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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Learn more about The Story of Maths - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview
Episode 261: What does your first year in headship really look like when you inherit a school in special measures, with an unstable leadership history, significant behaviour challenges, and the pressure of Ofsted hanging over every decision?
In this episode of Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, Kieran Mackle is joined by Olivia Dempsey to unpack the tension every new head feels: make an instant impact to establish credibility… while also building prudent, sustainable systems that last beyond year one.
Olivia shares what she prioritised first (and what she refused to rush), why behaviour became the lever that unlocked everything else, and how radical transparency—about the budget, the strategy, and the hard realities—helped rebuild trust with staff. She also speaks candidly about redundancies, the emotional toll of leadership, and why modern headship increasingly includes safeguarding, community support, and “whatever it takes” problem-solving.
You’ll hear practical insights on:
building staff trust through purposeful listening
balancing quick wins with long-term strategy
improving behaviour to protect teaching and learning
recruiting and rebuilding teams under pressure
leading in contexts of high vulnerability and poverty
why headship can’t be done well without community networks
If you’re a new headteacher, aspiring head, senior leader, or a teacher curious about school improvement in real conditions, this one will land.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Learn more about The Story of Maths - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview
Episode 260: In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah Carter, author of The Honest DSL, for a candid and thoughtful discussion about what the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead really involves beyond the statutory training and checklists.
We explore the emotional weight of the role, the cumulative impact of safeguarding work over time, and the professional isolation that many DSLs quietly carry. Hannah reflects on why honesty matters in safeguarding conversations, how hypervigilance can bleed into everyday practice, and why the role often has a shelf life that schools are reluctant to acknowledge.
This is not an episode about procedures or compliance. It is a conversation about responsibility, professional identity and what it means to hold safeguarding at the centre of school life while remaining human. Essential listening for DSLs, senior leaders and anyone who wants a more realistic understanding of the role.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Learn more about The Story of Maths - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview
Episode 258: What happens if you stop asking every teacher to plan in isolation, stop relying on heroic individuals, and build a genuinely shared planning system across an international school?
In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Lewis Sargent and Matthew Lee from Wales International School in the UAE to dig into the nuts and bolts of collaborative planning, PLCs and teacher workload.
Lewis and Matt describe how they have moved from uneven, individualised planning to a system where subject teams plan ten days ahead, quality assurance is built in, and every teacher has protected time to adapt high quality plans for their classes. They talk through what their professional learning communities actually do, how cross phase observation works in practice, and why everything they have put in place is grounded in theory rather than hunch.
Across the conversation they explore:
Why planning across the school was so variable when they arrived, and why they wanted a single planning vehicle everyone could use
How the new planning cycle works, including ten day lead time, subject leader checks and sharing plans with parents in advance
What their PLCs look like week to week, and why previous experiences of PLCs often left teachers cold
The concrete impact on teacher workload, confidence and the quality of lessons
The challenges and unintended consequences of system change, including staff turnover, curriculum reform and supporting weaker teachers
Their advice for leaders who want to ringfence collaborative planning time without breaking timetables or budgets
If you are thinking about centralised planning, shared schemes, or how to make professional learning less random and more coherent, this episode offers a detailed case study from a busy international school context.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Learn more about The Story of Maths - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview
Episode 258: Handwriting has quietly slipped into the shadows of reading and phonics, yet the new Writing Framework (July 2025) places it firmly back in view. It expects teachers to model good handwriting across the curriculum, not just in a weekly handwriting slot, and asks leaders to take responsibility for getting it right. But what does that actually look like in real classrooms, with real children and very real workload?
In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran is joined by handwriting specialist Nicky Parr to explore why handwriting still matters, how it connects to the new Writing Framework, and what schools can practically do for pupils who find writing physically and emotionally hard.
Drawing on her experience as a teacher, a parent of a neurodivergent child, and a consultant working in schools, Nicky unpicks the hidden complexity of handwriting. She explains why it is not a simple “neat or messy” issue, but a demanding motor and cognitive skill that draws heavily on attention, posture, paper position, pen hold and practice habits. Along the way, she tackles common assumptions, including the idea that typing has made handwriting obsolete, and the quiet shame many adults carry about their own handwriting.
