Podcasts about Ofsted

What should I look for in a school?Are grammar schools really better than comprehensive?How important are Ofsted reports?In this episode, as another year of school applications approaches, I'm going to guide you through the complicated and confusing world of choosing a school for your kids, with the help of my super special guest Melanie Sanderson, Managing Editor at The Good Schools Guide.The Good Schools Guide has been the number one independent resource on UK schools since 1986, providing parents with unbiased information to help them research and pick the right education for their children.So find a comfy seat, pour yourself a cuppa and enjoy the conversation…Find Out More:The Good Schools Guide: https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/Mel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-sanderson-520305190/Highlights from this episode:02:20 - What is the Good Schools Guide?07:12 - Sharp-elbowed parents (and why you should avoid them)11:05 - Grammar schools16:24 - The number one piece of advice for parents…19:25 - Do Ofsted reports matter?23:45 - SATs25:28 - Preparing our 4 year olds for school31:31 - How to look for a school

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave Teaching union launches legal action against Ofsted Princess Charlotte photo released to mark 10th birthday Prince Harry tells BBC he wants reconciliation with Royal Family Henry Zeffman Seven things we have learnt from the election results Reform UK makes big gains in English local elections Labour MPs in despair at voters verdict on government Co op hackers stole significant amount of customer data Local elections 2025 Who won in my area M and S supplier back to pen and paper after cyber attack

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Henry Zeffman Seven things we have learnt from the election results Reform UK makes big gains in English local elections Teaching union launches legal action against Ofsted Labour MPs in despair at voters verdict on government Prince Harry tells BBC he wants reconciliation with Royal Family Co op hackers stole significant amount of customer data M and S supplier back to pen and paper after cyber attack Local elections 2025 Who won in my area UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave Princess Charlotte photo released to mark 10th birthday

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Henry Zeffman Seven things we have learnt from the election results Local elections 2025 Who won in my area Prince Harry tells BBC he wants reconciliation with Royal Family Labour MPs in despair at voters verdict on government Teaching union launches legal action against Ofsted M and S supplier back to pen and paper after cyber attack Co op hackers stole significant amount of customer data Princess Charlotte photo released to mark 10th birthday Reform UK makes big gains in English local elections UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv UN judge Lydia Mugambe jailed for keeping housekeeper as slave Labour MPs in despair at voters verdict on government Local elections 2025 Who won in my area Princess Charlotte photo released to mark 10th birthday Teaching union launches legal action against Ofsted Reform UK makes big gains in English local elections Prince Harry tells BBC he wants reconciliation with Royal Family M and S supplier back to pen and paper after cyber attack Co op hackers stole significant amount of customer data Henry Zeffman Seven things we have learnt from the election results

Julia Waters, the sister of Ruth Perry, sits down with Tom Rogers to discuss the latest with regards to OFSTED.  Julia Waters joins us to discuss the latest developments surrounding Ofsted's proposed inspection reforms and the emotional and professional toll the system continues to take on school leaders. Julia, who became a campaigner following the tragic death of her sister, headteacher Ruth Perry, shares candid reflections on the Department for Education's consultation process, her meetings with Ofsted Chief Inspector Martin Oliver, and the open letter calling for urgent reform. Julia challenges the logic of the proposed "report card" system, raises concerns about teacher well-being and accountability, and urges leaders to listen, act, and protect those at the heart of education.

Carl talks to guest Brian Lightman about the New Ofsted. The Ofsted consultation deadline is on Monday 28th April but an exciting new vision has been proposed by some of the country's leading educationalists. This show explores their recommendations with one of its authors and considers whether this is something the profession get really get behind.

