On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington is joined by Dr Simon Breakspear - educational researcher, author, and system leader based in Australia - for a wide-ranging conversation about how improvement actually happens at scale. Together they explore Simon’s distinctive role working across classrooms, schools, networks, and entire systems, and why sustainable change depends less on policy mandates and more on relationships, trust, and practical tools that respect teachers’ limited bandwidth. The discussion digs into two of Simon’s best-known ideas: pruning - a disciplined approach to strategic subtraction that tackles overload and “additivitis” - and Teaching Sprints, a short-cycle, evidence-informed model for collective professional learning that prioritises deliberate practice over sprawling initiatives. Moving fluidly between the macro view of systems and the micro detail of meetings, habits, and classroom routines, this episode offers a clear-eyed account of how leaders can reduce noise, focus effort, and create the conditions for meaningful, long-term improvement.

Dr Simon Breakspear is a researcher, advisor and speaker on educational leadership, policy and change. Simon develops frameworks and tools that make evidence-based ideas actionable and easy to understand. Over the last decade his capability building work has given him the opportunity to work with over 100,000 educators across more than 10 countries. Simon is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at UNSW. He serves as an advisor to the NSW Department of Education and sits on an expert steering committee for the Australia Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). Simon received his BPsych (Hons) from UNSW, his MSc in Comparative and International Education from the University of Oxford and his PhD in Education from the University of Cambridge. Simon began his work in education as a high school teacher.

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/⁠

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Bennie Kara - former teacher, consultant, and author of Nuthall’s Hidden Lives of Learners in Action - to explore what learning really looks like beneath the surface of the classroom. Drawing on Graham Nuthall’s seminal research, Bennie unpacks the idea of the three worlds of the classroom (the public, social, and private worlds of learning) and explains why observation alone can never tell us what pupils have actually learned. The conversation ranges across deep listening, talk and oracy, prior knowledge and experience, misconceptions, and the limits of short lesson drop-ins, with practical reflections on how teachers can better surface pupils’ thinking without being overwhelmed by workload. Bennie also connects Nuthall’s insights to contemporary debates around curriculum design, inclusion, equity, and long-term memory, arguing that learning is shaped as much by peer interaction and prior experience as by what teachers plan and deliver. It’s a thoughtful, challenging episode that invites leaders and teachers alike to rethink what counts as evidence of learning - and where to look for it. 

Bennie Kara started her career as an English teacher in the inaugural cohort of Teach First in 2003. After 20 years' experience in education as a teacher and former deputy headteacher specialising in teaching, learning and the curriculum, she now works as a leadership coach in schools as a speaker and trainer on topics such as DEI, teaching and learning, and effective curriculum construction. She is the author of three books focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion in education. Graham Nuthall's work and research, as recorded in The Hidden Lives of Learners, sits in the intersection of her interests. She is particularly interested in the way he explores the social construct of the classroom, as well as the ways in which identity, experience and interest play into long term learning and memory. She strongly believes that effective pedagogy is rooted in the needs of students and is informed by research. You can order here new book here: https://www.hachettelearning.com/teaching-strategies/nuthall-s-hidden-lives-of-learners-in-action

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/⁠

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Jude Arkwright, headteacher of St Michael’s CE, Aldbourne, to explore how a strong culture of professional trust, research-informed practice, and professional development can transform teaching and learning. Jude shares how long-term staff stability and coaching triplets have created a school where teachers openly examine the smallest instructional details in real time, and where feedback is immediate, supportive and precise. The conversation then turns to St Michael’s much-admired approach to continuous provision through to the end of Year 2, unpacking what high-quality, well-planned play looks like in practice, how it builds knowledge and self-regulation, and why it is anything but low-rigour. Packed with concrete examples - from tutor tables and small-group teaching to deliberately designed environments and routines - this episode offers a compelling picture of how alignment between curriculum, pedagogy and culture can create calm, purposeful classrooms where children and adults thrive.

Jude Arkwright is Headteacher of St Michael's CE Aldbourne. She leads the school's successful Year One and Year Two continuous provision. Here is the way it is described: Research and our school experience tells us that young children learn best through play and exploration, this is why we have built on the excellent practice found in Reception. We have found our approach gives the children time to think and explore, in a culture, which supports both the adults and the children. We have seen close relationships build, a strong sense of well-being as well as greater levels of enthusiasm for learning by adults and children alike. The curriculum is exciting, creative and dynamic enabling skills and knowledge to be applied so that children can purposefully build on what has already been learnt as well as identifying what the children need to learn next to ensure they are all successful learners. Find out more about St Michael's at https://www.stmichaelsaldbourne.co.uk/

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/⁠

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Ann Palmer - educator, leadership coach, and founder of Figtree International - for a rich conversation spanning diversity, leadership, and the future of AI in education. Drawing on over 35 years of experience as a headteacher, Ofsted inspector, and international trainer, Ann shares how her work now centres on helping leaders grow into their roles, embedding sustainable approaches to diversity and inclusion through initiatives like the RACE Charter Mark, and exploring how technology can empower rather than replace teachers. Together they discuss why diversity work must move beyond tokenism, what great coaching looks like for school leaders, and how AI can enhance strategic thinking without eroding it. It’s a conversation about courage, consciousness, and change - rooted in Ann’s belief that education leadership should always be personal, purposeful, and impactful.