Across the conversation they discuss:
How Nicky’s journey with her son’s coordination and attention needs led her into specialist handwriting work
Why so many children become reluctant writers because handwriting is painful, effortful or a source of embarrassment
What the 2025 Writing Framework actually says about modelling handwriting and leadership responsibility
The key things Nicky looks for when she walks into a classroom: pen grip, paper and book position, posture, use of lines and the children who are quietly hiding
Why we have “pitched handwriting and typing against each other” and what a more balanced, research-informed view looks like
How schools can build simple, sustainable routines that support handwriting without overwhelming staff
If you are a literacy lead, class teacher or school leader wondering how to respond to the new Writing Framework, or you have a nagging sense that handwriting is holding some pupils back from showing what they can do, this episode offers both reassurance and clear next steps.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Learn more about Heddle - https://www.heddle-eal.com/
Visit Heddle.link/TDAPE to go straight to the free Heddle community.
Episode 257: Supporting multilingual learners is never just about one intervention or one brilliant teacher. It lives or dies in the systems that sit behind every lesson, every admission and every decision a school makes.
In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Dr Robert Sharples to unpack the Heddle System, a whole school approach to English as an Additional Language (EAL) that ties together admissions, assessment, classroom practice and targeted support into one coherent framework.
Drawing on Rob’s work as an academic, author and co founder of Heddle, they explore what it really takes to build EAL provision that works for every multilingual learner, not just the ones who shout loudest for attention.
Across the conversation they dig into questions such as:
What are the expectations every teacher should meet for multilingual learners in their classroom?
How can schools design tiered EAL provision that does not leave the EAL team doing everything for everyone?
Where should you start if your current EAL offer is fragmented, informal or entirely dependent on one heroic colleague?
How can admissions, assessment and record keeping stop being a black hole and start becoming the engine of effective support?
What is a sensible, evidence informed stance on AI translation tools for students, staff and families?
If you are an EAL lead, SENCo, senior leader or classroom teacher who wants to move from well intentioned bolt ons to a joined up system for multilingual learners, this episode gives you a practical blueprint for what to focus on next.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 256: This week, I am delighted to launch a new #TDaPE series, Thinking Deeply about AI for Schools. Landing on the first Wednesday of each English school term, this format will see Neil Almond and James Radburn tackle the biggest questions facing schools about artificial intelligence in a period of constant change and pressure for the sector.
In this pilot edition, Neil and James turn their attention to Alpha School, the much-talked-about AI-powered private school. Is it a passing fad, or the first glimpse of a new era in education?
Listen in to find out what it might mean for schools like yours and join the conversation in the comments, wherever you are listening.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 255: In this standing-room-only live session, Kieran explores why learning to count is far more complex than simply reciting “one, two, three”. Drawing on classic work from Piaget and Gellman & Gallistel, alongside more recent research on subitising and early number, he unpacks the web of ideas that sit behind apparently simple counting routines.
Across the episode, Kieran traces a trajectory from basic discrimination of quantity and subitising, through one-to-one correspondence and stable order, into cardinality, abstraction and order irrelevance. Using concrete examples from classrooms, he shows how layout, structure and language can either support or derail learners as they move from “just saying numbers” to genuinely understanding number.
By the end of the episode, you will have a clearer sense of:
why some students can chant numbers yet still fail to conserve quantity
how subitising connects to later calculation and problem solving
what it really means to secure the principles of counting
what matters most for learners with the greatest needs
If you teach early number, lead mathematics, or design curriculum, this episode will help you see counting not as a quick hurdle in the early years, but as a rich domain that deserves your most skilled teaching.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 254: In this episode I am joined by Adam Kohlbeck and Chris Passey to talk about the messy, human reality of deputy headship and the work they are doing and their forthcoming book. We dig into why the move from classroom teacher to senior leader can feel like a shock to the system, what it means to hold decency and high standards together, and how deputies can build cultures where staff and students actually thrive rather than simply survive policy changes and external pressures.
Across the conversation we explore:
The origin story of why Adam and Chris wanted a more nuanced, less binary space to talk about leadership The mindset shift from “my class, my room” to “our school, our culture”. How deputy heads can lead through relationships without becoming everyone’s fixer or emotional sponge. The role of vulnerability, boundaries and “being yourself” in leadership, rather than performing a caricature of a deputy head. Working with tricky dynamics, including resistant headteachers and complex teams, without losing your sense of purpose. What they hope readers will take from their book, including the idea of deputy headship as a long, evolving craft rather than a short stop on the way to headship
If you are a deputy head, assistant head, aspiring leader or simply someone who cares about the culture of schools, this is a wide ranging, honest conversation about leadership, relationships and staying decent in the middle of it all.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 253: This conversation sits at the intersection of television, creativity and education. We look at Playtime as a cultural artefact that foregrounds neurodivergent voices and make psychological safety visible to a mainstream audience. Writer-director Céin McGillicuddy and editor-writer Andy Kinnear take us behind the scenes, sharing how small production choices invite bolder contributions. If you are curious about inclusion, student voice and the role of play in learning, you will find thoughtful parallels and fresh language to take back to your team. Not a how-to guide, but a thoughtful listen for anyone who enjoys ideas that travel.
neurodiversity in schools, psychologically safe classroom, student voice, inclusive teaching strategies, classroom culture, primary education CPD, improvisation in education, creativity in learning.
