Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

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In Episode 235 of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we look back at three of the questions that really got me thinking in the first half of 2025. Covering themes from disciplinary literacy with Juli Ryzop, to supporting new literacy leads with Chris Such, all the way to the role of coaching in the school-improvement eco-system with Alex Gingell. It's extremely difficult to choose three questions from the hundred or so I have asked already this year but hopefully they can act as an opportunity for reflection as we all arrive at the end of the academic year.

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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For curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Support TDaPE: www.ko‑fi.com/tdape

In Episode 234 of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran Mackle is joined by Matthias Maurer to explore the teaching of Welsh as a second language in English-medium primary schools. Drawing on Matthias’s extensive classroom experience and expertise in language pedagogy, the conversation examines:

• The challenges and opportunities of teaching Welsh in non-Welsh-speaking contexts

• What effective second language instruction looks like at primary level

• How cultural identity and curriculum design intersect in language learning

• The implications for language policy and planning across the UK and beyond

Whether you're a classroom teacher, a curriculum leader, or simply curious about multilingualism in education, this episode offers thoughtful insights and practical takeaways.

📌 Subscribe, share, and join the conversation.

In Episode 233 of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran Mackle is joined by Jon Cripwell, Primary Maths National Education Lead at Twinkl and long-time collaborator with the NCETM. Together they explore Jon’s unconventional path into teaching, how struggling with maths led him to become a passionate advocate for the subject, and the vital role of empathy in subject leadership. The conversation offers powerful insights into supporting anxious teachers, fostering meaningful CPD, and sustaining curricular change across school contexts.

Listeners will gain:

• First-hand reflections on transforming maths anxiety into instructional strength

• Practical strategies for building confidence in colleagues reluctant to teach upper Key Stage 2 maths

• Lessons on sustaining professional growth beyond formal roles

Whether you're a school leader, maths lead, or CPD enthusiast, this episode offers a grounded look at what it really takes to lead meaningful, lasting change.

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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For curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or via [email protected]

Support TDaPE: www.ko‑fi.com/tdape

Episode 232: For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-tickets-1295761139449

For curriculum questions contact us ⁠here⁠ or via [email protected]

Support TDaPE: www.ko‑fi.com/tdape

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we’re joined by Pete Mattock, author of Visible Maths, Conceptual Maths, and Leading Maths. Together we explore what it really means to understand mathematics conceptually, what leaders need to know to support that understanding.

With nearly two decades in the classroom, involvement with the NCETM's first cohort of Mastery Specialists, and a deep commitment to making mathematics meaningful, Pete offers insights that bridge both primary and secondary contexts. We discuss planning, the importance of coherence, and what mathematics education might look like when clarity and purpose come first.

Whether you’re a new teacher, an experienced leader, or simply passionate about mathematics education, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Episode 231:

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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Contact us here or via [email protected]

In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, we explore the 2025 paper "Curriculum and Mathematical Coherence" , a thought-provoking critique of how early number is introduced in national curricula.

The paper argues that modern mathematics curricula (on a national level) lean too heavily on counting as the dominant conceptual foundation for number, often at the expense of coherence and conceptual progression. It draws a direct line from mid-20th century "New Math" reforms to today’s fragmented curriculum structures, raising questions about what we teach, how we sequence it, and what this means for the learners in front of us.

We discuss:

• Why “counting ≠ the whole story” when it comes to early number

• How and when coherence was lost, and what we can do to recover it

• The persistent tension between curriculum design and classroom practice

• What their analysis means for subject leaders

• Practical implications for primary teachers, maths leads, and those developing or critiquing maths schemes

Whether you’re a curriculum thinker, subject lead, or classroom teacher keen to understand the research shaping mathematics education, this episode offers critical reflection and concrete takeaways.

Episode 230:

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Stuart Welsh is joined by Sana Syed, an experienced Early Years educator and school leader, for a conversation that explores the journey from classroom practitioner to influential team leader.

With over a decade of experience, including more than ten years at NGS and a formative stint teaching seven-year-olds, Sana shares the pivotal moments that shaped her approach to teaching and leadership. We delve into what inspired her to step into leadership, the values that guide her practice, and the importance of creating a reflective, supportive school culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities to grow.

