Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

TDaPE London Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-london-tickets-1852637682179?aff=oddtdtcreator 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/subscribeFor maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected] Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Story of Maths⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview Episode 264: What happens when a maths app “works” in the moment… but pupils can’t do the same maths the next day on paper?In this episode, Kieran Mackle and Stuart Welsh dig into a systematic review and meta-analysis on digital mathematics interventions for learners with mathematical learning difficulties/disabilities. They unpack what the evidence suggests (and what it doesn’t), why outcomes vary wildly across studies, and how schools can avoid buying into shiny “silver bullet” claims.Key themes include:Why “generally positive” results still hide a real risk of negative impactThe difference between performance in-app and learning that transfersMobile vs laptop: what the studies show (and what we’re only guessing)A simple decision lensWhat research still needs to answer so teachers aren’t forced to guessIf you’re a primary teacher, maths lead, SENCo, or school leader weighing up edtech spending, this conversation will help you be both evidence-aware and implementation-smart.

TDaPE London Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-thinking-deeply-about-primary-education-conference-london-tickets-1852637682179?aff=oddtdtcreator 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/subscribeFor maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected] Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Story of Maths⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview Episode 263: This week is a proper behind-the-scenes look at TDaPE London.I’m joined by Lacey Cousins and Natalie Stevenson from the Hawley and Eleanor Palmer Primary partnership, our host schools in Camden, to walk through the programme and talk honestly about how you choose sessions when everything looks brilliant on paper.We get into what makes a day like this genuinely useful: not just big names, but specific ideas you can take back on Monday. Retrieval practice that actually improves assessment in foundation subjects. Professional development that helps teachers make better in-the-moment decisions. Number sense and what it really means in classrooms. AI, character education, continuous provision, early writing foundations, culture-setting, games for fluency, and why problem solving still gets squeezed out even when everyone agrees it matters.We also talk about the underestimated magic of conferences: the corridor conversations, the “happy accident” of ending up in the wrong room, and how a single session can re-energise your whole January.Tickets are still on sale at the time of recording, lunch is sorted, the raffle is ready, and every speaker is giving their time to help us raise money for the Velindre Cancer Centre.

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/subscribeFor maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected] Learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Story of Maths⁠⁠⁠⁠ - www.alta-education.com/tsom-overview Episode 262: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about AI for Schools, James Radburn and Neil Almond start by looking back at “Education Technology Trends to Watch in 2025” and ask what truly moved, what stayed theoretical, and why AI-driven personalised learning still hasn’t landed at scale. They dig into a crucial question: what do we even mean by “personalised”—better sequencing and timing of knowledge, or just swapping examples based on interests?Next, they run a fun (and revealing) experiment: asking multiple LLMs—ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek—what they predict about AI in schools, from AI detection dying off to AI showing up more in policy than classroom practice.Then the hosts give their own six predictions for 2026, covering lots of possibilities for the next 12 months.A practical, slightly sceptical, educator-first episode about what’s next—and how schools can innovate without getting governed by AI instead.

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/subscribeFor maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected] 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 listeningbalancing quick wins with long-term strategyimproving behaviour to protect teaching and learningrecruiting and rebuilding teams under pressureleading in contexts of high vulnerability and povertywhy headship can’t be done well without community networksIf 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/subscribeFor maths curriculum questions contact us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or via [email protected] 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.