Ann Palmer FCCT has over 35 years of experience working in education, and has partnered with schools across the UK and internationally. She is the founder of the RACE Charter Mark which is an award recognising effective race equality strategies. She’s a qualified Executive Coach and Team Coach, and is often described as “a leader who leads with flair and vision” and is described as “inspirational”. Ann is a MAT Trustee, School Governor, Charity Trustee and Business Advisor, and she is the founder and CEO of Fig Tree International. She is also a published author, a podcaster and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2010 and given royal recognition in 2022.

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Catherine Priggs and Hugh Richards, co-authors of Secondary History in Action, to dig into what great history curriculum and leadership look like in practice. They discuss starting with a clear departmental vision, making brave choices about what to include (and exclude), and balancing school context with disciplinary integrity. Along the way they unpack ideas like core and hinterland knowledge, Richard Kennett’s museum curation analogy, and why non-specialist teaching makes a rich hinterland even more vital. Catherine shares insights from international curriculum work, while Hugh reflects on training hundreds of subject leaders and the realities of mandated trust curricula. The conversation also tackles assessment, examining extended writing in history as well as the kinds of tasks to avoid - before showcasing how scholarship-anchored enquiries can make the discipline sing. The book’s design contains QR-linked routes into Historical Association resources, offering a practical portal for teachers who want exemplification, not just principles. It’s an energising, example-rich tour of how to build ambitious, coherent history curricula that pupils remember and love.

Catherine Priggs is an education consultant who specialises in history education and whole-school leadership. She has worked as a senior leader in two schools and as director of a teaching school. Catherine has mentored for various ITT providers, led the history programme for a SCITT, and led and supported departments as a subject leader. She has contributed to Teaching History, and authors and edits history textbooks. She presents at conferences, delivers CPD for a range of providers, and works with major UK-based and international exam boards. Catherine is a member of the Historical Association's Secondary Committee.

Hugh Richards is head of history at an 11-18 comprehensive secondary school in York. He has a decade of experience in this role, working with a team of specialist teachers on curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. He is an honorary fellow of the Historical Association and has led many workshops, webinars and CPD programmes. He has guest lectured as part of the University of York PGCE programme. He has authored chapters and sections of various books about education and history teaching, as well as textbook chapters. Hugh has worked as a consultant with schools, academy trusts and local authorities across England. Hugh and the other authors are part of the team that established and leads the Historical Association's Subject Leader Development Programme.

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Alun Francis OBE - Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College and Chair of the UK Social Mobility Commission - for a wide-ranging conversation about further education (FE), the importance of pedagogy in post-16 education, and what genuine upward mobility looks like in real communities. Alun traces the origins of his FE reform work (including the early “Teaching for Distinction” collaboration with Tom) and explains why knowledge, practice, and assessment must be tightly aligned across vocational programmes - from hair and beauty to motor vehicle and nautical training. He argues that inclusion is achieved first and foremost through everyday instructional design (“who remembers what, and who gets to think?”), and welcomes qualification reforms that prioritise retention and end-point assessment. The trio also unpack Alun’s place-based view of social mobility - valuing skilled work, health, family and belonging, not simply income - and his contextual stance on pastoral care: compassion matters, but the core job is great teaching that changes life chances.

Alun Francis OBE is the Chair of the Social Mobility Commission and Principal and Chief Executive of Blackpool and The Fylde College. Blackpool and the Fylde College is an award winning organisation and is one of the largest and highest performing further education colleges in the country. It is pioneering a new approach to Further Education and Higher Education delivery with Blackpool Council, called “Multiversity Blackpool” which sits at the heart of local regeneration plans. Alun has thirteen years of experience in further education, having previously led Oldham College. Prior to this he had a varied career which has included a range of public services, local government, area-based regeneration, youth work and education, including primary, secondary and higher education. He has a strong interest in the economics of what is now referred to as “levelling up” and sees FE colleges as making a strong contribution to addressing this challenge. He received an Order of the Order of the British Empire for service to education in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List.

