On this episode of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by David Didau, known in the education blogosphere as The Learning Spy. David shares his journey in education, discussing his transition from teaching to becoming a prominent voice in education and research, and then back to teaching. The conversation explores key topics such as the role of cognitive science in teaching, the importance of evidence-based practices, and the challenges of implementing these practices in schools. David offers insights into different perspectives on curriculum, the significance of metacognition, and the impact of school culture on student outcomes. He also delves into the intricacies of curriculum design and the importance of preserving the institutional memory and wisdom of experienced teachers.

David Didau is Senior Lead Practitioner for English at Ormiston Academies Trust. His blog, The Learning Spy, has had over a million visitors and won a number of awards. Didau writes about ordinary teachers' constraints and irritations, exploring his own successes and failures from his years of teaching, as well as the latest education research and cognitive psychology. He has also written four books exploring different aspects of teaching and learning through cognitive science. His most recent book is titled: Bringing the English Curriculum to Life: A Field Guide for Making Meaning in English. Follow David on Twitter @DavidDidau

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/