In this episode, Iesha speaks with Natalie Perera - Executive Director and Head of Research at Education Policy Institute about school funding and the implications of National Funding Formula for schools.

In this episode, Iesha speaks with Natalie Perera – Executive Director and Head of Research at Education Policy Institute about school funding and the implications of National Funding Formula for schools.

In this episode Natalie and Iesha:

Explain Natalie’s role and what drew her to it

Examine why education is important to Natalie

Talk about Natalie’s background as a civil servant and how that experience has helped in her current role

Discuss the school funding landscape up until 2016

Explain the Dedicated Schools Grant and how it locked in some previous geographical inequalities

Respond to thoughts on why the previous coalition government and the current government felt under pressure from local authorities to introduce changes which eventually led to the National Funding Formula

Look at why the growing number of academies added to the pressure to reform school funding

Contemplate why London has traditionally seen higher per pupil funding than other regions

Discuss why it has taken the government so long to implement a National Funding Formula

Break down the National Funding Formula and what it means for different types of schools/pupils/areas

Talk about problems the National Funding Formula solves, creates, exacerbates and discuss potential solutions to these issues

Highlights if there may be areas the National Funding Formula has not addressed

Consider whether the conservative manifesto pledge “no school would lose as a result of the new formula”, holds true, and why 1000 headteachers who marched on Westminster in September don’t think it does

Delve into the EPI report’s conclusions about the impact of the National Funding Formula on deprivation

Detail why Croydon and Merton are the only London boroughs to gain from the National Funding Formula changes

List what actionable points Natalie would like people to take away from this discussion

Discuss the company name change from Centre Forum to EPI and what advice Natalie would give on name changes, knowing what she knows now

Geek out about the recent Cosmopolitan article quoting a report from EPI- how that came about and why it is important for think tanks to be covered outside of political and mainstream news media

Resources/people featured or mentioned:

EPI report – Implications of National Funding Formula for Schools

Cosmopolitan article on Black Mirror

Companies House Sensitive Words and Expressions

Headteacher Westminster March

Iesha Small

Natalie Perera

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Music credits:

‘Oui’ by Simon Mathewson and ‘Jump for joy’ by Scott Holmes both from http://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode, Sam and Iesha talk through three pieces of research that hold particular interest for them: Capturing the Voices of Children in the Education Health and Care Plans: Are We There Yet? (published April 2018) Olympia Palikara, Susana Castro, Carolina Gaona and Vasiliki Eirinaki (School of Education, University of Roehampton) Mental Health of...

In this episode, Sam and Iesha talk through the findings of our recent report for the Department for Education which looked at school cultures and practices that support the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. We discuss what we mean by ‘school culture’, how we can measure it, and the elements of culture that seem to stand out in schools where disadvantaged pupils do particularly well.

In this episode, Sam and Iesha continue their discussion about the early phases of conducting a research project. Their discussion focuses on research design, conducting a literature review and establishing research questions. They also talk about the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a research design, including choosing quantitative or qualitative methods and evaluate the benefits of both.

In this episode Iesha starts a two-part discussion with Dr Sam Baars, LKMco’s Director of Research, about the way that we conduct research at LKMco. Iesha and Sam discuss the importance of research ethics and data security as the ‘foundations’ of good research, before running through the main elements of a research project – design, conduct, analyse, report. They then discuss research design in more detail, and how decisions about research questions, research tools, ethics and resources are all interrelated.

In this episode Iesha talks to our very own Eleanor Bernardes from LKMco. Iesha and Eleanor discuss how networking can be perceived; how Eleanor has developed a strategic approach to developing networks; the value networking has in building professional relationships and what tactics may help people build wider and more valuable networks.

In this episode Sam talks to LKMco’s Bart Shaw about his recent research on mentoring (Forging Futures Through Mentoring). Sam and Bart discuss the research findings; mentoring’s popularity; the positives and risks associated with mentoring and key recommendations for mentors, mentoring programmes, schools and policy-makers.

In this episode Iesha talks to Emma Shepard from the Maternity Teacher/Paternity Teacher Project. Iesha and Emma discuss why Emma founded the project; how Emma felt shame as a working mother; men’s choices when they become parents; the impact of government policy on parents and why Emma thinks it is important to emphasise parents’ choice in regards to their careers. Iesha and Emma are also joined by a very special guest: Emma’s daughter Lucy.

In this episode Iesha talks to Emma Sheppard from the Maternity Teacher/Paternity Teacher Project. Iesha and Emma discuss why Emma founded the project; how Emma felt shame as a working mother; men’s choices when they become parents; the impact of government policy on parents and why Emma thinks it is important to emphasise parents’ choice in regards to their careers. Iesha and Emma are also joined by a very special guest: Emma’s daughter Lucy.

 

In this episode Iesha and Emma:

Explain the need for the MTPT project

Reflect on how parenting has helped Emma in the classroom

Reveal why Emma set up the MTPT project

Examine the negative impact of societal expectations for mothers

Highlight the MTPT project’s success so far

Respond to criticisms of the MTPT project

Explore gender stereotyping

Highlight how fathers’ choices are disabled by government policies

Examine school support for people going through IVF

Consider how schools should support women who have had miscarriages

Discuss how to make Saturday conferences accessible for parents

Chew over how parent teachers are treated in schools

Consider the relationship between parenthood and teacher retention

Reveal Emma’s thoughts about Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique

 

 

Resources/people featured or mentioned:

The Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher Project

Emma Sheppard: Founder of the MTPT Project

Show notes and links for this episode can be found here.

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Leave a review on iTunes

 

Contact us with feedback, questions or future suggestions

 

Music credits:

‘Oui’ by Simon Mathewson and ‘Jump for joy’ by Scott Holmes both from http://freemusicarchive.org