School Shorts

Online Schools and Alpha Schools have had a massive spike in interest but who do they work for and is this a long-term disruptor in education?

In this episode, we explore the future of education with Penelope Barton, CEO of Crimson Global Education. Penelope shares what Crimson is working on in innovative models of schooling and whether it is more suited to catering for learners with different learning needs. Penelope Barton also looks at the role of AI in education and how she sees the relationship between education and technology working to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.

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How well do you remember what grammatical words like adverb, adjective, prepositions actually mean?

There is a lot of discussion in the education world at the moment about how much focus should be on teaching these word classes and instead focussing on whether a sentence instinctively feels right.

Some research suggests being able to circle an adverb or noun on a worksheet has zero impact on writing ability. Other educators say everyone should have a common understanding of formal language grammar so that teachers can say 'try adding an adjective here' and students would be more clear about what kind of word to add in.

Helen Walls aka The Writing Teacher looks at this debate in this episode of School Shorts. She has spoken in a previous episode about the importance of handwriting in the thinking process. This episode takes that discussion further to look at how to help children who are having challenges with writers including how to help older students still struggling.

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Look, I'll admit it, I don't know much about the assessment system when it gets to High School. I know you can do NCEA (with potential changes on the horizon) and some students also do Cambridge Exams, IGCSE's and A-Levels. I was among the last to do the Bursary assessment system and with kids still in primary school, I don't really know much about how this all works.

So consider this an explainer for those who might also have only a little knowledge about this. If you have a child that is in High School or will soon be, hopefully this gives you some idea of how this particular assessment works as we speak with Chris Wiggin from Cambridge International.

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Hamish Brewer throws out the rule book when it comes to what people expect a Principal to be. The tattooed skateboarding Principal from New Zealand now spends most of his time in the U.S where he is one of the most recognisable and disruptive voices in education.

Hamish has won national awards for transforming failing schools into 'high-performing', 'high-expectation communities'.

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Artificial intelligence is already in classrooms. Bex Rose from AI Surge shares what that actually looks like for teachers, students and learning.

Bex works directly with schools to help them understand how they can integrate and use AI to assist. She discusses what it means for ethics, safety and age appropriate use and common misconceptions about AI in education.

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Follow these top 10 school safety tips from Police Officer Constable Bryan Ward and empower your kids and students to have the confidence to navigate their day at school to the walk home.

If you grew up in New Zealand, Constable Bryan and his canine partner Bobby probably taught you everything you know about being a safe "kiwi kid." Today, he’s joining us on School Shorts to bring those timeless lessons into 2026.

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As countries around the world look to a structured approach to literacy to try and lift achievement results, what can educators learn from the experience in Mississippi, USA.

It went from having the second-worst reading statistics in 2013 to 9th in 2024. What was behind the rapid increase in achievement?

Kymyona Burk lead the change as State Literacy Director and reflects on what was done well and what might have been done differently.

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How to encourage risky play and why it matters. Gill Connell from Moving Smart explains the importance of allowing kids to step outside their comfort zones while maintaining a safe environment. Gill talks about how the language we use can either instil fear or encourage courage in children.

They discuss the power of the 'wonder word' and the "zone of uncertainty," where children can explore and learn from their experiences, and the role of parents as guides rather than barriers.

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Counting down the most popular activities on the Roam with Kids app with Renata Wiles. If you are looking for activities that appeal to the whole family, the most-viewed cafes and playgrounds for families and new ideas for the holidays then this episode has some tips for you. Renata aims to have these tips extend worldwide so stay tuned as Roam grows and she can update with more information from cities around the world.

Other than the family-friendly insights, Renata and Melissa also speak about tips for being able to say 'yes' to more spontaneous adventures and the current discussion about more shade for playgrounds.

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