Episode 221: Writing First, Assessment Second – A Conversation with Chris Youles

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Chris Youles for a timely conversation about writing assessment—why it often feels so difficult, how we’ve arrived at this point, and what we can do to realign assessment with the true purpose of teaching writing.

We explore:

• Why assessing writing has become disconnected from high-quality teaching.

• The unintended consequences of planning lessons around assessment strands.

• Whether great writing instruction makes formal assessment simpler—and what that looks like in practice.

• How schools can rebuild trust in teacher judgement and let go of overly complicated systems.

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by writing assessment or unsure how to make it more meaningful, this episode is packed with clarity, insight, and practical advice.

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. Join our Discord community to share your thoughts and explore unseen questions.

Episode 220:

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Alex Gingell to explore the power of whole-staff rehearsal in teacher development and coaching. Drawing on his personal experience of professional development, Alex outlines why this approach holds such promise for schools looking to build consistency, confidence, and expertise across their teams.

We discuss:

• Alex’s professional development journey and what inspired his focus on coaching.
• Why coaching has the potential to transform teacher development.
• Where whole-staff rehearsal fits into a wider professional development model.
• What schools need to know to implement it effectively.
• Common pitfalls to avoid and how to get the most out of the process.
• One key takeaway for listeners looking to make professional development truly impactful.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, senior leader, or someone interested in more effective CPD models, this episode is full of practical insights to strengthen professional learning.

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. Join our vibrant Discord community to share your thoughts and continue the conversation.

Check out Episode 4 of the Steplab Documentary

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From the Archives 009:

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Adam Smith shares his thoughts on the features of a high-quality religious education offering in schools.

Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen...

Episode 219: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Anna Hackett and I dive into what’s in store at the upcoming TDaPE Manchester Conference on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

We explore the talks, themes, and workshops that will bring together educators passionate about primary education, with practical insights to enhance teaching and learning. From mathematics to professional development, the conference promises a day packed with inspiration and actionable ideas.

💡 Join us in person for thought-provoking discussions, collaborative workshops, and a chance to connect with like-minded professionals.

📅 29th March 2025 | Old Trafford Community Academy | 8:30am–2:30pm

🎟️ ⁠Book you place here

All profits from the event will go to Crohn's and Colitis UK. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via ⁠Ko-fi⁠.

If you have any questions or comments, join our Discord server, where we have a special channel for unseen question submissions.

From the Archives 008:

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the way David Ausubel structures his hierarchy of concepts and what this means for teachers.

Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen...

TDaPE Manchester Tickets

Episode 218:

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Stuart Welsh is joined by Adam Lowing to explore sustained school improvement—what it takes to make meaningful changes that last. Drawing on extensive experience working with schools at different stages of their improvement journey, Adam shares insights into leadership, culture, and professional development.

We discuss:

• How leadership approaches evolve to support long-term school improvement.
• The critical role of school culture in driving change and ensuring continuity.
• Strategies for managing change and overcoming resistance in schools.
• How to identify and develop staff potential to create a culture of continuous learning.
• The key factors that determine whether school improvement efforts will last.
• The essential qualities school leaders need to drive and sustain improvement.

Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or someone interested in whole-school development, this episode offers practical insights into what really makes school improvement sustainable.

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. Join the conversation on our Discord server!

Unseen Question 003:

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a mathematics teaching across a school.

⁠TDaPE Mathematics Playlist⁠ (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes)

Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen...

Episode 217:

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute return to explore the next extract from their expert edit—this time, focusing on concreteness fading and its role in mathematics teaching.

We discuss:

• The relationship between procedural knowledge and conceptual understanding and how this influences mathematics instruction.
• The challenge of premature reliance on abstract symbols and how teachers can strike the right balance between concrete and abstract representations.
• The debate over concrete representations—do they make abstract ideas clearer, or do they hinder transfer to new contexts?
• Key implications for teacher professional development and how educators can implement concreteness fading effectively in the classroom.

Whether you’re a maths specialist, a primary educator, or a leader supporting professional development, this episode provides valuable research-backed insights to enhance mathematical understanding in your teaching.

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. Join the conversation on our Discord server!

Click here for tickets to TDaPE Manchester. 30 wonderful sessions about everything primary education.

Unseen Question 002:

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a consistent, research-informed approach to mathematics teaching.

TDaPE Mathematics Playlist (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes)

Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you listen...

Episode 216:

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Juli Ryzop and Elliot Morgan to explore disciplinary literacy—what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform learning across subjects. Understanding how literacy functions within different disciplines helps students access, engage with, and critically interpret subject-specific content.

We discuss:

• What disciplinary literacy is and why it’s essential in primary education.

• Practical strategies for embedding disciplinary literacy in our classrooms.
• The benefits of disciplinary literacy for student comprehension, engagement, and subject mastery.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, curriculum leader, or school leader, this episode offers valuable insights into helping students think, read, and write like subject experts.

If you enjoy this episode, please support us by subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. Join the conversation on our Discord server!

Click here for Juli's Disciplinary Literacy Folder!