Send us a textToday, we're chatting with Lizi, an ex primary school teacher who quit teaching and decided that she won't be sending her daughter to school. (Unless maybe if she asks to go in the future!!)  Stay tuned for some very fascinating insight into primary schools!  Here's a breakdown of the conversation: 01:12 - What was your experience of school as a child? 02:43 - What qualifications did you get to be able to teach? 03:33 - What got you into teaching? 05:04 - Did your dyslexia affect your teaching? 09:25 - Best and worst bits of teaching? 11:16 - How long were you a teacher? 12:00 - Thoughts on how much they can move? 12:50 - Screen time in schools 17:40 - How much time did they get outside? 19:55 - Socialisation! 25:30 - Thoughts on GCSE's 30:18 - Ofsted experiences 34:51 - How many children are in a class? 35:16 - Why did you quit teaching and choose to home educate? 37:42 - Would you let your daughter go to school? 40:12 - Are there any elements from school you'll incorporate into your home educating? 41:07 - Will you follow the curriculum? 42:15 - Thoughts on the children's wellbeing and schools bill? 49:40 - What does a rough week in your home ed life look like? 54:30 - How do you non judgmentally tell others about your choice to home educate? 1:04:30 - Any tips/advice?  NEVER MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on new episode releases, catch up on follow-ups from previous episodes, and enjoy a dash of chaotic rambling! Honey Should We Homeschool Newsletter GET IN TOUCH! As always, thank you so much for tuning in! If you have any further questions for us or Lizi get in touch via email at honeyshouldwehomeschool@hotmail.com, And don't forget to leave us a review if you've enjoyed the podcast. We can't wait to hear from you! See you next time! :) www.honeyshouldwehomeschool.com  Follow us on Instagram: @honeyshouldwehomeschool,Facebook: Honey Should We HomeschoolYouTube: Honey Should We Homeschool YouTube Making a podcast actually costs money (annoying, we know), and we don't do ads for mattresses (yet). But if you've ever laughed, nodded along, or shouted “YES!” at an episode, consider tossing a coin, no matter how small, to your podcasters! ♡ - https://buymeacoffee.com/honeyshouldwehomeschool

Shop workers in a Medway village say they've been left “traumatised” after a series of “shocking” attacks on the store.Staff at the newsagent in Hoo say they're suffering regular verbal abuse and have had display stands chucked at them and have even been threatened with acid.Also in today's podcast, an abusive man who assaulted his partner for almost two years and made her life an “absolute misery” has been jailed.The offences starting shortly after the pair met in July 2022 and included belittling the victim in front of her friends and family, constantly demanding to know her whereabouts and making insults about her appearance.A nursery has been rated ‘Inadequate' after Ofsted inspectors discovered staff were giving children medicine without the “required written permissions” from parents.The site on Romney Marsh was given the lowest grading possible after being visited by the government watchdog last month.Anger is mounting in Britain's smallest town as it remains shut off so repairs can be carried out on the mayor's house - despite work grinding to a halt last week.The only road through the town - a route used by thousands of motorists a day - was closed on April 7 for more than three months, leaving many facing travel misery.And in football you can hear from the Gillingham boss ahead of their final home game of the season. They're hosting Swindon Town and will be hoping to keep their ten game unbeaten run alive. 

Feeling a bit lost with the current Ofsted consultation (deadline April 28th)? Listen in for a friendly chat with Wendy Ratcliff and Caroline Hearn from Ofsted, where we break down the main points to help you feel clearer and ready to share your views. You can give your feedback on the consultation here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ofsted2025/

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...

