it breached confidentiality rules. Whistleblowers have slammed Ofsted's planned report cards as “rushed and botched.” Per-pupil school funding will rise by 1.2 per cent after inflation, which won't keep up with costs. This week's deep dive:  Preparing for Breakfast Clubs We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zpph9ty Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2kWB7NJD4QvOwAbNsByHly Reading - https://snacks.pepsmccrea.com/p/assume-the-worst AI Tool - https://labs.thenational.academy/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 25 January 2025 - Top stories include: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson unveiled a series of measures at BETT to integrate AI and technology into schools. New data reveals a 220 per cent rise in suspensions for racist abuse in primary schools. The government has appointed two expert panels to advise on making mainstream schools more inclusive and reforming the SEND system. Nearly two-thirds of primary headteachers doubt the free breakfast club scheme will improve school attendance. This week's deep dive:  BETT UK 2025 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/z97swsg Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lFWjH9gs2QSOlYr9wmwE9 Reading - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/building-stronger-schools-through-leadership-hep-senior-leaders-conference-2024/ AI Tool - https://openai.com/o1/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 18 January 2025 - Top stories include: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson spoke in front of the Education Committee. The Confederation of School Trusts raised concerns over the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. Sir Kevan Collins has been named lead non-executive board member for the DfE. A new report from Headrest calls trust in Ofsted "almost irrecoverable." The £10 million behaviour hubs programme, launched in 2021, will end in March. This week's deep dive:  The HEP Inclusion and SEND Conference 2025 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnzmrFsBLO0 Listening - https://open.spotify.com/show/55VZfVNogPJRgarLDv9TDn Reading - https://www.aft.org/ae/summer2018/willingham AI Tool - https://smartdraftr.ai/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 11 January 2025 - Top stories include: IFS warns rising SEND costs are set to devour any potential school savings. The NEU is launching an indicative strike ballot over the government's proposed teacher pay rise. Ofsted chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver talked with the Education Select Committee about report cards, SEND, and the Ofsted complaints process. Labour has scrapped funding for computing hubs and scaled back language hubs. This week's deep dive:  The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW3PBLqA87A Listening - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/podcast-john-dickens-interviews-sir-kevan-collins/ Reading - https://www.waterstones.com/book/failed-state/sam-freedman/9781035026609 AI Tool - https://labs.google/fx/tools/image-fx Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 21 December 2024 - Top stories include: The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill Ofsted criticises curriculum ‘barriers' for SEND pupils in mainstream Survey reveals an increasing formalisation of SATs practice in the first term of Year 6 across UK primary schools This week's deep dive: Autumn Term wrap-up with Fran and James We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.io.uk.com/post/ucet-2024-annual-conference Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/why-is-everything-broken-and-how-do-we-fix-it-with/id1714972358?i=1000678605619 Reading - https://tinyurl.com/3cew8prz AI Tool - https://experiments.withgoogle.com/autodraw Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 14 December 2024 - Top stories include: Home education in England has risen by 21 per cent over the past year. The DfE has proposed a 2.8 per cent teacher pay rise for 2025 to 2026. Exam malpractice in schools and colleges has reached a three-year high. Ofsted will investigate how schools and colleges are using artificial intelligence. This week's deep dive:  Key Stage 4 Performance Insights 2023/24 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De3HU_PJ600 Listening - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/amanda-spielman-interviewed-by-laura-mcinerney/ Reading - https://sendmatters.co.uk/2024/11/11/inclusion-in-every-mainstream-setting-5-ways-to-make-this-vision-a-reality/ AI Tool - https://teachablemachine.withgoogle.com/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 7 December 2024 - Top stories include: The government missed its teacher recruitment targets, with the worst shortfall on record. The government has announced £740 million to create more SEND places in mainstream schools. Plans to introduce on-screen GCSE exams by 2025 and 2026 have been delayed. Ofsted's annual report highlights rising concerns over “flexi-schooling” and disjointed education patterns. This week's deep dive:  The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025f8b/the-one-show-29112024 Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-makes-an-excellent-primary-curriculum/id1651691834?i=1000677669744 Reading - https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/networks-of-headteachers-and-schools/ AI Tool - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-in-Ed-SEND-Hackathon-Report-Guidance.pdf Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 30 November 2024 - Top stories include: Rising costs in schools are set to outpace the government's latest funding boost. Suspensions in England's schools have soared to a record high, with rates jumping 40% last year. New data reveals a widening disadvantage gap among reception pupils. New EPI research reveals that 3,500 schools in England are "isolated" from leadership networks. This week's deep dive:  Ofsted Report Cards: What we know so far We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://nationalcollege.com/webinars/cost-effectiveness-best-evidence-in-brief-with-the-crre-at-johns-hopkins-university Listening - https://radiolab.org/podcast/the-ecstasy-of-an-open-brain Reading - https://eedi.substack.com/p/the-myth-of-copying-things-down AI Tool - https://www.d-id.com/creative-reality-studio/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 23 November 2024 - Top stories include: A new Teaching Commission aims to address the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. Ambition Institute, Education Development Trust, Teach First, and UCL Institute of Education secured contracts to deliver the Early Career Framework from 2025. A report on the Behaviour Hubs programme reveals contrasting outcomes. The government has commissioned research into the Safety Valve scheme's effects on children and families. This week's deep dive:  New Data on Suspensions and Exclusions We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://fairnessfoundation.com/posts/great-britain Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wellbeing-equation-why-happy-staff-stay-with/id1608692574?i=1000673251399 Reading - https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/mental-health-and-the-internet/ AI Tool - https://www.blooket.com/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 16 November 2024 - Top stories include: The government has reversed a 20-hours training mandate for trainee teacher mentors. The EEF announced a £700,000 initiative to improve student outcomes across 300 schools. An OECD report dispels the idea that English students have an “anti-maths mindset”. The government has proposed raising teachers' pension contributions. This week's deep dive:  HEP Senior Leaders' Conference We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/live-lessons/articles/ztfxb7h Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/heads-up-difficult-conversations-and-school/id1608692574?i=1000675919550 Reading - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/breaking-open-the-pipeline-or-why-pedagogy-has-to-serve-curriculum/ AI Tool - https://ai.invideo.io/signup Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 9 November 2024 - Top stories include: Bridget Phillipson has said struggling academies can return to local authority oversight. Phillipson emphasised pupil wellbeing, happiness, and inclusivity as core missions. Professor Becky Francis spoke about emerging themes in the national curriculum review. Ofsted clarified their new inclusion focus won't penalise legitimate use of suspensions and exclusions. This week's deep dive:  The National Budget: What Schools Need to Know We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://ed.ted.com/lessons/h8Loljsm Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rachel-reeves-budget-how-does-it-affect-you/id1611374685?i=1000675211752 Reading - https://www.johncattbookshop.com/products/great-expectations-leading-an-effective-send-strategy-in-school AI Tool - https://designer.microsoft.com/ Music by Slo Pony

