Education: Joining the Dots

In our latest episode we're joined by special guests from two UK Multi-Academy Trusts - Tallyia Charalambous, Director of English at Laidlaw Schools Trust and Graham Findlay, Secondary School Improvement Lead at Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust.

Tallyia collaborates with senior, subject and literacy leads across her Trust to raise standards in English and instil a lifelong love of reading and literacy. Drawing on her bilingual upbringing, she champions language diversity and innovative approaches to literacy.

Graham works with key members of his Trust’s Executive team to develop and implement their secondary phase improvement strategy. He has a particular interest in developing strategies to support disadvantaged pupils.

Together with our host Berjees Tata, Education Advisor for MATs, they explore how their respective school Trusts are transforming student transitions from primary to secondary education by placing literacy and assessment at the heart of the process.

In our regular Data Spotlight feature, we explain how insights from the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) can be used alongside the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) to support students at transition.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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In our latest episode we join the dots on the growing issue of speech and language challenges among UK primary and secondary school children, highlighting key findings from our YouGov survey of over 1,000 teachers.

For our discussion, we're joined by Rachael Symons, Reading and Primary English Lead at Cabot Learning Federation. Her previous experience includes leading MFL in secondary schools and working across a range of primary schools.

Rachael currently supports literacy development in 35 schools within Cabot Learning Federation - advocating for every child's right to literacy and emphasising staff empowerment through professional development.

Also, sharing her "lightbulb moment" this episode is Susanne Humpage, Developing Local Provision Project Facilitator at the Eastwards Consortium of schools in Birmingham.

Read our Lost for Words report: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/lost-for-words/

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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In our first episode of 2025, we're joining the dots on the prevalent topic of inclusion and leadership. Our special guests for this discussion are David Bartram OBE, Director of Prescient Education, and Berna Bouwer, Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education.

David has been a SEND policy adviser to the Department for Education, adviser to the Mayor of London’s education team and Director of SEND at the London Leadership Strategy. He is also author of the SEND Review Guide, editor of 'Great Expectations: Leading an Effective SEND Strategy in School' and co-author of 'Beyond Boundaries: Leading Great SEND Provision Across a Trust'.

Berna worked in the UAE as a SENCo, Educational Psychologist, Head of Inclusion and Director of Inclusion, before working in the UK as a SENCo, Director of Inclusion and Head of Prep. She is now back in the UAE leading the inclusion strategy for GEMS Education.

Our regular Data Spotlight feature explains the Graduated Response Model, and Aisling O’Connor, Head of Inclusion at Swiss International School in Dubai, shares her advice for staff working with learners with additional needs.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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Welcome to another episode of 'Education: Joining the Dots', hosted by Ryan Hughes, Education Advisor. Our special guest for this episode is Becky St. John, a school assessment and performance data specialist who is passionate about helping schools and Multi-Academy Trusts use data effectively to improve outcomes. We join the dots on the value of standardised assessments and best practices for schools to use with data management for assessment.

Our Data Spotlight explains proximal and distal assessments, and Jessie Ricketts, Professor at the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London shares her "lightbulb moment" from schools’ use of these assessments.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast 

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In our first episode of the new academic year, we join the dots on the key topic of mathematics and hear from listeners sharing the challenges they're currently facing in school around the delivery of this core subject.

Our Data Spotlight explains our brand new assessment, the New Group Maths Test (NGMT). We discuss this and more with our Assessment Specialist for Numeracy & Mathematics, Andy Small, who previously spent nearly 16 years as a maths specialist teaching in both Primary and Independent Prep Schools.

Find out more about NGMT: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/assessments/products/new-group-maths-test/

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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In our final episode of this academic year, we're focusing on the important topic of staff wellbeing in schools - reflecting on the results of the UK TES School Wellbeing Report 2024.

We're joined for our discussion by two very special guests - Kathryn Wilson, Headteacher at Randwick CofE Primary School, and Jordan Connell, Teacher of Food Preparation, Nutrition and Design Technology from Hampton Gardens Secondary School. 

We also kick-off our brand new "Heard it in the staffroom" segment with contributions from several listeners, who share with us how they are planning to unwind over the summer holidays - plus the mottos they are taking forward into the new school year.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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Our special guest for this episode is Mr J Bishop, CEO of Cornerstone Academy Trust in Exeter - which currently has four schools within it's partnership. We join the dots on the key topic of attainment and discuss how their Trust has addressed the end of mandatory Key Stage 1 SATs testing in the UK. 

Our Data Spotlight focuses on the Progress Test Series, which measures attainment in English, maths and science. We also hear from Calum Whitfield, Teacher of Maths and Head of Academic Data at Haileybury College in Hertford, with their "lightbulb moment" from using the Progress Test in Maths with one of their struggling learners.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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In our latest episode we discuss the myths and assumptions on reading in schools. Our special guests are Richard Slade, Executive Headteacher, and Alicia Whytock, Head of School at Plumcroft Primary School in London.

Our regular Data Spotlight feature explains myON, a cross-curricular teaching and learning tool from Renaissance which helps students acquire the essential skills to become fluent readers.

We also hear from Louise Quinn, Director of Research School at North East Learning Trust, who shares their "lightbulb moment" from using data from the New Group Reading Test with the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4).

Access the findings of our exclusive ‘Turning the page’ UK survey, which polled over 600 primary and secondary teachers to discover their attitudes to teaching reading and the issues that might impede a successful reading strategy: https://reports.gl-assessment.co.uk/turning-the-page/

Discover more about myON: https://uk.renaissance.com/products/myon/

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

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In our latest episode we join the dots on the link between speech, language and communication needs, and wellbeing. For our discussion we’re joined by Katy Mullin, a Speech and Language Therapist at Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust, and Nicky Martin, a Senior Inclusion Consultant at North Star Inclusion Advisory Team, Walsall.

Our regular Data Spotlight feature focusses on WellComm, our speech and language toolkit. Also, sharing their "lightbulb moments" from their use of assessments this episode are Emily Humphrey, EMA Teaching & Learning Advisor at Rochdale Borough Council, and Marsha Davis, Head of Learning Support at St. Martin’s School, Northwood.

Found out more about WellComm Digital: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/go/wellcomm-digital 

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In our latest episode we're joining the dots on the development of standardised tests - providing an insight into the complexities of the process, why it might take longer than you think, and how important it is that schools take part in our trials. Our Head of Research, Bernadetta Brzyska, discusses this and more with our Assessment Project Manager, Thomas Hooley.

In our Data Spotlight feature we explain Standard Age Scores (SAS) - one of the most frequently used measures in our assessments. We also hear from Jonathan Bishop, CEO of Cornerstone Academy Trust in Exeter, who shares their "lightbulb moment" when using the Progress Tests in English, Maths and Science to track the progress of learners over time.

To sign up for our product trials, please email us at: [email protected]

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

Get in touch and send us your contributions: [email protected]

Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast 

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