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Mike Hobbiss - teacher, researcher, and author - to dive into the science of attention and what it means for everyday teaching. Mike shares what he uncovered during his PhD and subsequent research about attention in real classrooms (and that its main detractors are peers, mind-wandering, background noise, and phones) and why seating, routines, and explicit expectations matter. The trio unpack how to cue attention in space (gestures and precise directions) and in time (test expectancy and the “forward testing” effect), arguing that managing attention is a social-justice issue that can help level the playing field. They contrast primary and secondary contexts, debate rows vs. groups, and explore how teachers can use research without drowning in excess workload, but mostly, they just want you to pay attention! 

Mike spent 8 years teaching Psychology, both in the UK and abroad, before taking time out of the classroom to complete a PhD investigating attention and distraction in everyday environments, focusing especially on classrooms and other educational settings. He has published research on attention, distraction, memory and mood in educational settings, as well on teacher habit formation. Back in the classroom since 2020, he is currently Head of Psychology at a school in Lincolnshire. He is the author of How to Teach Psychology: An evidence-informed approach and you can find his blog at https://hobbolog.wordpress.com/

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington is joined by Meg Lee and Jim Heal, co-founders of Learning Science Partners, to explore how to make evidence-informed practice live and last at scale. Meg and Jim share why learning science should be a lens rather than an initiative, how they build common language across large, complex districts, and the three-phase approach they use to build, deepen, and sustain change. They discuss Maryland’s move to embed foundational learning science in statute, practical facilitation moves (from cognitive-load demos to “transparent facilitation”), and the idea of instructional equity - asking “who gets to think?” in every lesson.

Dr. Jim Heal is a leading advocate for bridging the worlds of research and practice in education.  His work seeks to develop expertise in evidence-informed instruction and leadership in K-12 schools, school districts, and higher education in the United States and Europe.  Dr. Heal was a high school English teacher and principal for ten years in the UK before moving to the US, where he became Director of Practice at Harvard’s Research Schools International initiative. He currently serves as Professor of Evidence-Informed Education Leadership at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, served as a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he earned his doctorate in educational leadership, and is author of How Teaching Happens: Seminal Works in Teaching and Teacher Effectiveness and What They Mean in Practice and Mental Models: How Understanding the Mind Can Transform the Way You Work and Learn.

Meg Lee is a forerunner in implementing evidence-informed practice in schools and districts. A public school educator in a variety of roles from teacher to professional learning specialist to school-based administrator to central executive leader for over 25 years, Meg directed induction and professional learning for a large, innovative public district that implemented evidence-informed practice and worked to ensure every educator understands how learning happens.  She serves as Core Teacher, Learning Science and Advisor, Professional Learning at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam, is the author of Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids (2nd ed.), and has taught education and psychology courses at the graduate level.

Find out more about both Jim and Meg's work at https://www.learningsciencepartners.com/

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by cognitive psychologist and bestselling author Professor Daniel Willingham to explore how insights from cognitive science can transform classroom practice. The conversation ranges from his influential book Why Don’t Students Like School? to the enduring truth that “memory is the residue of thought.” Together, they discuss the power of narrative in learning, the balance between shallow and deep knowledge, and why repetition and practice still matter. Dan also unpacks key ideas like encoding, cognitive load, and the role of manipulatives, offering practical advice for helping students think deeply and retain what they learn. The episode is a rich, thought-provoking exploration of how the mind works, critical thinking, and their implications for education.

Daniel Willingham is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he has taught since 1992. Until about 2000, his research focused solely on the brain basis of learning and memory. Today, all of his research concerns the application of cognitive psychology to K-16 education. He is the author of several books, including the best-selling Why Don't Students Like School?, and most recently, Outsmart Your Brain. His writing on education has appeared in twenty-three languages. ​In 2017 he was appointed by President Obama to serve as a Member of the National Board for Education Sciences. View his website at http://www.danielwillingham.com/

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Anna Stokke, mathematician, professor at the University of Winnipeg, and host of the Chalk and Talk podcast. Together they explore the so-called “math wars,” the persistence of flawed research claims, and the crucial role of strong foundations in mathematics education. Anna shares her advocacy work, from challenging myths about times tables and timed tests to championing explicit teaching, fluency, and teacher training. The conversation ranges from the importance of number facts and algorithms to the cultural acceptance of “I’m not good at maths,” making for a lively and passionate discussion about how to ensure more students experience success and enjoyment in mathematics.

Dr. Anna Stokke is mathematics professor at the University of Winnipeg. She is an active advocate for strong math education for Canadian children, who volunteers in many different capacities to help children improve their math skills. Anna runs a non-profit organization, Archimedes Math Schools, devoted to helping kids with math, and previously co-founded a math advocacy group, WISE Math. Additionally, she has given around 200 media interviews and written numerous articles on math education. Anna served as Chair of the Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Winnipeg, from 2017 to 2022. Find out more about Anna at https://www.annastokke.com/

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 X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠ and ⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/