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
Tickets for Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics (Greater Manchester) - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alta-education-73676136923
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 252: In this episode, Stuart Welsh walks through a compact, morning-long cycle that helps teachers refine one element of practice through plan–teach–reflect–reteach loops with small groups. We unpack what to hold constant, what to vary on purpose, how to build psychological safety, and how schools timetable the model without derailing the week. We also touch on scaling from six students to a full class and why a termly cadence delivers real movement without overload.
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
Tickets for Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics (Coventry, Manchester) - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alta-education-73676136923
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 251: In this special highlights episode of Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, we pause to reflect on Term One—six conversations that challenged assumptions, deepened understanding, and reminded us why professional dialogue matters.
Each question featured here captures a moment of genuine inquiry: the kind that sits between classroom practice, research, and lived experience.
You’ll hear from:
• Adam Lowing on balancing assessment readiness with creative freedom
• Lucy Crehan on what the North of Ireland’s approach might teach its neighbours
• Doug Lemov on connecting fluency, comprehension, and the FASE approach
• John Jackson on defining and developing arithmetic fluency
• Andy McHugh on the purpose of Teacher Writers
• Amy How on whether mathematical talk reveals or constructs understanding
No summaries. No soundbites. Just the questions that sparked our most interesting conversations this term.
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
Tickets for Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics (Coventry, Manchester) - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alta-education-73676136923
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 250: In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Kirsten Fenton and Holly Drummond to explore the power of mathematical journaling — a classroom approach that helps students think, talk and write like mathematicians. Drawing on their experiences as teachers and researchers, Kirsten and Holly discuss how journaling can transform classroom culture, deepen conceptual understanding, and combat the maths anxiety that still shapes far too many learners’ experiences.
We unpack how journaling encourages metacognition and self-regulation, supports disciplinary literacy, and builds students’ mathematical identity by making thinking visible. From early mark-making and sentence stems to brain dumps and reflective entries, Kirsten and Holly show how this approach sits at the heart of instruction rather than existing as a bolt-on.
Whether you’re curious about talk, reflection, or building confident mathematicians, this conversation captures what happens when maths teaching moves beyond answers — and becomes about understanding, communication and joy.
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
Tickets for Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics (London, Coventry, Manchester) - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alta-education-73676136923
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 249: In this episode of Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, I’m joined by Amy How to explore one of the most powerful yet misunderstood elements of classroom practice: mathematical talk.
We discuss why talk sits at the centre of deep mathematical thinking and how it helps students construct, refine, and communicate their understanding. Amy shares her insights on the delicate balance between talk as a means of reasoning and talk as a window into students’ thinking, addressing the common worry that discussion can become superficial or time-consuming.
Together, we unpack what distinguishes high-quality mathematical talk from general classroom discussion, explore the conditions that allow students to share incomplete or tentative ideas safely, and identify practical strategies that teachers can use to prompt rich, purposeful dialogue.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make talk the engine of mathematical reasoning—without losing structure, pace, or inclusivity—this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to start tomorrow.
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
Tickets for Challenge and Depth in Primary Mathematics (London, Coventry, Manchester) - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/alta-education-73676136923
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 248: This week on Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, I’m joined by Andy McHugh, teacher, editor, writer, and founder of Teacher Writers, to explore the place of teacher voice in education, and how writing can serve as a form of professional development, influence, and impact.
We discuss Andy’s journey from leading an RE department to editing HMWRK Magazine and founding a publishing platform dedicated to amplifying teacher voices. Our conversation touches on the challenges teachers face when translating classroom expertise into writing, the skills and confidence required to make that leap, and the opportunities that open up when teachers engage in writing as professional practice.
Key themes include:
Why teachers should see writing as a legitimate form of professional development
The tension between accessibility and depth in educational publishing
The role of community in supporting new writers
How Teacher Writers is creating space for diverse teacher perspectives
As always, the goal is to make time and space for deep reflection on teaching, learning, and professional growth — and this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in broadening the scope of their professional influence.