  This special episode addresses some deep topics, including the power of the decision maker, impartiality, belonging vs inclusion, the true opportunity for voice and representation, active participation and critical consumption of knowledge…as well as a Q&A from the early childhood community where Adam and Angelica unpick the show ‘Adolescence' and implications for safeguarding, including the new EYFS changes.  Get in touch with your thoughts, comments and topic/guest suggestions here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/contact/  Find all of the links we mention in the episode, including book recommendations here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/the-power-of-the-decision-maker/  Episode break down: 00:00 – Welcome! 01:00 – A special episode! 04:00 – Why was ‘voice' so important in this startup? 08:00 – The power of the decision maker 13:00 – Decisions on what type of content is shared and consumed 14:50 – Impartiality, balance and challenging views 22:00 – Are there really equal opportunities for all voices to be shared? 25:00 – High quality content and pitching at the right ‘levels' 27:50 – Are everyone's voices really represented? 29:00 – Does everyone even want to share their voice? 30:00 – One single voice can enable and represent so many voices 32:00 – Learnings from bringing the sector together through CPD 35:00 – Going against the norm to enable participation 38:00 – Creating a community 39:00 – Feeling belonging and not just feeling included 42:00 – The power of in-person events and collaborative communities 43:45 – Ofsted actively participating in the TVOEC community 46:00 – Making Ofsted feel like they belong! 48:00 – The divisive nature of the education sector 51:00 – Q&A: Questions sent in from TVOEC's community 51:30 – Q: What are your top early years book recommendations? 55:30 – Q: Does the sector want to be brought together? 59:00 – Q: What is AI's place in early years? 01:00:00 – Q: What are your thoughts on the show ‘Adolescence'? 01:04:00 – New EYFS safeguarding changes 01:07:45 – How safe are our nurseries? – Is this propaganda by the BBC? 01:14:00 – What topics or guests would YOU like to hear? How to get in touch… For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

If you've been watching The White Lotus, you might be counting down the hours until the season three finale airs tonight. One of the themes central to this series has been female friendship, and it's left us wondering - is three a crowd? This dynamic plays out in the show between the trio of friends Jaclyn, Kate and Laurie, played by Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon, who alternate between loving and loathing one another. So can friendships between three people work? TV critic Rachael Sigee and relationships writer at the Independent Olivia Petter join Nuala McGovern.An investigation for a documentary that will air on BBC1 NorthWest tonight by the BBC's Hayley Hassell asks: How safe are our nurseries? There have been almost 20,000 reports of serious childcare incidents in nurseries in England in the past five years, some with devastating outcomes. Nurseries are highly regulated, so how did some of them mislead Ofsted about their practices?Two years ago, Sudan was thrown into disarray when its army, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful paramilitary group called Rapid Support Forces, began a vicious struggle for power. The civil war, which continues to this day, has claimed more than 150,000 lives, displaced millions of people and plunged parts of the country into famine. Mass sexual violence has also been widely documented as a weapon of war. Hala al-Karib is a Sudanese activist and regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). One of the BBC World Service's 100 Women 2024, she gives us the latest from Sudan.Conceiving Histories: Trying for Pregnancy, Past and Present is a blend of memoir and history, illustrated with over 100 original colour images. More than a decade in the making, its author, Dr Isabel Davis, talks about using frogs for pregnancy tests, phantom pregnancies and the brief fashion for looking pregnant even if you weren't.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Kirsty Starkey

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

Michelle Ewing is a Therapeutic Life Story Worker with Leicestershire Children and Family Services, which recently received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted.Michelle joins us to share how the local authority provides consistent and high quality life story work for care-experienced children and young people. She gives an insight into the role of a Therapeutic Life Story Worker, her training with Professor Richard Rose, and shares some of her go-to tools and techniques. Finally, we talk about wellbeing for life story work practitioners: the importance of supervision and accessing support as part of your role. Find out more about Creative Life Story Work membership here, and sign up to our mailing list here, for regular updates on our training and resources.Check out the training we have coming up, with online Live Classrooms​,​ delivered by our brilliant ​expert trainers>>

Ben White's guest, headteacher and author Matt Evans, shares thought-provoking insights on how assessment shapes students' self-perception. He challenges the usefulness of ‘summative' and ‘formative' labels, arguing they can be misleading. They also explore future trends in schooling—why so many of us predict similar shifts—and take a sharp look at Ofsted's proposed new assessment system. Spoiler: it's probably not reliable enough for its intended purpose. Yet, despite all that, it's still wrapped up on an optimistic note—with Matt's favourite story.