In this episode of HEP Talks, host Luke Kemper sits down with Sonia Gill, educational leadership coach, author, and founder of Heads Up, to explore what school excellence looks like and how to successfully deal with difficult conversations. Sonia shares her insights on high-performing teams and the importance of cultivating school culture, offering practical strategies for school leaders to unlock their team's potential. Together, they discuss Ofsted's recent move away from one-word judgments and the broader implications of excellence in education. The path of a school going from 'good' to 'outstanding' is laid out in full detail in Sonia's upcoming training session at HEP, titled "Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Good". Sonia also introduces her other upcoming professional learning sessions for HEP, "Successful Difficult Conversations" and "Difficult Conversations with Parents." These sessions, tailored for school leaders and anyone who may need to deal with a difficult conversation in school, cover how to elevate team performance and handle challenging conversations effectively—whether with staff or parents. Sonia highlights common issues like bullying, SEND-related concerns, and managing parent complaints, providing valuable tips to address these complex, often emotionally charged situations with kindness and efficiency. Find all dates and details of 'Successful Difficult Conversations' sessions here and find all 'Breaking the Glass Ceiling of Good' sessions here. You can find and book all of HEP's training on the HEP Booking Hub.

The Education Brief: Saturday 26 October 2024 - Top stories include: End-of-year maths scores may predict Year 8 English performance more accurately than English scores. Research reveals a gap in maths anxiety between disadvantaged Year 6 pupils and their peers. Unions representing school support staff have accepted a pay rise of at least £1,290. Concerns about inconsistency have been raised about Ofsted's new ungraded inspections. The release of 2024 school performance league tables has been delayed until November or December. The National Audit Office has warned that the SEND system is financially unsustainable. This week's deep dive:  What a national curriculum can and cannot do We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-connections Listening - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/laura-mcinerney-interviews-nick-gibb/ Reading - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Britain-How-Future-Back/dp/1847928145 AI Tool - https://www.flippity.net/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 19 October 2024 - Top stories include: Ofsted has released its first set of school inspection reports without overall headline grades. The DfE is set to change the law to allow schools to open nurseries more quickly. The DfE spent over £13 million pounds on SEND tribunals last year. Parentkind's latest national survey reveals that most parents are ok with children's absence. This week's deep dive:  National Association of Governance Advisory Services Conference 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - http://bbc.co.uk/teach Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parents-arent-all-right/id1200361736?i=1000672343331 Reading - https://uk.bettshow.com/student-behaviour-report AI Tool - https://quickdraw.withgoogle.com/ Music by Slo Pony

