Episode 11 - Tom & Emma Discuss Exams, Quality Assurance & the Pressure on Leaders

In this “Tom & Emma” episode of Mind the Gap, the hosts begin by reflecting on their recent interview with Mary Myatt (1:12). In particular, Myatt’s ability to demonstrate and demand excellence in the profession has proven resonant.

Next, Tom shares takeaways from the recent “Teaching for Distinction” course he presented (5:40) before sharing some recommended reading, including Daniel Willingham’s Why Don’t Students Like School?, What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Psychology by David Didau and Nick Rose, and Dylan Wiliam’s Embedded Formative Assessment.

Tom and Emma then discuss the state of exams in the UK (13:00) before talking about quality assurance in schools (27:46), a topic that invites many perspectives. How is it done well? Should leaders be doing walk-throughs in the age of COVID?

The final topic is the pressure on principals and head teachers (39:34). Tom and Emma have an important discussion about the challenges and stresses facing leaders.

Mind the Gap is produced by MindRocket Media Group and presented by John Catt Educational, a leading independent publisher that has supported teachers and school leaders with research-based, easy to use professional development publications since 1959. Learn more about books from Tom, Emma, and many other world-class authors at us.johncattbookshop.com (US) or johncattbookshop.com (International). Visit edCircuit.com to watch this episode.

About the participants:

Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specializing in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. His books include Teaching WalkThrus, Rosenshine’s Principles in Action and The Learning Rainforest Fieldbook. 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 Twitter @teacherhead

Emma Turner joined Discovery Schools Academy Trust as the Research and CPD lead after 20 years in primary teaching. She is the founder of ‘NewEd – Joyful CPD for early career teachers’, a not-for-profit approach to CPD to encourage positivity amongst the profession and help to retain teachers in post. Turner is author of Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education From Our Little Learners. Follow Emma on Twitter @emma_turner75