We also discuss:

• How school leaders can cultivate trust and collaboration within their teams

• The role of ongoing professional learning in sustaining motivation and joy

• Advice for emerging leaders ready to make a broader impact

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, a seasoned practitioner, or someone passionate about the Early Years, this episode offers rich insights into what it means to lead with purpose, curiosity, and care.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, or consider supporting the podcast via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. You can also join the conversation in our Discord community, where educators from around the world share ideas and questions.

Episode 229:

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

⁠⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠⁠

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In this instalment of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I welcome Rachel Ball and Alex Fairlamb back to the podcast to explore scaffolding in reading, writing and oracy. Drawing on insights from their forthcoming book The Scaffolding Effect: Supporting All Students to Succeed (Routledge, July 2025) Routledge, the conversation unpicks how purposeful, time-limited support can elevate both oracy and literacy. We delve into:

• why structured talk is the gateway to high-quality writing

• practical routines that fade, rather than fossilise, support

• aligning scaffolds with cognitive load theory and adaptive teaching

• avoiding common misconceptions such as over-prompts and dependency traps

• actionable takeaways that busy teachers can try on Monday morning

Whether you are refining sentence-level work or nurturing whole-class dialogue, this episode offers a research-informed blueprint for helping every pupil find their voice on the page and in the room.

Episode 228: Three Lessons Learned from Three Years in Deputy Headship

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the ⁠Hey! What You Reading For ⁠newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

⁠Click for tickets to TDaPE Conference Cymru ⁠

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In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Tom Oakley as he reflects on three years in deputy headship and the lessons that have shaped his thinking as a school leader.

Across the episode, Tom explores what it means to support teachers through sustained change, manage growth in a dynamic school environment, and address the real (rather than ideal) needs of a school community. From navigating an Ofsted inspection to leading a growing school through difficult data and complex transitions, Tom shares the leadership insights forged in the realities of everyday school life.

We discuss:

• The power of coaching in supporting teacher development

• Designing and implementing a Wellbeing Curriculum from the ground up

• Lessons learned about leadership, change management, and meeting context-specific challenges

• The gap between what leaders want to happen and what actually needs to happen

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, new to senior leadership, or supporting leaders within your school, this is an honest, reflective conversation that bridges theory and the lived experience of leadership in primary schools.

If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to leave a review, subscribe to the YouTube channel, or join the conversation on our Discord server.

Archive 011+2: In this archive edition of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, primary mathematics expert, Lisa Coe returns to share the lessons she learned by taking a break from the classroom to work for a company supporting schools and teachers with their mathematics professional development.

Whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned professional, this conversation offers a gateway into the kind of learning that can take place on an education sabbatical.

Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a rating and review to help fellow educators discover the show. We'd love to hear your thoughts—share your reflections wherever you listen.

#PrimaryEducation #EducationalResearch #TeacherDevelopment #EvidenceInformedPractice #EducationPodcast #ElementaryEducation

Episode 227: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by mathematics educator and doctoral researcher Will Mcloughlin to explore the complex and vital theme of conceptual understanding in mathematics education. Drawing on his teaching experience in the UAE and his academic research into how conceptual understanding develops, particularly through the use of animations, Will shares insights that challenge surface-level thinking and encourage educators to think more deeply about the knowledge their students are building.

We discuss:
– What conceptual understanding really means and why definitions matter
– How Will developed his own definition through doctoral research
– The challenges of developing conceptual understanding in the classroom
– The potential role of visual tools and animations in fostering deeper comprehension
– Practical implications for classroom teachers and curriculum designers

If you’ve ever wondered whether your students are truly making connections or simply memorising procedures, this episode will offer food for thought and practical guidance to support your professional thinking.

If you enjoy this episode, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts, or making a donation via www.ko-fi.com/tdape. You can also join our community on Discord, where conversations like this continue throughout the week.

For show notes, links, and a summary episode, sign up for the What You Reading For newsletter. Mondays at 7am BST - https://tdape.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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