In this episode of HEP Talks, host Luke Kemper speaks with Iona Jackson, Director of Strategy at Edurio, to explore the key findings from Edurio's latest reports on staff wellbeing and teacher retention in academies. Together, they unpack data from surveys of school staff across England, discussing the impact of workload, leadership dynamics, and wellbeing on staff retention. Iona reveals how factors like stress, excitement about work, and the role of school leadership contribute to teachers' decisions to stay or leave the profession. They also cover disparities in wellbeing across age groups, roles, and protected characteristics, offering practical recommendations for school leaders to address these critical challenges and create healthier, more supportive environments for staff. This is a great listen for educators, school leaders, and policymakers looking to better understand staff wellbeing and its close link to teacher retention. https://home.edurio.com/insights/staff-welbeing-in-schools-2024 https://home.edurio.com/resources/insights/staff-retention-in-academies

The Education Brief: Saturday 12 October 2024 - Top stories include: 80 per cent of Year 1 pupils met the government's "expected standard" in phonics. The DfE has relaunched a £7 million programme to combat antisemitism in schools. Government cost-saving measures and delays have affected several key education initiatives. A longer school day has been shown to provide a “small yet positive” boost to pupil attainment. This week's deep dive:  The Report of the Commission on the Future of Oracy Education in England We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://researchschool.org.uk/clips-from-the-classroom Listening - https://www.ollielovell.com/ronberger/ Reading - https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/why-a-knowledge-rich-curriculum/ AI Tool - https://www.khanmigo.ai/ Music by Slo Pony https://oracyeducationcommission.co.uk/about-the-commission/

The Education Brief: Saturday 5 October 2024 - Top stories include: Ofsted has revealed plans to assess schools on inclusion in upcoming inspections. The government has released key dates for primary assessments. A new "high level research commission" has been established to examine pupil engagement and its impact on school attendance, amid rising absence rates. Bridget Phillipson has committed to reducing funding for Oak National Academy. This week's deep dive:  Towards an Effective and Financially Sustainable SEND System We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egdNUGnDjSc Listening - https://evidenceintoaction.podbean.com/e/ep-24-implementation-in-schools/ Reading - https://www.penguin.co.uk/lit-in-colour-pioneers-pilot AI Tool - https://www.youtube.com/live/HIfaMx07RaE Music by Slo Pony Link to Isos report