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

Tom Rogers talks to Pepe Di'Lasio, the general secretary of the ASCL, for an insight into most recent discussions within the union on recent and impending changes at OFSTED. 

Inclusion continues to be a hot topic in education, and while schools have made tremendous strides in fostering inclusivity, several barriers remain, particularly league tables and Ofsted defining school intent. In our latest episode of the SENDcast, Dale speaks with Maria Dawes, CEO of the Schools Alliance for Excellence. Maria shares valuable insights on how schools can leverage self-evaluation to drive continuous improvement in inclusion, especially for underserved learners. What resonated with me was Maria's approach to shifting the focus from proving effectiveness to genuinely improving practices and being experts in your own setting. She emphasises that by fostering a culture of robust self-evaluation, school leaders can take ownership of their actions and create an environment where all students feel included and supported, regardless of their backgrounds or needs. Maria developed the Surrey Inclusion Framework to facilitate meaningful discussions and thorough self-assessments around inclusion. As she aptly states, “There are things that you can do that don't make you fundamentally more inclusive; inclusivity is a culture.” View all podcasts available or visit our SENDcast sessions shop!   About Maria Dawes Maria is the CEO of Schools Alliance for Excellence and STSN, a school-led company that provides school improvement, curriculum and leadership development for schools in Surrey and other local regions. She has a strong track record of working collaboratively and in partnership with a range of agencies to support schools to improve rapidly and sustain improvement.  Maria is passionate about a school-led system, believing bringing all schools, providers and partners together creates an educational landscape that is more than the sum of its parts.  She also believes strongly in equity of opportunity and inclusion. She has an unwavering desire to ensure that all young people get the education they deserve including those with additional needs, and those that are vulnerable and underserved.   Her previous roles included a number of senior leadership posts in schools, Senior HMI and Deputy & Regional Schools Commissioner.   Contact Maria m.dawes@schoolsallexcel.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/schools-alliance-for-excellence/   Useful Links VLOG  - a new way for school accountability Blog - inclusion self evaluation    B Squared Website – www.bsquared.co.uk  Meeting with Dale to find out about B Squared - https://calendly.com/b-squared-team/overview-of-b-squared-sendcast  Email Dale – dale@bsquared.co.uk  Subscribe to the SENDcast - https://www.thesendcast.com/subscribe   The SENDcast is powered by B Squared We have been involved with Special Educational Needs for over 25 years, helping show the small steps of progress pupils with SEND make. B Squared has worked with thousands of schools, we understand the challenges professionals working in SEND face. We wanted a way to support these hardworking professionals - which is why we launched The SENDcast! Click the button below to find out more about how B Squared can help improve assessment for pupils with SEND in your school.

Carl Smith talks to former inspector and ASCL General Secretary, Brian Lightman about the latest proposals to reform Ofsted. Brian has some brilliant insights and really helpful suggestions for a way forward after the consultation.

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

Plans to change the way schools in England will be inspected were unveiled by Ofsted earlier this month. These would see schools graded on a five-step scale across a wider range of individual areas – from ‘exemplary' to ‘causing concern', with a separate assessment of whether safeguarding standards are met.Here, NAHT's general secretary Paul Whiteman and assistant general secretary James Bowen address some of the issues the proposals raise – from ‘monitoring', ‘sub-judgements' and ‘stuck schools' to the realities of a traffic-light system and the lack of quantitative questions in Ofsted's consultation.NAHT believes the plans would replicate the worst aspects of the current system while doing little to reduce the pressure school leaders are under, and there's a way to provide clearer information for parents and schools without resorting to grades.Ofsted's consultation is open until 28 April 2025. See NAHT's guidance for NAHT members on completing Ofsted's consultation.  For more education news and debate, join us on Facebook, LinkedIn, BlueSky or X.

