Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe

• Disengaged Children and How Schools Can Win Them Back with Jenny Anderson, Mind the Gap, Ep.98 (S5,E14)

  On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson is joined by journalist and author Jenny Anderson to discuss her acclaimed new book The Disengaged Teen—a powerful exploration of why so many young people are tuning out of school and what we can do about it. Drawing on extensive research, real-world stories, and her own experience as both a parent and reporter, Jenny introduces her framework of four learner modes—passenger, achiever, resistor, and explorer—and explains how these shifting states shape young people's engagement. Together, Jon and Jenny delve into the mental health crisis, the limitations of hyper-achievement, and why motivation and agency matter more than ever in the age of AI. Jenny argues that school systems must evolve to reflect the world students are entering, without sacrificing depth or rigour. “How you feel about learning,” she says, “is inseparable from how well you learn.” This conversation is both a wake-up call and a hopeful invitation—for educators, parents, and policymakers alike—to reimagine what it means to truly engage today’s children and young people.Jenny Anderson is an author and an award-winning journalist who spent over a decade at The New York Times before pioneering coverage on the science of learning at Quartz. She contributes to TIME, The New York Times and The Atlantic, among other publications. Most recently, she has written The Disengaged Teen, which you can find at https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/. You can find Jenny on LinkedIn here.Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

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• The Return of Tom with Emma and Jon, Mind the Gap, Ep.97 (S5,E13)

  On this episode of Mind the Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson are reunited with co-host Tom Sherrington, returning from an extended break with fresh insights, global experiences, and a surprising new passion: yoga. Together, they reflect on what’s changed—and what hasn’t—in education during Tom’s time away, diving into international comparisons, curriculum development, and the evolving culture around professional development. Tom shares what struck him on visits to schools around the world, and why he believes the UK remains a world leader in research-informed practice. The conversation zooms in and out, from cold calling and classroom talk routines to reimagining school leadership and restoring teacher autonomy. Emma and Jon also explore the growing tension between digital delivery and what Emma calls “analogue teaching”—real-time modelling, physical resources, and authentic interactions. “Modelling is the bridge,” Emma says, “between great curriculum content and what we know about how we learn.” In a rich and wide-ranging discussion, the trio call for a renewed focus on professionalism, collaboration, and the power of collective learning—reminding us all why great teaching still matters. Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠ Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

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• Disciplinary Literacy, PedTech, and Flexible Working with Shareen Wilkinson, Mind the Gap, Ep.96 (S5,E12)

  On this episode of Mind the Gap, Emma Turner is joined by Shareen Wilkinson, Executive Director of Education at LEO Academy Trust, and author of books for both children and teachers. Shareen shares insights from her new book, Disciplinary Literacy in Primary Schools, offering a fresh, practical lens on reading, writing, and speaking across the curriculum. Together, they explore what it really means for primary pupils to “write like historians” or “speak like scientists,” and why disciplinary literacy isn’t just a secondary school concern. Shareen explains how rich talk, purposeful writing, and deep subject knowledge can—and should—start in Early Years, and reflects on how flexible working and thoughtful use of edtech can empower teachers and support inclusion. From phonics to AI, this episode is packed with wisdom, warmth, and practical strategies for educators leading literacy across the curriculum.Shareen is Executive Director of Education and leads on curriculum, teaching and learning and assessment across the LEO academy schools, as well as overseeing the central education team. Shareen has been in education for over 20 years and has fulfilled a wide range of senior leadership roles, including being an LA Lead Primary Adviser, English adviser and is still an education consultant to several organisations. Her subject specialisms are English, assessment, teaching and learning, and leadership. Shareen is an established educational author, writer and editor and has written educational resources and books for Hodder Education, DK children’s books, Oxford University Press, Letts, Harper Collins and Teach Primary magazine. Follow her on X @ShareenAdviceEmma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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• Teaching for Agency: The Power of Self-Efficacy in the Classroom with Dr Neil Gilbride, Mind the Gap, Ep.95 (S5,E11)

  On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson is joined by educator, researcher, and author Neil Gilbride to explore the powerful concept of self-efficacy—and why it matters now more than ever in schools. Drawing from his new book, Neil delves into the psychological foundations of self-efficacy, its relationship to agency, and the practical ways it can transform classroom practice. He shares insights from his own diverse career, from play schemes to academia, and explains how educators can help pupils—and themselves—navigate complexity, build resilience, and believe in their capacity to succeed. Together, Jon and Neil discuss Bandura’s legacy, the critical importance of managing failure, and why effective modelling is about more than just showing how—it’s about lending belief. “If we’re not proactively thinking hard about using our capacity to share knowledge and ways of being and working,” Neil says, “then we're not using one of the most powerful weapons in our arsenal.” This episode offers a compelling and deeply human lens on what it means to teach, lead, and learn in today’s education landscape.Dr Neil Gilbride CPSychol is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University of Worcester and Associate Dean at Ambition Institute, one of the largest professional development providers in England. He has amassed 20 years of experience working across education as an academic, practitioner and knowledge mobiliser. Neil’s research interweaves adult developmental psychology and complexity theory to better understand educational leadership and practitioner development. His most recent book is Bandura's Self-Efficacy Theory in Action. Follow him on Bluesky @neilgilbride.bsky.socialJon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

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• From Care to Change: On Purpose, Power, and Social Action with Saaed Atcha, Mind the Gap, Ep.94 (S5,E10)

  On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Saeed Atcha MBE, social entrepreneur, charity leader, and former Social Mobility Commissioner. Saeed shares his remarkable journey from growing up in care to founding Youth Leads UK at just 15 years old, creating a platform to amplify young voices and drive social change. Together, they explore the power of purpose, the role of schools as community hubs, and how educators can foster social action and entrepreneurship in students. Saeed reflects on the impact of mentors, the importance of resilience, and why schools must provide stability, happiness, and opportunity for all children. He challenges educators to think beyond academic success and equip students with the life skills that AI can’t replace. “Everyone craves a purpose,” Saeed says. “If we give young people that, we change everything.” The conversation also delves into the shifting landscape of higher education, the rise of apprenticeships, and what schools can do to prepare students for an evolving world of work.Saeed Atcha MBE is the founding chief executive of Youth Leads UK, a charity he established aged 15 and has supported more than 7,000 disadvantaged young Greater Mancunians access volunteering opportunities and skills development programmes. He was made a recipient of an MBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List, 2019, the youngest recipient that year. Saeed is a trustee of both youth employment charity Generation: You Employed, UK, and social mobility charity Migrant Leaders, a Non-Executive Director at social housing group Bolton at Home, an Associate Non-Executive Director at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, an Advisory Council Member to the Care Tech Foundation and Vice-Chair of Governors at his former secondary school, Ladybridge High School in Bolton. Saeed also serves as Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. Follow him on X @saeedatchaEmma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Jon Hutchinson is a former assistant headteacher of Reach Academy Feltham and is now a Director at the Reach Foundation. He has taught across primary and secondary and HE. In his spare time, Jon runs ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.meno.acacdemy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, a platform with free videos to support primary teachers to build their subject knowledge. Follow Jon on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jon_hutchinson_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or Bluesky ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonhutchinson.bksy.social⁠⁠⁠⁠.This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

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