The Education Brief: Saturday 28 September 2024 - Top stories include: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson delivered her first speech at the Labour Party Conference this week. Phillipson announced plans to open the first 300 school-based nurseries by next September, as part of a £15 million capital scheme. Ofsted is launching the Ofsted Academy later this term by publishing inspector training materials. The Birmingham Roman Catholic Archdiocese plans to merge 236 schools into five mega MATs. This week's deep dive:  The Labour Party and Multi-Academy Trusts We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://bit.ly/3AYxhqp Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/94-how-to-fix-education/id1703785141?i=1000669989373 Reading - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-can-the-sector-now-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief/ AI Tool - https://www.briskteaching.com/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 21 September 2024 - Top stories include: Labour changes in school inspections and improvement has sparked debate about regional control. A new level 5 apprenticeship will allow teaching assistants to specialise in SEND, emotional wellbeing, or curriculum provision. One third of students are expected to resit their GCSE English or maths this year. New rules will now allow some SEND pupils to listen to music or white noise during exams. This week's deep dive:  Leadership 55 with Sammy Wright We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://evidencebased.education/can-performance-management-help-shape-great-teachers/ Listening - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m00223qc Reading - https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/using-generative-ai-to-create-role-play-scenarios-for-students?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email AI Tool - https://openai.com/index/memory-and-new-controls-for-chatgpt/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 14 September 2024 - Top stories include: Children's commissioner orders compulsory survey of schools No quick fix to special-needs pupil failures, parents told Governors told no money for national recruitment drive This week's deep dive: ResearchED National Conference 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://evidencebased.education/can-performance-management-help-shape-great-teachers/ Listening - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m00223qc Reading - https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/using-generative-ai-to-create-role-play-scenarios-for-students?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email AI Tool - https://openai.com/index/memory-and-new-controls-for-chatgpt/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 7 September 2024 - Top stories include: Labour's manifesto pledge to recruit 6,500 new teachers is unlikely to be fulfilled for a while. Ofsted is developing a new inclusion criterion for inspections, focusing on supporting disadvantaged pupils. GCSE English requires an urgent overhaul, according to a review by exam board OCR. From early 2025, all schools will have access to new regional school improvement teams. This week's deep dive:  Ofsted's response to the Big Listen We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://my.chartered.college/event/holistic-approaches-to-assessment Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/yliniva-bryan/ Reading - https://magazine.alumni.cam.ac.uk/working-environments-and-productivity/ AI Tool - https://quizizz.com/?lng=en Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 20 July 2024 - Top stories include: Exclusions higher than pre-Covid as suspensions rise again Eight things we learned from Ofsted's annual accounts King's Speech 2024: what schools need to know No teacher pay decision this week, says Phillipson This week's deep dive:  Curriculum review launched: What schools need to know We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeeZ_wD0za4 Listening - https://theedtechpodcast.com/280-what-are-students-expectations-for-ai-in-education/ Reading - https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/cepeo/2024/06/28/sizing-up-labours-ambition-to-address-the-teacher-shortage-in-england/ AI Tool - https://www.thinglink.com/edu Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 13 July 2024 - Top stories include: The "alternative big listen" survey reveals deep dissatisfaction with the school inspectorate. Financial pressures and support for children with SEND are top challenges for school governors. Sir Kevan Collins has been appointed as a non-executive director at the DfE. This week's deep dive:  Key stage 2 SATs 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/live/yCWKFnM9m0U Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GUHlbenJZ8gxHRtgwnVMg Reading - https://nationalcollege.com/guides/love-of-early-writing AI Tool - https://poe.com/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 6 July 2024 - Top stories include: Half of England's most deprived schools anticipate cutting teaching assistant spending next year. NASBTT says all schools should be mandated to provide placements for trainee teachers. An EEF report found that teachers receive minimal training on writing. This week's deep dive:  The 2024 British Election and what it means for education We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzOVQD0oIvI Listening - https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/news/new-eef-podcast-using-research-evidence-well-in-education Reading - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clddn31v26ro AI Tool - https://help.snapchat.com/hc/en-gb/sections/21446373975572-Chatting-with-My-AI Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 29 June 2024 - Top stories include: TES has published an overview of the three main political parties' education policies. The 2014 computing curriculum overhaul has led to 50% fewer girls taking the subject. Seven subject associations say the use of non-specialist teachers is now "endemic". Rural schools face the threat of extinction unless urgent action is taken, warns MAT leader. This week's deep dive:  HEP Headteacher Conference 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://youtu.be/zfUOmDlvTtM Listening - https://www.ollielovell.com/gregashman/ Reading - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/kids-action/articles/media-literacy-education-works AI Tool - https://goblin.tools/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 22 June 2024 - Top stories include: Academy trusts are facing significant shortfalls in funding. The Education Policy Institute criticises the "lack of urgency" regarding the crisis in SEND funding. Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson aims to bring education "back up the agenda." Unions claim schools could gain an average of £36,000 each for building repairs if the DfE reallocated unspent capital funds. The absence gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers widens during the transition from primary to secondary school, according to FFT. This week's deep dive:  HEP Professional Development Conference, 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://schoolsweek.co.uk/video-school-leaders-and-policy-experts-react-to-party-manifestos/  Listening - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/opening-worlds-curriculum-design-with-christine/id1516532537?i=1000658407329  Reading - https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-05-13-what-would-it-take-to-attract-gen-z-to-teaching  AI Tool - https://suno.com/  Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 15 June 2024 - Top stories include: Conservatives manifesto 2024: All the schools policies Labour manifesto 2024: All the schools policies Two in three special schools face real-terms cuts, unions warn Pay, workload and trust - 3 teacher retention issues to solve This week's deep dive:  WalkThrus Conference London, 2024 We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ppLAoARvLQ  Listening - https://freshedpodcast.com/ehrlich/  Reading - https://www.educationnext.org/how-building-knowledge-boosts-literacy-and-learning AI Tool - https://edudownloads.azureedge.net/msdownloads/Microsoft-Education_AI-Toolkit.pdf  Music by Slo Pony