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

On The News Quiz this week, Andy Zaltzman is joined by Ayesha Hazarika, Susie McCabe, Geoff Norcott and Pierre Novellie to discuss Britain's attempts to court the US and the EU, Trump's tariff turmoil, new report cards from Ofsted, and Starmer's uncovered voice coaching.Written by Andy Zaltzman.With additional material by: Jade Gebbie, Alex Kealy, Christina Riggs and Stuart McPherson. Producer: Rajiv Karia Executive Producer: Richard Morris Production Coordinator: Jodie Charman Sound Editor: Marc WillcoxA BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4 An Eco-Audio certified Production.

This episode is sponsored by Funding Loop: Funding Loop automates the process for nurseries of collecting funding forms from parents and typing that information into council portals. Funding Loop is used by over 2000 nurseries including over 80% of the top 25 nursery chains in the UK including Busy Bees. To find out more visit: https://www.fundingloop.co.uk/home   Rachael Webster problematises the English Government's campaign for early childhood professionals, namely the advert: Do something big, work with small children…Rachael highlights the complexity, impact and importance of the early childhood profession, discussing ways in which we can shift perspectives and recognise the vital role of educators. Read Rachael's article here: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/do-something-big-changing-the-narrative-around-working-with-small-children/ Episode break down: 00:00 – Government advert: Setting the scene 04:00 – The intent is right, but the delivery is questionable… 07:00 – How society sees the early childhood sector 10:00 – Parents' view of the early childhood sector 13:00 – Education vs early childhood provision 16:00 – Highly feminised job roles 20:00 – Consumer based economy 21:20 – What can we do to change these narratives? 23:00 – Advocacy and lobbying government 25:00 – A desperation for staff 27:00 – What would be the alternative to this advert? 33:40 – The challenges of advertising to women 37:00 – The need for aspirational advertising campaigns 39:00 – The view of educators as glorified babysitters For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com

Have you seen the recent announcements from Ofsted and the government that explain how schools will be judged in the future?The general consensus is in...... It's not good.Join us as we chat about it and much more in this weeks episode!Isnta: https://www.instagram.com/teachsleeprepeatpodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@teachsleeprepeatpodcast

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

Gráinne's back! Here to unpack more great data from Teacher Tapp. We explore what teachers really think about what would make an adequate Ofsted inspection, and what challenges surprised people when starting the profession.

This episode looks at the opportunities and risks presented by the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. We speak to three experts who are working in schools to develop AI in effective and safe ways. We kick off the discussion by asking our panel to list what they consider to be the three biggest benefits of AI in schools and the three biggest risks/threats. We then look at whole-school AI strategy and policy. What does a good AI strategy look like and what elements need to be included in a school's AI policy? What does effective staff training look like? How should education around AI be fed into the curriculum? What kind of “rules” need to be in place? And what does Ofsted have to say about AI? We also talk AI in the classroom. How might teachers use AI in their lesson-planning and resource-creation? We discuss a number of ideas for using AI to create resources/plan lessons. Also, what risks should teachers be aware of when using AI? What pitfalls do teachers need to avoid? We talk about diversity in resource-creation, the pitfalls of prompt engineering, and data protection. We name drop a few resources that our panel are using with success, and we end the podcast with their biggest “lessons learned” so far and their final reflections.

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Bill Gates says he has given away billions, but has more to give Joel Le Scouarnec France readies itself for child abuse trial of former surgeon Battle lines drawn over monstrous pylons and solar farm wastelands School heads clash with Ofsted over new report cards Grammys red carpet and pre ceremony in pictures Newspaper headlines Vlads drone kills Brit boy and fears of global trade war Snake Pass Could famous driving road close to cars Starmer first UK PM to join EU leaders meeting post Brexit Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Grammys ceremony opens with tribute to Los Angeles

