A fresh new chapter: introducing Heads Unscripted: Education Uncovered
We are giving our podcast a refresh.
When we first started, our focus was clear. We invited senior school heads to talk about their schools, their ethos and what life might look like for pupils who joined them. Those conversations have been hugely valuable for many Hurlingham families and others who are exploring senior school options.
Over time, though, the conversations have started to widen. We have found ourselves talking less about individual prospectuses and more about leadership, philosophy and the bigger questions facing education today. What should school feel like for children growing up now. How do we lead with purpose in a time of pressure and change. What are the real challenges facing our sector and where might the answers come from.
It feels like the right moment for the podcast to evolve too.
Our series is now called Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered.
The new name reflects the direction we are already travelling in. Heads Unscripted keeps our focus on people who lead, think and influence in education, but it frees us from simply asking heads to talk about their own schools. Education uncovered signals our intention to get under the surface of the issues, ideas and stories that are shaping children’s lives in classrooms today.
You will still hear from senior school heads, but you will also hear from prep and primary leaders, researchers, psychologists, policymakers and others who care deeply about where education is heading. We want to unlock some of the challenges our sector is facing, explore what is working, and share those conversations with a wider audience than parents who are just at the senior school decision stage.
This is a refresh rather than a complete reboot. The tone will remain open, thoughtful and practical. What changes is the scope. Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered will give us room to explore leadership, wellbeing, curriculum, community, AI, adolescence and more, while keeping the experience of children at the heart of every episode.
Thank you for listening so far and for growing with us. We are excited about this next chapter and hope you will continue to join the conversation.
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A fresh new chapter: introducing Heads Unscripted: Education Uncovered
We are giving our podcast a refresh.
When we first started, our focus was clear. We invited senior school heads to talk about their schools, their ethos and what life might look like for pupils who joined them. Those conversations have been hugely valuable for many Hurlingham families and others who are exploring senior school options.
Over time, though, the conversations have started to widen. We have found ourselves talking less about individual prospectuses and more about leadership, philosophy and the bigger questions facing education today. What should school feel like for children growing up now. How do we lead with purpose in a time of pressure and change. What are the real challenges facing our sector and where might the answers come from.
It feels like the right moment for the podcast to evolve too.
Our series is now called Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered.
The new name reflects the direction we are already travelling in. Heads Unscripted keeps our focus on people who lead, think and influence in education, but it frees us from simply asking heads to talk about their own schools. Education uncovered signals our intention to get under the surface of the issues, ideas and stories that are shaping children’s lives in classrooms today.
You will still hear from senior school heads, but you will also hear from prep and primary leaders, researchers, psychologists, policymakers and others who care deeply about where education is heading. We want to unlock some of the challenges our sector is facing, explore what is working, and share those conversations with a wider audience than parents who are just at the senior school decision stage.
This is a refresh rather than a complete reboot. The tone will remain open, thoughtful and practical. What changes is the scope. Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered will give us room to explore leadership, wellbeing, curriculum, community, AI, adolescence and more, while keeping the experience of children at the heart of every episode.
Thank you for listening so far and for growing with us. We are excited about this next chapter and hope you will continue to join the conversation.
Series 2 - Episode 4 - A conversation with Emma Turner
Heads Unscripted
46 minutes 19 seconds
4 months ago
Series 2 - Episode 4 - A conversation with Emma Turner
Our guest today is Emma Turner, a highly respected voice in primary education, known for her deep expertise in curriculum design, teaching and learning, and school leadership. With almost 30 years’ experience in education, she has served as a class teacher, assistant head, deputy head, and co-head. She is a leading advocate for using cognitive science to inform curriculum and pedagogy, and is the author of several influential books including Simplicitus and Be More Toddler. Emma is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, co-hosts the Mind the Gap podcast and is a contributor to the Excellence Hub, a research-based initiative focused on helping schools create high-quality, interconnected curricula that support long-term learning and pupil wellbeing.
In this episode, Emma and Simon discuss the powerful role of early education in shaping how children learn, think, and grow. The conversation draws on cognitive science to highlight how self-efficacy, agency, and independence are best fostered in early childhood. They also reflect on the role of cultural capital, the risks of premature formalisation in primary education, and the vital role of parents in nurturing creativity, language, and confidence at home.
Heads Unscripted
A fresh new chapter: introducing Heads Unscripted: Education Uncovered
We are giving our podcast a refresh.
When we first started, our focus was clear. We invited senior school heads to talk about their schools, their ethos and what life might look like for pupils who joined them. Those conversations have been hugely valuable for many Hurlingham families and others who are exploring senior school options.
Over time, though, the conversations have started to widen. We have found ourselves talking less about individual prospectuses and more about leadership, philosophy and the bigger questions facing education today. What should school feel like for children growing up now. How do we lead with purpose in a time of pressure and change. What are the real challenges facing our sector and where might the answers come from.
It feels like the right moment for the podcast to evolve too.
Our series is now called Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered.
The new name reflects the direction we are already travelling in. Heads Unscripted keeps our focus on people who lead, think and influence in education, but it frees us from simply asking heads to talk about their own schools. Education uncovered signals our intention to get under the surface of the issues, ideas and stories that are shaping children’s lives in classrooms today.
You will still hear from senior school heads, but you will also hear from prep and primary leaders, researchers, psychologists, policymakers and others who care deeply about where education is heading. We want to unlock some of the challenges our sector is facing, explore what is working, and share those conversations with a wider audience than parents who are just at the senior school decision stage.
This is a refresh rather than a complete reboot. The tone will remain open, thoughtful and practical. What changes is the scope. Heads Unscripted: Education uncovered will give us room to explore leadership, wellbeing, curriculum, community, AI, adolescence and more, while keeping the experience of children at the heart of every episode.
Thank you for listening so far and for growing with us. We are excited about this next chapter and hope you will continue to join the conversation.