Top stories include: Move to home education biggest since pandemic EYFS: How ditching our maths scheme is transforming teaching Burden of school complaints ‘significant concern', Ofsted told Teaching workforce grows by just 259 as recruitment stalls This week's deep dive:  How Building Knowledge Boosts Literacy and Learning We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ppLAoARvLQ Listening - https://uk.bettshow.com/edtech-unwrapped Reading - https://snacks.pepsmccrea.com/subscribe?ref=z3bT9vaeXq AI Tool - https://www.moreusefulthings.com/student-exercises Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 1 June 2024 - Top stories include: The pre-election ‘purdah' period begins on Saturday, limiting government announcements. Gillian Keegan has confirmed that teacher pay recommendations will come after the election. Leaders' unions say Ofsted must undertake "far-reaching reform". The government has been urged "rebalance" funding towards schools with the poorest intakes and invest more in alternative provision. This week's deep dive:  Labour's plans for education We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4VrtP3CXmU Listening - https://radiolab.org/podcast/91705-lucy Reading - https://uk.bettshow.com/hp-from-crisis-to-classroom-whitepaper AI Tool - https://ideogram.ai/login Music by Slo Pony

In this episode re-run, HEP's Luke Kemper talks to artist Sally Newton at South Harringay School, where she has painted two large staircase murals. They spoke about how she became an artist, what it's like to paint a curriculum on the walls, and how students react to art, among other things. If you'd like to see more of Sally's work, you can check out her website at ⁠www.sallynewton-mural-artist.com⁠. If you like what you hear, get in touch! Maybe she can paint a mural at your school as well! Special thanks Ian, Kelly, and Joe at South Harringay for their time and hospitality.

The Education Brief: Saturday 18 May 2024 - Top stories include: The DfE has released draft guidance updates on relationships, sex, and health education. Baroness Barran wants schools to focus on students who miss the "odd day”. £134 million in unspent NTP funds from schools will help finance the teacher pay grant. Anti-hacking measures in AQA's exam papers disrupted screen-reading software for SEND pupils. This week's deep dive:  Leadership 55 with Ethan Mollick We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://ed.ted.com/ted_ed_collections/think-like-a-coder Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FmzJZslGGhBYeDjzLpuHV Reading - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Natives-Class-Empire-Sunday-Bestseller/dp/1473661234 AI Tool - https://chat.lmsys.org/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 11 May 2024 - Top stories include: The DfE is investigating inclusivity in schools, with a focus on institutions with fewer EHCPs. The government announced larger music hubs across England, reducing the number to 43. An analysis of the Safety Valve programme uncovered "startling" cuts to specialist provision for SEND pupils. Matt Hood has been appointed the first permanent chief executive of Oak National Academy This week's deep dive:  Emerging changes in Ofsted We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://youtu.be/I3CcXED2EDU?feature=shared Listening - https://radiolab.org/podcast/memory-and-forgetting Reading - https://achemicalorthodoxy.co.uk/2022/12/14/the-ratio-lens/ AI Tool - https://www.thenational.academy/blog/ai-tools-for-teachers-are-just-the-start Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 4 May 2024 - Top stories include: The government's scrapping of the Now Teach scheme, sparks an outcry DfE ‘actively looking' at reforms to £10k special schools place funding DFE advises all schools create a bomb threat checklist England scraps 50% rule on faith school admissions This week's deep dive:  The future of safeguarding in schools We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://youtu.be/I3CcXED2EDU?feature=shared  Listening - https://radiolab.org/podcast/memory-and-forgetting Reading - https://achemicalorthodoxy.co.uk/2022/12/14/the-ratio-lens/ AI Tool - https://www.thenational.academy/blog/ai-tools-for-teachers-are-just-the-start Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 27 April 2024 - Top stories include: Ofsted is advancing its use of AI to enhance decision-making in school inspections. Single-phrase Ofsted judgments will remain for now because they provide clarity for parents and are crucial for actions on underperforming schools. Gillian Keegan expressed concerns over the difficulty of fully funding future teacher pay rises. Schools are losing nearly a quarter of lesson time to poor student behaviour. This week's deep dive:  The future of Progress 8 scores We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh3zm6mN5ZY Listening - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5yv8UuKJzgB0qHlqVYccxY Reading - https://hwrkmagazine.co.uk/talking-floats-on-a-sea-of-write/ AI Tool - https://schoolonline.ai/imaginator/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 20 April 2024 - Top stories include: There will be no Progress 8 replacement for school performance measurements in the current and next academic years. 75 percent of primary schools have been forced to reduce their number of teaching assistants. DfE data indicate a rise in pupil absence rates last term compared to spring 2022-23. Ofsted's latest report criticises the quality and scope of religious education in England's schools. This week's deep dive:  Talking floats on a sea of write - oracy in schools We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! (Links available on Spotify only) Watching Listening Reading  AI Tool Music by Slo Pony