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Grammys ceremony opens with tribute to Los Angeles Snake Pass Could famous driving road close to cars School heads clash with Ofsted over new report cards Bill Gates says he has given away billions, but has more to give Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Starmer first UK PM to join EU leaders meeting post Brexit Newspaper headlines Vlads drone kills Brit boy and fears of global trade war Joel Le Scouarnec France readies itself for child abuse trial of former surgeon Battle lines drawn over monstrous pylons and solar farm wastelands Grammys red carpet and pre ceremony in pictures

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv School heads clash with Ofsted over new report cards Newspaper headlines Vlads drone kills Brit boy and fears of global trade war Snake Pass Could famous driving road close to cars Grammys ceremony opens with tribute to Los Angeles Grammys red carpet and pre ceremony in pictures Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Joel Le Scouarnec France readies itself for child abuse trial of former surgeon Battle lines drawn over monstrous pylons and solar farm wastelands Bill Gates says he has given away billions, but has more to give Starmer first UK PM to join EU leaders meeting post Brexit

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv Bill Gates says he has given away billions, but has more to give Joel Le Scouarnec France readies itself for child abuse trial of former surgeon Trump tariffs booed in Canada as Trudeau calls for national unity Battle lines drawn over monstrous pylons and solar farm wastelands Newspaper headlines Vlads drone kills Brit boy and fears of global trade war Starmer first UK PM to join EU leaders meeting post Brexit Grammys red carpet and pre ceremony in pictures School heads clash with Ofsted over new report cards Snake Pass Could famous driving road close to cars Grammys ceremony opens with tribute to Los Angeles

Welcome to Monday Night Live Join us for another insightful episode of Monday Night Live, where Derek Arden welcomes an inspiring leader in education, Mike Foley, CEO of the Wessex Academy Trust. With a career spanning from teaching in London to leading one of the UK's most successful Multi-Academy Trusts, Mike shares his journey, leadership insights, and the challenges of managing 12 schools, 7,000 students, and nearly 1,000 staff members. Mike Foley's Leadership Journey Mike's career in education started unexpectedly. Growing up in South London, he initially considered a legal career after earning a history degree. However, a postgrad opportunity in teaching changed everything. He quickly discovered his passion for education, leading him to rapid promotions and eventually to the role of headteacher in his late 30s. After a decade in that role, he embraced the challenge of leading The Thomas Hardy School, one of the largest schools in the UK, before taking on the CEO position at Wessex Academy Trust in 2021. The Challenges of Leading a Multi-Academy Trust Running a multi-academy trust is a monumental task. Mike explains how strategic leadership, teamwork, and a strong culture keep the organization running smoothly. Key leadership challenges include: Maintaining a unified culture across 12 schools while allowing for individual school identities. Managing a £50 million budget efficiently, ensuring schools receive the necessary resources. Recruiting and retaining teachers, particularly as the UK faces a shortage of qualified educators. Supporting students post-COVID, especially those dealing with mental health challenges and complex learning needs. Leadership at Scale – The Power of People A recurring theme in Mike's leadership philosophy is trusting and empowering people. He emphasizes that leading at scale means ensuring others are motivated, aligned with the vision, and able to execute effectively. The key question he always asks himself is: How do I get people to do the right things, willingly and passionately? Mike also discusses the importance of continuous performance management. Instead of outdated annual reviews, the trust has moved towards ongoing performance reflection and feedback loops, helping leaders and teachers stay sharp and motivated. Education and Innovation – The Role of AI With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming a hot topic in education, Mike shares how Wessex Academy Trust is using AI creatively rather than banning it outright. One example? Students critiquing AI-generated essays to enhance their learning experience. He believes that embracing new technology, rather than fearing it, is crucial for the future of education. Mobile Phones in Schools – A Balanced Approach One of the biggest debates in education today is mobile phone use in schools. Mike recalls how, as headteacher at Thomas Hardy, he introduced a compromise policy: students could bring phones to school, but they had to be turned off and put away during the day. Breaking the rule meant parents had to come in to collect the phone. The result? A school-wide culture of responsibility and respect. Being an Ofsted Inspector – Insights from the Inside As an Ofsted inspector, Mike provides valuable insights into the inspection process. He highlights that Ofsted's role isn't just to criticize but to confirm schools' own self-assessments and help them improve. He also discusses upcoming changes to the Ofsted framework, expected in September 2025, which could impact the way Multi-Academy Trusts are evaluated. Final Leadership Advice – Building Resilience When asked for his one piece of advice for aspiring leaders, Mike emphasizes resilience. His mantra? Find the good in the bad. Every challenge presents a learning opportunity, and those who can adapt and push forward will be the most successful in any field. Thank You for Watching!

