In this episode we focus on the crucial role middle leaders play in school improvement. We hear from a panel of middle leaders who reflect on what they most enjoy about their role, the challenges they face and what advice they would offer to others. We also have an interview with a leading thinker on school leadership, Andy Buck, who offers his advice on how middle leaders can make a real difference in their schools.

This month’s podcast is a maths special. We’ll get to grips with big ideas such as mastery and fluency, and also discuss the government’s proposed times tables checks for primary-aged pupils.

There's also a look at your obligations to data protection, how that's changing and the best way to stay compliant.

Professor Mike Askew is our special guest Mike has worked in education for almost 40 years. He has taught at all levels, including teacher professional development, and led research projects throughout the world. He has written numerous books and articles on the subject of maths teaching. Edge director James Bowen chats with Mike.

Nicky Morgan was the secretary of state for education up until July of last year. In this episode we ask her what it’s really like to be the minister in charge of education, what she feels was her most significant achievement and whether she has any regrets about her time in office. We also hear from James Toop, the CEO of education charity ‘Ambition School Leadership’ about how they are supporting leadership development in schools.

Hello and Happy New Year. Welcome to the latest school leadership podcast brought to you by NAHT Edge and NAHT.

In this first episode of 2017 we find out more about Comparative Judgement, an alternative way of assessing pupils’ writing and ask whether it could form part of a long-term solution when it comes to primary assessment.

We also have an Early Years update for you from the NAHT team with some positive news on funding.

Amanda Spielman succeeded Sir Michael Wilshaw as Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector at the start of the year. Prior to becoming the new Ofsted chief, Amanda was chair of Ofqual and she was also a founding member of the leadership team at Ark Schools.

NAHT Edge director, James Bowen, met with Amanda at the Ofsted Headquarters in central London.

It's a very Merry Christmas from us here at NAHT and NAHT Edge, we're joined by Lewis Iwu, Director of the Fair Education Alliance. Lewis tells James Bowen about work being done to address the achievement gap and the role of character education in schools.

NAHT Policy Adviser Sarah Hannafin picks over the impact being felt by Progress 8 and Ebacc.

You'll also hear some great news about our collaboration with Focus Education and get a chance to book on some fine courses for middle leaders.

Join all that up with details on our assessment in practice course and you have the trailblazing Leadership Podcast.

James Bowen hears from author, former Head teacher and Ofsted inspector Pie to get his views on the current English primary curriculum. Find out what he would do if he were Secretary of State for Education. Pie is one of the leading experts in the field of English and there's some superb insight in this month's podcast.

Also, the roundtable discussion picks over our current assessment campaign with NAHT Edge Director James Bowen, NAHT General Secretary Russell Hobby and Director of Representation and Advice Paul Whiteman.

You'll get the latest news on our next conference for aspiring Heads in both London and Manchester and details on how to join either NAHT or NAHT Edge.

James Bowen, Director of NAHT Edge helps to launch this brand new, sector - leading podcast with an exclusive chat with the newly appointed CEO of the Chartered College of Teaching. Alison speaks candidly about what motivates her, the events in the past that helped to shape her opinions and the future direction of the college.

Russell Hobby, General Secretary of the NAHT and Valentine Mulholland, Head of Policy pick over the proposals for grammar schools in our regular roundtable discussion and there's news of our next conference on special schools, specialist and alternative provision conference.