It's GCSE revision season, and if you or your students need some extra motivation to review, BBC Bitesize and BBC Sounds have you covered with free podcasts covering a range of subjects from English literature to chemistry. In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper speaks with award-winning author, journalist, and podcaster Carl Anka about the English literature resources in which he played a big role. Carl Anka is a London-born journalist and broadcaster who has written for BBC, Guardian, VICE, NME, GQ and BuzzFeed and specialises in writing about pop culture, video games, films and football. Currently a reporter for sports media group The Athletic covering Manchester United, he is also the host of the Talk of the Devils podcast. Along with Marcus Rashford, Carl is the co-writer of You Are a Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be – a positive and inspiring guide for life for young readers. Aside from the BBC resources, Carl and Luke talk about video games, self-control on social media, and how to get motivated to read. It all somehow all comes down to dancing animals... Listen now, find the BBC revision resources here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zdrk7v4#zj2v46f and read Carl's blog about reading here: https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/books-for-children/you-are-a-champion-carl-anka-favourite-books

With the advent of AI and dominance of social media, it's easy for educators to worry about digital literacy and how best to integrate it into their students' learning. In this episode of HEP Talks, Luke Kemper talks with Andrew Swanson, Executive Producer for BBC Bitesize, about BBC Bitesize's news and media literacy resources collectively titled 'Other Side of the Story'. The discussion centres on what the resources contain and how they can be used to help inform students about bias, polarisation, fake news, and artificially generated content. It also veers into what teachers and pupils think about media literacy and the credibility of the sources with which they engage. Check out Other Side of the Story here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/groups/c0rx3447znvt and find the BBC Teach news and media literacy resources here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/zfjgdnb

The Education Brief: Saturday 30 March 2024 - Top stories include: Robert Halfon steps down as the Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships, and Higher Education. Some schools are resisting admitting children with SEND. Schools will face a delay in learning their 2024/25 pupil premium funding allocations. Over a quarter of applicants to Initial Teacher Training courses are from overseas. Teachers in England have experienced a greater decline in their real-terms average pay since 2010 compared to the broader public sector. The Public Accounts Committee highlights a need for investment in school facilities and SEND. This week's deep dive:  HEP's great rebrand Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 23 March 2024 - Top stories include: NFER annual labour market report highlights declines in trends in teacher recruitment. The government has decided to terminate funding for the Inspiring Governance scheme. The government has decided to scale back the free National Professional Qualifications. There is significant demand among teachers for AI training to enhance using it in schools. This week's deep dive:  AEPA Annual Conference: Leading Education Locally We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching Listening Reading  AI Tool Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 16 March 2024 - Top stories include: The Tes Schools Wellbeing Report highlights challenges in workload, funding, and job satisfaction. The National Institute of Teaching has met its first-year recruitment target… with a little bit of help. The DfE has lowered the recruitment target for secondary teacher trainees by 9 per cent. Only two of 41 councils are adequately prepared for the shift out of private finance initiative. This week's deep dive:  A Professional Expectation - a Teacher Development Trust report on professional development We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching Listening Reading  AI Tool https://tdtrust.org/2024/02/29/creating-a-cpd-entitlement-that-works-our-findings/ Music by Slo Pony

The Education Brief: Saturday 9 March 2024 - Top stories include: The Teacher Development Trust's new report highlights the importance of funding for professional development and empowering schools with the autonomy to choose their CPD initiatives. Ofsted's newest report reveals marked improvement in reading instruction across English schools but highlights weaknesses in writing and spoken language curricula. Pepe Di'Iasio, incoming ASCL general secretary, emphasised the need for government to focus on streamlining the "middle sector" to reduce workload and stress. AQA is set to introduce a free digital maths test using adaptive technology. The DfE has introduced two new governance guides for maintained schools and academy trusts. This week's deep dive:  Ofsted's Big Listen We'll also tell you what's happening at HEP this week and what we've been watching, listening to, and reading! Watching Listening Reading  AI Tool Music by Slo Pony