It’s Your Time You’re Wasting

Oracy: Talking About Talk

Is Oracy a fad or part of the ongoing tradition of Western Education?Links to some of the things mentioned in this episode:https://oracyeducationcommission.co.uk/oec-report/https://www.education-uk.org/documents/pdfs/2021-appg-oracy.pdfhttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-commission-conversations/id1739353277?i=1000658062482https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-commission-conversations/id1739353277?i=1000659285974

School Uniform: Equity or Oppression?

What is the case for school uniforms? Would schools become chaotic places (more chaotic?) without them? Do they provide a ‘discipline distraction’ for some naughty pupils to hit out against? All this AND MORE in today's episode!Some links which are referred to:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14777071/parents-fury-school-ban-skirts-gender-neutral-options.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=social-twitter_mailonlinehttps://www.newscientist.com/article/2417240-school-uniforms-may-prevent-children-from-getting-enough-exercise/https://www.playscotland.org/play-scotland-backs-new-made-to-move-campaign-on-active-school-uniforms/https://www.youthsporttrust.org/news-listings/news/youth-sport-trust-research-reveals-parents-and-teachers-support-an-always-active-uniform-policy#:~:text=Research-,Youth%20Sport%20Trust%20Research%20Reveals%20Parents%20and%20Teachers%20Support%20an,break%20time%20to%20active%20learningGuidance from NEU: https://neu.org.uk/advice/classroom/dress-code

Powerful Knowledge with Prof. Michael Young (REPLAY)

A replay of our February 2021 interview with Professor Michael Young. The original is still viewable on our YouTube Channel, it has been reproduced here for new viewers but also for our growing band of listeners on sound only platforms, where the original wasn’t available… until now!NB: This broadcast takes the place of our usual Thursday broadcast this week. Hopefully you managed to catch our bonus episode earlier this week, if not, check it out, it's on AI in education.

It’s Artificial, but is it Intelligent?

Are you the maker or the tool? Is AI a threat to schooling or an extension to the accessibility of knowledge for humanity? (First there was writing, then the book, the library, printing, the internet and now AI...)Some references in the chat:The Ballad of Accounting, Sung by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger: https://youtu.be/MY3kYU5CYmk?si=oMwecn8TQV2s9Xmz written by Ewan MacColl (I think we inadvertently said Pete Seeger wrote it, can we blame AI?!)What If AI is not Actually Intelligent? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTb2Q2AE7nA @InnerCosmosPod with David Eagleman and Alison GopnikAndy Clark and David Chalmers 'The Extended Mind': https://web-archive.southampton.ac.uk/cogprints.org/320/1/extended.htmlPhil Beadle's AI post on SubStack: https://open.substack.com/pub/philbeadle/p/the-limits-of-ai?r=1rvl5x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=falseDaisy Christodoulou's SubStack on How should England's curriculum and assessment review respond to AI? https://substack.nomoremarking.com/p/how-should-englands-curriculum-and?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Are We an Island of Strangers?

Do schools contribute to whether we see ourselves as an Island of Strangers or not?Some links for your delectation: Our interview with ED Hirsch: https://youtu.be/H097vPnDpkI?si=erXALkeyInTYmRTYOur Interview with Michael Young: https://youtu.be/xi_AhfWjeis?si=oanbhXx4OC8vc_W8EmanRTM: https://youtu.be/OXn4lFNVb-Y?si=nAQmw4B8cXkaA_tPSutton Trust Report: https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/the-opportunity-index/Policy Exchange Report: https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/lessons-from-the-past/More in Common Social Cohesion Report: https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/our-work/research/social-cohesion-a-snapshot/

Coaching or Ker-CHING!?

Is the current vogue for coaching in schools a fad or fundamental part of good CPD?

Should Teachers Stick to the Script?

Scripted lessons vs Teacher AutonomySam Gibbs article: https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/teacher-autonomy-how-we-dumbed-down-teachingGreg Ashman Substack: https://fillingthepail.substack.com/p/on-scripted-lessons?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=trueCurriculum Revolutions: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curriculum-Revolutions-practical-guide-enhancing/dp/1913622983/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1CJAF8E626TLP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0WYdXLdKZ5VQvl_-FH5DYm2Wxdh93XhlojB_n2ij4knc0Z8T6zhPLC5LX5Rwg3SRxRvh4LKASdAyOwAD3lx7od4NsQl7NikqD2gxcysBpqvk5wtURf4u4hegd7rgi-Gzk72ZjWxo4Aghb8kD4BfIF82MVkfP78geMATSuWEcaTnmdGjvlV294NS1nQfH6bO9dI9G3VdwP10Ri_5yShBpeQ.obEGBWeDYbxld7sKy5C6xHi1IGULbXAkyCtmYA1_zNY&dib_tag=se&keywords=curriculum+revolutions&qid=1746720559&sprefix=curriculum+revolutions%2Caps%2C69&sr=8-1

Ofsted Causing Concern

Do the proposed changes to Ofsted’s inspection regime go far enough? (spoiler - no)Some of the articles mentioned in this episode:https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/close-ofsted-consultationhttps://schoolsweek.co.uk/can-ofsted-listen-its-way-out-of-its-political-bind/https://daviddidau.substack.com/p/rewiring-inspection?r=18455&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true

Unmet Needs - Is There an Overdiagnosis Crisis?

Autism, ADHD, and the burgeoning crisis in funding for schools. Are too many pupils being diagnosed with Special Needs?Some sources used in this episode:The Age of Diagnosis by Suzanne O'Sullivan (Review here: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/12/the-age-of-diagnosis-by-suzanne-osullivan-review-do-no-harm)The Lost Girls of Autism by Gina Rippon (Here is an article by her in the New Scientist https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26635372-400-a-revolutionary-new-understanding-of-autism-in-girls/) Why is There a Crisis in Special Educational Needs? The Briefing Room BBC Radio 4: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0028v06The Discontinuous Mind. Does it Ever Get it Right? By Richard Dawkins: https://substack.com/home/post/p-159676728

Pedagogy vs Knowledge

What is more important in the teacher’s toolbox? Knowing how to teach or knowing what to teach?