President Trump has agreed to pause the imposition of tariffs on Mexico and Canada by a month, in return for increased efforts to stop drug trafficking into the US. We ask whether President Trump is winning a trade war - and what lies behind his decision.Also tonight:The sister of Ruth Perry - the headteacher whose suicide prompted changes to Ofsted's school grading system - gives us her view on the proposed new system.And a pub scores an own goal by offering free pints for all seven goals Nottingham Forest scored at the weekend.

Tom Rogers is joined by Rob Bruce of the Leadership Skills Foundation and Phil Wood, Professor of Education at Nottingham Trent University. They discuss todays announcements regarding changes to OFSTED inspections. They look at the new OFSTED 'report card' in detail, including the new areas to be assessed and how inspections might work with regards to these, including the 5 point sliding scale from cause for concern to exemplary. What are the possible pitfalls of this new system? Are there any positives? Listen to find out! 

Canadians booing the American national anthem at sports matches, shops removing American made products from their shelves...how many enemies is Donald Trump prepared to make with his trade tariffs? The Mexican president and Trump have already agreed to postpone the tariffs by one month following a "good conversation". Is anyone really prepared to fight the bully tactics?Later, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson tells us why she thinks Michael Gove is being hyperbolic about her changes to education. Will the Ofsted reforms really help parents? And why is she rolling back changes that the Tories say worked?Tickets to The News Agents Live On Stage with HSBC UK are now on sale! You can get your tickets for Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh here: https://articles.globalplayer.com/7giHoMavXLgdrd6gaC3GxWG7T8Editor: Tom HughesExecutive Producer: Louis DegenhardtProducer: Natalie IndgeDigital Editor: Michaela WaltersSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon, Shane Fennelly & Arvind BadewalDigital Journalist: Michael BaggsYou can watch Lewis's special report on the abortion crisis in America here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5BCL0ocFEDon't forget you can also subscribe to our other News Agents podcasts via the link below:https://linktr.ee/thenewsagentsThe News Agents USA now have merch! Click here to buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-news-agentsThe News Agents is brought to you by HSBC UK - https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

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

In this episode, Guy Claxton takes us beyond simplified conceptions of the learning sciences and explains why teachers are sometimes vulnerable to fads and trends. "We undersell ourselves as educators, educating young people for the future and for life, if we lazily assume that all we mean by learning is the kind of thing that leads to good grades in schools." Guy shares his hopes as an educator – to help young people develop beyond just the periodic table, the Tudors and examination technique, and cultivate something of more lasting value. He hopes to design a classroom culture that isn't solely defined by Ofsted, GCSEs or A-level results, probing at the question: what are you teaching? What are you teaching for? Full show notes and transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2025/jan/asking-awkward-questions-staffroom-s05e01

