Around the Table with George Eadie is a podcast dedicated to telling stories of success and scale relevant to the South African Education system.

Here we speak with Stacey Brewer the courageous and wildly competent leader who has led Spark to where it is today with 24 schools and 15,000 learners. Have you ever thought about starting a school? This podcast is for you.

In the conversation, we speak about the pros and cons of incorporating as a for-profit versus a not-for-profit entity. We go into the learning model and how this model was a departure from the norm of what made a good school in South Africa 10 years ago, but which soon became the point of difference for Spark enough to drive tremendous interest and demand in the market for the schools.

Stacey and her team have engaged intimately with the benefits and limitations of technology along the way.

She shares how Covid was a truly tough time for the school where collections dried up, without a 'big brother' government element, it was stressful. However, despite this, the deep alignment between the school leadership and the funders as to the position this school holds in society allowed it to navigate those times and last much longer and scale further than any non-profit equivalent schools that were started at a similar time.

Stacey also speaks about their commitment to teacher professional development at over 200 hours a year per teacher to underpin the academic standards of the school.

00:00 Introduction

02:16 What was the founding story, how did it start?

04:45 Rationale for non-profit versus for-profit business models for schools?

13:10 Spark's Fly assemblies, culture, core values, and Spark Creed.

15:03 Learning Model.

19:25 Social and Emotional Learning & Character Development.

19:45 Use of Technology.

23:00 Helping parents understand the new model.

24:50 Big turning points and hardest moments along the way?

27:35 Future Outlook.

30:55 Learning about learning, & teacher professional development

33:30 How does SA solve the schooling and teacher supply crisis?

35:30 Cost to open an SA school versus Spark school.

36:45 Advice for someone starting out creating a school.

39:25 Final comments open to shared learning

The modern version of career guidance is here and not a moment too soon.

Yenza have found a way to create an in-depth and data-informed journey of career discovery for high schoolers. Whether you are a teacher, parent or learner, this new and important field of expertise is at the heart of what needs improving as we improve schooling.

https://www.yenzacareers.com/

https://www.theanswer.co.za/

The Around the Table Podcast has the intention of harvesting insights across the education in South Africa, mostly form success stories, to foster shared learning and overall improvement.

Around the Table is a podcast dedicated to all those who have a passion to improve the standard of primary and secondary education in South Africa.

Sponsored by The Answer Series www.theanswer.co.za

In this episode David Fair addresses the success story of recurringly supporting 18000 learners in numeracy and literacy in rural situations with technology and with an innovative funding model.

00:00 Intro to David Fair and Edulution

10:32 The use of coaches instead of teachers

12:00 Power of tech needs human connection

13:50 Maths teachers may not be what we need

15:14 Model of success for coaches

18:45 Organisational culture and design of Edulution

20:00 AI supported content pathways

22:18 Unintended benefit in literacy

25:16 Human connection by design

27:00 Learner energy management tactics

32:38 Have you ever had to make a big pivot?

35:32 Edulution's partnerships

40:00 Edulution's free-market principles that support high-performance

41:50 Edulution outcome funded model

44:15 Ways to join forces or help Edulution

46:12 Dream to augment teachers, not replace them

47:57 Cause for grounded optimism

Around the Table with George Eadie is a podcast dedicated to better understanding education and how it might be improved in South Africa.

More info for e-books for schools from The Answer Series as mentioned in the ad: https://www.theanswer.co.za/subscriptions/ebooks-b2b/

Tim Viera is the CEO and Founder of Brave Generation Academy. BGA Is a global school network with 53 hubs around the world. Tim and his team used common sense to create this new version of schooling that is better adapted to modern times.

https://bravegenerationacademy.com/home

00:00 Teasers; Intro and Ad

3:19 Origin Story of Brave Generation Academy (BGA)

07:12 Emphasis on the use of common sense to chart the course change

7:50 Balancing the demands of life while starting BGA

11:04 Type of kids that were attracted to BGA

11:37 More about the use of the British International Curriculum

12:00 How BGA adapts to the learner

14:05 Peers inspiring peers to find their passion

14:30 The role of learning coaches

15:25 No set holidays

15:50 Your academic timeline and your learning coach

16:28 The role of learning coaches

17:13 The Tech Platform and the structure of academic progression

19:27 The teenage brain and the capability to cope with this model

22:00 Traditional schooling is fine for kids under 12.

