Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson are joined by Liz Pemberton, renowned as "The Black Nursery Manager" and a transformative voice in early years education. Liz reflects on her journey from managing family-run nurseries to establishing her anti-racist training and consultancy company. She delves into the significance of cultural safety, psychological safety, and her pioneering "Four Es" framework for embedding anti-racist practices in educational settings. Together, they explore how educators can foster belonging, challenge racial biases, and create joyful, inclusive spaces for all children. Liz also discusses her experiences navigating societal resistance, tackling "culture wars," and the importance of professional love in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This thought-provoking conversation emphasizes the power of intentional practice, collective action, and unlearning in shaping equitable early education. Liz Pemberton is an award-winning educator, trainer, and advocate for anti-racist practice in Early Years education. She managed a Birmingham-based nursery that became a community hub, emphasizing anti-racist pedagogy and belonging through her "Four Es" framework. A qualified secondary teacher and lecturer with a Master’s in Early Childhood Studies, Liz has influenced countless educators, parents, and policymakers through her training, writing, and social media presence. Recognized for her contributions, Liz’s accolades include being named one of Serendipity Institute’s 100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark and winning multiple awards for her commitment to equity and education. Check out her website https://www.theblacknurserymanager.com/ 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/

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Leora Cruddas, CEO of the Confederation of School Trusts. Leora shares her journey from teaching in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a leading voice in educational policy and academy trust leadership. Together, they explore the evolution of academy trusts, the importance of stable leadership, and the challenges of teacher recruitment and retention. Leora highlights the role of trusts as civic anchors, emphasizing their capacity to foster collaboration and serve as pillars of community well-being. She says, "The point at which we start making decisions on behalf of our children from the vested interests of adults is the point that our education system will start to fail." Reflecting on her role, Leora underscores the need for educational leaders to balance stability with innovation, as well as the need for trust leaders to tell adopt a narrative around trusts that focuses on the moral purpose of education. The discussion concludes with a compelling vision for the future of education: building systems that prioritize public trust, equity, and human flourishing. Leora Cruddas is the founding Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts – the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. She has advised successive governments and sits on several Department for Education advisory bodies. She was recently the vice chair of the Head Teacher Standards Review Group, a member of the external advisory group for the Schools White Paper, SEND National Implementation Board and the Regulatory and Commissioning Review. Prior to founding CST, she was Director of Policy and Public Relations for the Association of School and College Leaders. Leora has six years of experience as a director of education in two London local authorities. She is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education, and was made a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours. Follow her on X @LeoraCruddas. 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/

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner welcome Aziza Ajak, an influential voice in education leadership and curriculum development. Aziza shares her journey from classroom teacher to vice principal, offering insights into her impactful work on curriculum coherence and systemic equity. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of bridging primary and secondary education, especially in all-through schools, emphasizing the need for unified leadership and consistent curricular goals. Aziza also discusses her initiatives to improve diversity in educational leadership, notably through her involvement with Mission 44 and as co-founder of 100 Black Headteachers. Reflecting on the complexities of representation and structural barriers, Aziza underscores the importance of mentorship and strategic professional development. This conversation provides an in-depth look at how purposeful collaboration and courageous decision-making can shape equitable and inclusive school environments. Aziza Ajak is currently Vice Principal at Future Academies. She was part of the founding leadership team of a new school and has helped to establish the school as one of the best in the borough. Aziza’s recent voluntary experience includes being a trustee on the Teach First Board. Aziza also currently serves as a trustee for Mission 44 and co-founded 100 Black Headteachers. You can find out more about her and her work on her LinkedIn or follow her on X @missaaja 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 Aziza has published three blog posts reflecting on the topics covered in this podcast. You can view them here: https://venturingintoschoolleadership.wordpress.com/2024/10/27/fragile-ambition-part-1/ https://venturingintoschoolleadership.wordpress.com/2024/10/30/fragile-ambition-part-2/ https://venturingintoschoolleadership.wordpress.com/2024/11/03/the-trust-to-school-relationship/ This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/

On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner welcomes Emma Sheppard, founder of the Maternity Teacher Paternity Teacher (MTPT) Project. Together, they explore Sheppard's journey in founding the project, starting with her own experiences of motherhood and her passion for maintaining her professional identity as a teacher. The conversation dives into the challenges working parents face in balancing their professional and parental roles, with a specific focus on the motherhood penalty in education. Sheppard discusses how her organisation provides coaching and community support to educators navigating parenthood while advocating for systemic change to better support parents in the workforce. The Emmas touch on key issues like gender equity, leadership roles, and flexible working arrangements, and emphasises the importance of empowering teachers to thrive both personally and professionally. Emma Sheppard is the Founder of The MTPT Project, the UK’s charity for parent-teachers. A former English Teacher and Lead Practitioner, she spent twelve years teaching and leading ITT provision in schools in Hertfordshire, South London and Vietnam. She completed her Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching with The Coaching Academy in 2022 and secured her ICF ACC in 2023. Emma has held various positions of responsibility, including pastoral and curriculum roles. She has acted as line manager for the school librarian and EAL department, delivered teaching and learning training on foci including memory, homework and curriculum updates, and has years of experience as professional co-ordinating mentor for Schools Direct, Teach First and PGCE trainee pathways. Find out more about Emma and MTPT at https://www.mtpt.org.uk/ 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. This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/