New figures seen by the Kent Online Podcast show there's been a significant drop in the number of children wanting to go to some schools in Kent after they received poor Ofsted reports.The figures highlight the impact a 'poor' grading given to a school by the watchdog can have on admission numbers.Also in today's podcast, three Kent men who were involved in a so-called 'clocking' scam involving second-hand cars and vans have avoided jail sentences.The group from Broadstairs and Chartham wiped two million miles off 23 vehicles before selling them online.Signs are going to be put up outside play areas and schools in parts of Kent to try and encourage people not to smoke.Areas including Ashford, Thanet and Maidstone have been awarded funding for the scheme.Plans to close a Kent leisure centre for a £20 million revamp are going to be reviewed at a meeting later.Tides in Deal is set to shut this April before reopening under a new operator in January 2026.East Kent Acro Gymnastics club uses the sports hall for their training sessions.Football, and Gillingham's run of games without a win has continued.They came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Tranmere Rovers at the weekend.And, congratulations to everyone who took part in the Canterbury 10-mile road race over the weekend.The winner crossed the line in 51 minutes and 10 seconds.

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 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

On The Weekly Review, panellists, Lianne Lax and John Gibbs discuss hot topics in the week's news with host, Paul Hazzard. Show production by Lianne Lax. This week's stories: We need a common vision for childhood so all pupils can flourish - https://tinyurl.com/28awbuus Lesson prescription, teacher autonomy & trust - https://tinyurl.com/5n7phazh Ofsted annual report: education and social care serving most children well, but system pressures bite for most disadvantaged - https://tinyurl.com/ydw9vbv6 Shows Reviewed: Christmas Presence instead of Christmas Presents: The Twilight Show with Claire Cannon How can great assessment bring joy to schools: The  Sunday Late show with Beejesh Deva Curriculum Conversations: The Late Show with Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuburger

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

Here Jane Perryman and Alice Bradbury present data which explores how the Ofsted inspection is experienced and stakeholders' views on how it could be improved. They discuss the report's recommendations for change and discuss how this would benefit teachers and schools.

Should the NHS get its own version of Ofsted? And why are so many young people not in work?Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are energy minister and Labour MP Michael Shanks, political commentator Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and former Conservative strategist Samuel Kasumu.

It's back to school day for kids up and down the country, and also back to school for our politicians who have returned from summer recess. To celebrate, Keir Starmer has announced that one-word Ofsted classifications will be scrapped with immediate effect. Is this the right move?  Also on the podcast, we have had the official launches of several Tory leadership campaigns in the last few days. What's the latest?  Oscar Edmondson speaks to Fraser Nelson and Katy Balls.  Produced by Oscar Edmondson. 

Today's GCSE results show an exams system that has largely returned to pre-Covid norms. It has also given the government a chance to talk about skills and apprenticeships – something that Bridget Phillipson's predecessor as education secretary was also keen on. Cindy Yu talks to James Heale and Amanda Spielman, former chair of Ofqual and Ofsted, about the state of the British education system. Produced by Cindy Yu.

Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down with the headmistress of the Michaela Community School, Katharine Birbalsingh. They discuss the importance of K-12 education, why it matters more than the universities in regard to the formation of thinking minds, how children can pursue both excellence and a life of dignity, and why strictness, absent tyranny, is the best form of education. Katharine Birbalsingh is Headmistress and co-founder of Michaela Community School and former Chair of the Social Mobility Commission. She is known as “Britain's Strictest Headmistress”, following the ITV documentary about Michaela. Michaela's Progress 8 score placed the school top in the country the last two years. In 2023, OFSTED graded the school as “Outstanding” in every category. Birbalsingh read “Philosophy & Modern Languages” at the University of Oxford and has always taught in inner London. She has made numerous appearances on television, radio, and podcasts and has written for several publications. Birbalsingh has also written two books and edited another two, the last of which is “The Power of Culture,” which is about Michaela.  Birbalsingh was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2020 and Honorary Fellow of New College, Oxford in 2021. This episode was recorded on June 15th, 2024  - Links - For Katharine Birbalsingh: On X https://x.com/miss_snuffy Documentary on the Michaela school  www.strictestheadmistress.com Website for the Michaela Community school in Wembley, London. Here you can sign up for a visit www.michaela.education