Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe
Tom Sherrington & Emma Turner
Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner, UK-based and internationally-recognized education authors and consultants, have a lot on their minds. From best practices in cl...
Curriculum Coherence and Equity in Schools with Aziza Ajak, Mind the Gap, Ep.88 (S5,E4)
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/
--------
50:05
Balancing Parenthood and Teaching: Emma Sheppard on the Motherhood Penalty in Education, Mind the Gap, Ep.87 (S5,E3)
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/
--------
55:54
The Daycare Myth: Dr. Dan Wuori on Early Years Education and Policy, Mind the Gap, Ep.86 (S5,E2)
On this episode of Mind The Gap, Emma Turner and Jon Hutchinson welcome Dr. Dan Wuori, a renowned expert in early childhood education. Together, they discuss the vital role of early years development, highlighting Dan's work in policy advocacy and his social media presence, where he blends adorable videos of children with deep analysis of early development principles. Dan shares insights from his book, The Daycare Myth, and explores the significant impact of early childhood experiences on lifelong success. The conversation covers policy challenges, the economics of early care, and the importance of nurturing relationships in shaping young minds.
Dan Wuori is the Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions (a public policy consultancy focused on the needs of America's young children and their families) and Strategic Advisor on Early Childhood at the Saul Zaentz Charitable Foundation. Dr. Wuori joined The Hunt Institute, a North Carolina-based education policy support to the nation's governors and state elected leaders, as its founding Director of Early Learning. He continues to serve as The Institute's Senior Early Childhood Advisor. A former kindergarten teacher and school district administrator, Dan served as the Deputy Director of South Carolina First Steps to School Readiness – the state’s comprehensive, public-private early learning initiative. His newest book, The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It), sounds the alarm on critical and costly disconnects between the science of early development and the US approach to public policy. Follow him on X @DanWuori.
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/
--------
51:12
How It All Starts: What the Research Tells Us about Early Years Education with Dr Julian Grenier, Mind the Gap, Ep.85 (S5,E1)
On this episode of Mind The Gap, Jon Hutchinson and Emma Turner are joined by Julian Grenier, a leading expert in early years education. Together, they discuss the foundations of early childhood learning, focusing on the crucial role of relationships and the development of coherent, supportive environments for young learners. Julian emphasizes the need for consistency in early years curricula, saying, “If we can get it right from the very beginning, we can set children on a much stronger trajectory.” The trio also explore the challenges faced by educators in the early years and the importance of community engagement in supporting children’s development. Finally, Julian shares insights from his work on the Early Years Foundation Stage and his thoughts on fostering professional development in early education.
Julian Grenier joined the EEF as a Senior Content and Engagement Manager (Early Years) in 2024. Before joining the EEF, Julian was the headteacher of Sheringham Nursery School and Children’s Centre in Newham, East London. During this time, he also led East London Research School. Julian has also been Ofsted's Early Education lead, and Senior Early Years Adviser in Tower Hamlets. He is a trustee of the charity Thrive at Five. He has written several best-selling books about early education and care, including Putting the EYFS Curriculum Into Practice. Follow him on X @juliangenier
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/
--------
47:54
Thriving in Teaching: Mentorship and Inclusion with Yamina Bibi, Mind the Gap, Ep.84 (S4,E21)
In this special season finale of Mind The Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Yamina Bibi, a dynamic deputy head teacher and author of Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching. Yamina shares her journey from a shy, introverted new teacher to an influential leader in education, driven by her passion for teaching, learning, and mentoring. The conversation highlights her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion, discussing the importance of role models and networks in supporting early career teachers. Yamina emphasises practical strategies for thriving in the classroom, managing workload, and building professional relationships. The conversation also touches on the significance of coaching and the impact of positive mentorship on teacher retention.
Yamina Bibi is a Deputy Headteacher, English teacher, Coach and Consultant in London with experience of leading Teaching and Learning, Curriculum, and Mentoring and Coaching of teachers at all stages of their career. Yamina has a NPQSL and a Masters in Teaching from University College London, Institute of Education and is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. She is also a network leader for WomenEd, a global charity organisation seeking to support female teachers and leaders in education. Yamina is also the co-host of Series 1 of The #DiverseEd podcast and is a contributing writer for several educational books. Yamina regularly blogs about coaching and mentoring, school leadership, effective research informed practice at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @msybibi
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 joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She founded ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early-career teachers,’ a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help retain teachers in post. Follow Emma on X @emma_turner75.
This podcast is produced by Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/
About Mind the Gap: Making Education Work Across the Globe
Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner, UK-based and internationally-recognized education authors and consultants, have a lot on their minds. From best practices in classroom teaching to sustaining PD that makes an impact, they’re aware of the techniques that work, those that don’t, and the gaps that exist in education systems, within and across nations. In this podcast, they present proven strategies and interview experts from around the globe to share timely insights on K-12 trends; research-based approaches in need of greater reach; and innovative strategies to close global gaps.
UK