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
For maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 247: This week Kieran is joined by Lloyd Williams Jones and Shannen Doherty to discuss the practicalities of Accessible by Default and what it means for their schools as we begin the academic year. We explore the bottlenecks in the current system that leave too many students dependent on downstream fixes, the importance of clarity in teacher talk and presentation, and why generic labels and interventions often miss the mark.
[Apologetic Disclaimer] This episode was recorded in-person during the summer break but the video didn't render properly and we lost the last 30 minutes while fixing it. Therefore it is exactly 4 weeks late and stops abruptly. It's still great though...
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 maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 246: This week Kieran is joined by John Jackson to get under the skin of McNeil, Jordan, Viegut and Ansari’s new paper "What the science of learning teaches us about arithmetic fluency".
The conversation tests common claims, separates principle from preference, and turns the paper’s recommendations into classroom moves that travel from early number through to secondary. Expect a forthright look at conceptual grounding, timed practice, retrieval, task design, and the perennial anxiety debate, with an eye on what school leaders should adopt, adapt, or abandon.
Social Media Links:
Doug
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglemov
· X: @Doug_Lemov ; https://x.com/doug_lemov?lang=en
· Blog: https://teachlikeachampion.org/blog/
Erica
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-woolway-44901130/
· X: https://x.com/ericawoolway?lang=en
Colleen
· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-driggs-09903559/
· X: https://x.com/colleendriggs?lang=en
TLAC guide to TSOR Links:
Buy the book: https://www.wiley.com/en-us/The+Teach+Like+a+Champion+Guide+to+the+Science+of+Reading%3A+Translating+Research+to+Reignite+Joy+and+Meaning+in+the+Classroom-p-9781394305995
Pilot the Reading Reconsidered Curriculum – available to purchase just one unit for £590 : https://teachlikeachampion.org/reading-reconsidered-curriculum/
Come to our workshops: https://teachlikeachampion.org/training/workshops/
Have us come lead training for you (in-person or remotely): https://share.hsforms.com/1w8SlL9vPRuq30hsy_6JUWgs3y4d?__hstc=65301169.251c3eb934a8f6dab79aeafc7cae4ab1.1727899617348.1757098518554.1757340098147.227&__hssc=65301169.2.1757340098147&__hsfp=3474073941
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 maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 245: This week on TDaPE, Kieran is joined by Doug Lemov, Colleen Driggs, Erica Woolway and Chris Such for an exploration of the "Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading."
They discuss, fluent reading as a gateway to understanding, how small, well chosen knowledge moves support demanding texts, lesson design that keeps eyes on the page and thinking on the author’s words, and much, much more...
When fluency, knowledge and text choice are aligned, comprehension accelerates, discussion deepens and planning gets lighter, lesson by lesson.
This episode is recommended listening for classroom teachers, literacy leads and senior leaders who want reading lessons that do more with less noise, and anyone reshaping curricula so students read harder texts with greater confidence.
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 maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 244: This week on Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, Kieran is joined by Lucy Crehan, author of Cleverlands and international education consultant. Together they explore the unique features of the curriculum in the north of Ireland, the historical and political context that shaped it, and the lessons it might hold for systems elsewhere. The conversation ranges from curriculum design and teacher autonomy to international comparisons, providing both depth and practical insights for teachers and leaders seeking to understand how education systems evolve. Whether you are interested in the north of Ireland specifically or in the broader question of what makes a curriculum effective, this episode will give you plenty to think about.
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 maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 243: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education Kieran is joined by Adam Lowing to unpack the DfE’s Writing Framework. They cut through the noise to clarify what it actually says, how to transition without chaos, and why sentence-level precision and transcription fluency strengthen, rather than stifle, imagination. Across implementation, assessment pressures and subject leadership, they share a balanced, practical path to building confident writers.
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 maths curriculum questions contact us here or via support@alta-education.com
Episode 242: What does it take to create classrooms where students feel safe, calm, and ready to learn every day? In this conversation, Liv Dempsey, Tom Oakley, and Charles Bankovitz join Kieran Mackle to explore the principles and practices that make behaviour systems effective and sustainable. They discuss why certainty matters more than severity, how to use language that de-escalates without lowering expectations, and the routines that prevent issues before they arise. The panel also unpick common misconceptions around trauma-informed approaches, the leadership decisions that reassure staff they will be backed, and the culture that reduces teacher stress. Packed with insights from research and lived experience, this episode is for anyone seeking behaviour approaches that work reliably in the day-to-day reality of primary classrooms.