On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by John Tomsett, former school leader and educational author, to talk about his latest two books, This Much I Know About Truly Great Primary/Secondary Teachers (and what we can learn from them). The episode is a celebration of teaching, which is messy, complex, and can't always be quantified. That being said, John has a list of nine principles of great teaching, and using those principles, as well as their combined years of experience, the three share stories of great teachers and teaching.

John Tomsett taught for 33 years in state schools and was a teaching headteacher for 18 years. Until August 2021 he led Huntington School in York, one of the first Research Schools in England. He writes a blog called "This Much I Know", and has written extensively about school leadership. He has published thirteen books including the 'Huh' series with Mary Myatt and 'Leadership 55' with Haringey Education Partnership. You can find his latest books as well as his blogs at his website: https://www.johntomsett.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 Patrick Cozier, long-serving headteacher of Highgate Wood School in Haringey, London and author of the forthcoming book Calm Leadership. Patrick shares insights from nearly two decades in headship, and the conversation explores the tension between personal identity and professional responsibility, the evolving role of school leaders in their communities, and why representation matters. Patrick introduces the “CALM” framework - Confront, Adapt, Lead, Mature - designed to help leaders develop perspective, build resilience, and lead with confidence and humanity. He discusses how embracing vulnerability, seeking support, and accepting complexity have shaped his approach to leadership over time. “You can be confident about the things that you're good at,” Patrick says, “but you have to always know that you're still learning.”

Patrick Cozier is a successful and experienced secondary school leader. He has been a Headteacher of a large comprehensive school for 19 years. He is also the chair of the Haringey Secondary Heads Forum. Patrick sits on the Racial Equity Steering Committee as part of Haringey Education Partnership and leads the HEP Racial Equity Conferences. In addition to being a Co-Vice Chair of trustees at Show Racism the Red Card, he also serves as a trustee of Horizons, which is the charitable arm of the Haringey Education Partnership. As a member of the black community he is passionate about seeking equality, justice and fair outcomes for people of colour. His upcoming book Calm Leadership will be released in October 2025. You can find more about Patrick on https://uk.linkedin.com/in/patrickcozier-calmleadership

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

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Bruce Robertson, Scottish school leader and author of The Teaching Delusion series. Bruce shares his path from chemistry teacher to system leader, and what led him to write a trilogy of books on improving teaching in schools. Together, they explore the gulf between intention and implementation in school improvement, the dangers of gimmick-led practice, and the STAR framework. Bruce argues that genuine school improvement comes from a culture of deliberate, collective, and well-informed effort. The conversation covers everything from professional learning and teacher confidence to behaviour, consistency, and the power of a shared language around teaching.

Bruce Robertson is the director of Next Level Educational, which focuses on high-quality professional development for teachers and school leaders. His best-selling and acclaimed books include The Teaching Delusion trilogy, Power Up Your Pedagogy, and Power Up Your Questioning. Bruce led Berwickshire High School as Headteacher from 2020 to 2024. Find out more about Bruce and his work at https://www.nextleveleducational.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 produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

We've reached the 100th episode of Mind the Gap! In this special anniversary episode, Tom and Emma look back at five years of making the podcast, reminiscing about interviews with a multitude of guests. They also talk about what they're doing now and where the podcast is headed next.

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.

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Bronwyn Ryrie Jones, teacher educator, instructional coach, and creator of The Playbook Project. Bronwyn shares her journey from music teacher to one of Australia’s leading voices on instructional practice, reflecting on what it really takes to support effective teaching in context. Together, they explore the power and pitfalls of codifying teaching techniques—what works, when, and why—and why it’s not about rigid scripts but thoughtful adaptation. Bronwyn explains how her Playbook Project helps schools articulate the “big ideas” behind their practice, turning them into clear, shared routines that make sense for their settings. The conversation ranges from mini whiteboards and modelling to the emotional realities of coaching and the hard truth about participation: it doesn’t just happen—it has to be engineered.

Bron Ryrie Jones supports teachers and instructional leaders to develop their expertise. She has worked with over 20,000 teachers and leaders around Australia and abroad, and is a sought-after designer of professional improvement programs. Bron is a published author on teacher learning and has has designed and delivered large-scale bespoke professional development programs for varied organisations throughout Australia. Follow Bron on X ⁠@BronRyrieJones and find her website at https://bronwynryriejones.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 produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson is joined by journalist and author Jenny Anderson to discuss her acclaimed new book The Disengaged Teen—a powerful exploration of why so many young people are tuning out of school and what we can do about it. Drawing on extensive research, real-world stories, and her own experience as both a parent and reporter, Jenny introduces her framework of four learner modes—passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer—and explains how these shifting states shape young people's engagement. Together, Jon and Jenny delve into the mental health crisis, the limitations of hyper-achievement, and why motivation and agency matter more than ever in the age of AI. Jenny argues that school systems must evolve to reflect the world students are entering, without sacrificing depth or rigour. “How you feel about learning,” she says, “is inseparable from how well you learn.” This conversation is both a wake-up call and a hopeful invitation—for educators, parents, and policymakers alike—to reimagine what it means to truly engage today’s children and young people.

