Craig Barton and Jo Morgan discuss Jo's career journey and the context of her school. They then dive into the topic of achieving amazing GCSE results, starting with the importance of a solid Key Stage 3 and 4 curriculum and pedagogy. Jo emphasizes the need for high-quality teaching, a robust curriculum, and going into depth on topics. She also discusses the benefits of setting and the challenges of staffing Key Stage 3. Joe mentions the use of shared resources and the importance of consistency in teaching across the department. In this part of the conversation, Craig and Jo discuss the importance of being prescriptive in teaching methods and the use of calculators in the classroom. Jo emphasizes the need for live modeling and independent practice, while also acknowledging the challenges of using mini whiteboards effectively. They also discuss the benefits of regular calculator use from the start of Year 7 and the impact of embedded retrieval in lessons. In this part of the conversation, Jo discusses the use of warm-up booklets, assessment practices, and the benefits of using the online homework platform Sparks. She also talks about strategies for supporting the lowest and highest attainers at Key Stage 4. In this final part of the conversation, Jo and Craig discuss the impact of different qualifications on student outcomes, the importance of high standards and expectations in the math department, and the effective use of data to identify and address problems.

Links to all the resources mentioned can be found in the show notes here: mrbartonmaths.com/blog/jo-morgan-gcse/

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