20:57 Preparing for beyond school

22:58 Incorporation of 1st University into BGA

24:09 Self-paced learning removes excuses and slow is fine!

25:21 More detail on the hubs and their integration into the community

28:35 Brave and Beyond Curriculum (Social and Emotional competencies)

29:34 Results they're getting

30:47 No failures, only experiences (Vet Story)

29:00 no failure, only stories - funny job shadow story

31:40 Integration of hub into the community

31:55 Why teachers aspire to be a learning coach

32:21 Opinions on how to improve education in South Africa

33:08 National education systems, globally are under pressure

33:39 Business model of BGA: Purpose project

34:10 Technology to deliver a minimum standard of learning

34:50 Declining standard of a South African matric, globally

35:30 Globally relevant skills mean you can live in Kenya and earn in the US

36:13 Re-thinking assumptions, e.g. holidays

36:40 SA needs an extra year for an A-level equivalent

37:06 How does the broader system migrate from where it is now?

38:56 How do schools need to be more relevant?

39:25 What about Microsoft certifications at 15?

40:20 Universities should be including 1st year within school

42:15 Match the adaptability of schooling to the speed of change in the working world

42:58 We need to create wealth creators, not workers

43:37 Was there ever a reckoning moment in the creation of BGA?

46:20 The efficiency of hubs versus the cost-heavy schooling model

50:18 Wrap, thank you and details for following BGA

50:48 SA Hubs: Tygervalley, Waterfront, Sunninghill, Nelspruit

Did you know that 78% of South African Grade 4 learners can’t read for meaning and 63% of grade five learners show no basic mathematical knowledge? Unfortunately, weak student performance in literacy and numeracy in Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) constitutes one of the major factors leading to poor learning outcomes in later grades.

Founder of the Click Foundation, Nicola Harris, is changing these statistics with her NGO. She joins TAS CEO and podcast host, George Eadie in this episode of Around the Table to share how Nicola and her team have the amazing reputation of leading one of South Africa's most scaled ed-tech rollouts as an NGO. After 10 years of leading the Click Foundation, she has a wealth of learnings to share.

Be inspired by Nicola’s incredible story and how her organisation overcome COVID-related restrictions, as well as the socio-economic issues South African schools face in relation to implementing ed-tech programs like hers. Make sure to subscribe so that you don’t miss any upcoming episodes.

Important links:

Get access to all Answer Series e-books with just one license: https://www.theanswer.co.za/subscriptions/ebooks/

Get access to free e-Books for teachers: https://www.theanswer.co.za/teacher/free-e-books-for-teachers/

Contact TAS if you're a teacher for group benefits when buying for your class: [email protected]

The Click Foundation: https://clickfoundation.co.za/

Follow George Eadie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeeadie/ or on Twitter @GeorgeEadie

Visit TechWays www.techways.online and use the voucher code “TheAnswer” to get a 10% discount.

“How best to prepare for the real world?” is a question often posed to everyone involved in education. A South African company, iXperience, has thought a lot about this question and offers solutions, both locally and internationally, to help learners prepare for and make more informed decisions about their futures.

Joining TAS CEO and Podcast Host, George Eadie, to share their story and perspective on the above question is Senior Vice President of Growth at iXperience: Westleigh Wilkinson, and Vice President of Education: Cordene Midgley.

They touch on what the most important things are that everyone in the education space (teachers, parents, policy-makers and learners) must consider in order to be well-prepared for the “real world”.

Please visit our website for:

SA’s best-selling study guides

Teacher discounts for study guides

Access to all our e-books with just one license

Gr 12 Maths Support & Maths Literacy Community

Free e-books for teachers

Access to Grade 12 videos

Helpful blog resources for learners, parents, teachers and many more exciting things to come.

If there’s anything more you think we can do for you that will make a difference in your classroom, school or at your desk please let us know.

Follow us on social media for more updates:

Facebook: The Answer Series - Study Guides

Instagram: @theanswerseries

LinkedIn: The Answer Series

In episode 7, George Eadie interviews Prof John Volmink, Chairperson at Umalusi Council.

John started his teaching career as a high school teacher and later held various University teaching positions including the University of Western Cape, University of Cape Town and Cornell University.

George and John consider the fundamental role of curriculum in a successful education system. They also discuss the history of curriculum in SA, and in what ways the curriculum must evolve into the future based on what we’re learning in SA and globally.