Jenny Anderson is an author and an award-winning journalist who spent over a decade at The New York Times before pioneering coverage on the science of learning at Quartz. She contributes to TIME, The New York Times and The Atlantic, among other publications. Most recently, she has written The Disengaged Teen, which you can find at https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/. You can find Jenny on LinkedIn here.

Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson are reunited with co-host Tom Sherrington, returning from an extended break with fresh insights, global experiences, and a surprising new passion: yoga. Together, they reflect on what’s changed—and what hasn’t—in education during Tom’s time away, diving into international comparisons, curriculum development, and the evolving culture around professional development. Tom shares what struck him on visits to schools around the world, and why he believes the UK remains a world leader in research-informed practice. The conversation zooms in and out, from cold calling and classroom talk routines to reimagining school leadership and restoring teacher autonomy. Emma and Jon also explore the growing tension between digital delivery and what Emma calls “analogue teaching”—real-time modelling, physical resources, and authentic interactions. “Modelling is the bridge,” Emma says, “between great curriculum content and what we know about how we learn.” In a rich and wide-ranging discussion, the trio call for a renewed focus on professionalism, collaboration, and the power of collective learning—reminding us all why great teaching still matters.

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.

Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Emma Turner is joined by Shareen Wilkinson, Executive Director of Education at LEO Academy Trust, and author of books for both children and teachers. Shareen shares insights from her new book, Disciplinary Literacy in Primary Schools, offering a fresh, practical lens on reading, writing, and speaking across the curriculum. Together, they explore what it really means for primary pupils to “write like historians” or “speak like scientists,” and why disciplinary literacy isn’t just a secondary school concern. Shareen explains how rich talk, purposeful writing, and deep subject knowledge can—and should—start in Early Years, and reflects on how flexible working and thoughtful use of edtech can empower teachers and support inclusion. From phonics to AI, this episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and practical strategies for educators leading literacy across the curriculum.

Shareen is Executive Director of Education and leads on curriculum, teaching and learning and assessment across the LEO academy schools, as well as overseeing the central education team. Shareen has been in education for over 20 years and has fulfilled a wide range of senior leadership roles, including being an LA Lead Primary Adviser, English adviser and is still an education consultant to several organisations. Her subject specialisms are English, assessment, teaching and learning, and leadership. Shareen is an established educational author, writer and editor and has written educational resources and books for Hodder Education, DK children’s books, Oxford University Press, Letts, Harper Collins and Teach Primary magazine. Follow her on X @ShareenAdvice

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.

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson is joined by educator, researcher, and author Neil Gilbride to explore the powerful concept of self-efficacy—and why it matters now more than ever in schools. Drawing from his new book, Neil delves into the psychological foundations of self-efficacy, its relationship to agency, and the practical ways it can transform classroom practice. He shares insights from his own diverse career, from play schemes to academia, and explains how educators can help pupils—and themselves—navigate complexity, build resilience, and believe in their capacity to succeed. Together, Jon and Neil discuss Bandura’s legacy, the critical importance of managing failure, and why effective modelling is about more than just showing how—it’s about lending belief. “If we’re not proactively thinking hard about using our capacity to share knowledge and ways of being and working,” Neil says, “then we're not using one of the most powerful weapons in our arsenal.” This episode offers a compelling and deeply human lens on what it means to teach, lead, and learn in today’s education landscape.

Dr Neil Gilbride CPSychol is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University of Worcester and Associate Dean at Ambition Institute, one of the largest professional development providers in England. He has amassed 20 years of experience working across education as an academic, practitioner and knowledge mobiliser. Neil’s research interweaves adult developmental psychology and complexity theory to better understand educational leadership and practitioner development. His most recent book is Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory in Action. Follow him on Bluesky @neilgilbride.bsky.social

Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Saeed Atcha MBE, social entrepreneur, charity leader, and former Social Mobility Commissioner. Saeed shares his remarkable journey from growing up in care to founding Youth Leads UK at just 15 years old, creating a platform to amplify young voices and drive social change. Together, they explore the power of purpose, the role of schools as community hubs, and how educators can foster social action and entrepreneurship in students. Saeed reflects on the impact of mentors, the importance of resilience, and why schools must provide stability, happiness, and opportunity for all children. He challenges educators to think beyond academic success and equip students with the life skills that AI can’t replace. “Everyone craves a purpose,” Saeed says. “If we give young people that, we change everything.” The conversation also delves into the shifting landscape of higher education, the rise of apprenticeships, and what schools can do to prepare students for an evolving world of work.

Saeed Atcha MBE is the founding chief executive of Youth Leads UK, a charity he established aged 15 and has supported more than 7,000 disadvantaged young Greater Mancunians access volunteering opportunities and skills development programmes. He was made a recipient of an MBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, 2019, the youngest recipient that year. Saeed is a trustee of both youth employment charity Generation: You Employed, UK, and social mobility charity Migrant Leaders, a Non-Executive Director at social housing group Bolton at Home, an Associate Non-Executive Director at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, an Advisory Council Member to the Care Tech Foundation and Vice-Chair of Governors at his former secondary school, Ladybridge High School in Bolton. Saeed also serves as Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. Follow him on X @saeedatcha

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.

Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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