Key take-outs:

Intro: 00:00 to 8:00

The fundamental role of curriculum: 8:00 to 10:55

History of the curriculum in South Africa: 10:55 to 16:33

Outcomes-based education in context: 19:00 to 21:52

The context of the introduction of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS): 21:52 to 27:30

How CAPS might adapt due to lost learning time from Covid: 27:30 to 30:05

The role of teacher support material and textbooks 30:05 to 33:16

Will subjects continue to be the structure of learning in future: 33:16 to 38:00

Views on the role of assessment: 38:00 to 41:05

Final remarks from John address change fatigue and the resistance to curriculum evolution 41:05

George’s take-outs 45:35

In episode 6 George Eadie interviews Robert Paddock, Founder and CEO of Valenture Institute.

Valenture Institute was launched in 2019 as one of Africa’s first dedicated online high schools and has recently achieved superb traction in their collaboration with UCT in the creation of the UCT Online High School.

George and Robert discuss how physical limitations can be turned into digital opportunities, and why education technology is our best bet to educate Africa's youth bulge.

Important links:

Grade 12 Maths Videos: https://www.theanswer.co.za/course/grade-12-mathematics/

Contact TAS is you're a teacher for group benefits when buying for your class: [email protected]

Follow George Eadie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeeadie/ or on Twitter @GeorgeEadie

Follow Robert Paddock on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-paddock-4110251b

In episode 5 George Eadie interviews Graham Sayer. Graham is in his fifteenth year of service to Somerset College in the Western Cape, and his fourth as both Head of the Senior School and Executive Head of the whole College, he is the youngest person to have been appointed to either role.

Graham and his team have conducted some research into the case for in-person education. In episode 5 George and Graham are therefore discussing the value of in-person education. This theme is in response to the many hopes out there of a technological panacea to our education challenges.

They conclude, amongst other things, that character and resilience are the real goals of education and methods for building these are unique to adolescents; what we consider to work for us as adults may simply not apply to a young person.

Important links:

- The benefits of in-person education

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-08-26-for-the-good-of-the-child-benefits-of-in-person-schooling-far-outweigh-those-of-online-learning/

- Grade 12 Mathematics Videos

https://www.theanswer.co.za/course/grade-12-mathematics/?fbclid=IwAR278fSRuBQRvRAWQpSlDZti7_Czi7_dJqeYjYW9wZZ6ZQEpKgYQqQvgp3Q

- Contact TAS is you're a teacher for group benefits when buying for your class: [email protected]

- Follow George Eadie on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeeadie/ or on Twitter @GeorgeEadie

- Follow Graham Sayer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-sayer-438a22100/

- Book recommendation from Graham:

The Righteous Mind - Jonathan Haidt https://www.bookmall.co.za/products/the-righteous-mind?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-NaJBhDsARIsAAja6dNeKkY1YhQDqxVayKJFggmCZhy39PW94LifVlSGB7LrPv1RTy7t2EgaAu5vEALw_wcB

- Cleverlands - Lucy Crehan https://www.bookmall.co.za/products/cleverlands

John Hatti’s list of effects; evaluation of accomplished teaching scale https://visible-learning.org/backup-hattie-ranking-256-effects-2017/

In the third episode George Eadie interviewed Sizwe Nxasana, the Chairman of the National Education Collaboration Trust and founder of the Sifiso Learning Group. They have attempted to address the broad theme: “How should we think about the role of schools in South Africa?”

In the fourth episode George Eadie interviews Sarah Gravett, Dean of Education at UJ. In this episode they focus on important distinctions in understanding the national structure of accountability in teacher development. They also discuss the importance of school leadership to embrace continuous professional development through communities of practice and mentoring teachers.

Embracing initiatives to foster lifelong learning in teachers is the name of the game. If we all rally together to make our contribution to supporting the schools we are involved in, then it is possible to change the system, one teacher and one school at a time.

TAS would like to thank you for the role you play in developing and improving education in South Africa, not only in our current setting, but also for future generations.

Let’s work together to impart the gift of confidence in 2021 and beyond.

Important links

1. https://www.theanswer.co.za/gr-12-mathematics-past-papers-toolkit-is-here/

2. Contact TAS if you're a teacher for group benefits when buying for your class: [email protected]

3. Follow George Eadie https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeeadie/ or on twitter @GeorgeEadie

4. Follow Sarah Gravett on twitter @GravettSarah