This episode features a fascinating conversation with Fiona Millar, a journalist and campaigner on education and parenting issues whose work I have admired for many years. Following a career in journalism, Fiona worked in the office of the Leader of the Opposition from 1995 to 1997, and as an adviser to Tony and Cherie Blair from 1995 to 2003. On leaving Downing Street, Fiona started writing a monthly column for The Guardian about education, and in 2004 she made a documentary film for Channel Four called The Best for My Child, examining how the quasi-market in schools was working in practice. In 2018, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Education Reform Act 1988, Fiona published a fascinating book with the same name as her earlier documentary - The Best for My Child: Did the schools market deliver? Of this book, Melissa Benn wrote: Fiona Millar combines a profound understanding of the way schools work on the ground with unrivalled political acumen. This insightful account of what the market revolution has really meant for England’s education system is an important and absorbing read. I whole-heartedly agree. It’s very well written and I think it’s really required reading for anyone who wants to understand the weirdly hierarchical, disjointed school system that we have today - and therefore how we might create a more equitable system that works for all young people. It’s also well worth reading back through Fiona’s many excellent articles in the Guardian, including her most recent setting out how Labour can fix the education system - a topic on which we alight in this conversation. There’s a link to her Guardian profile below and it’s well worth an hour of your time. LINKS Fiona's Guardian articles: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/fionamillar  Education Policy Alliance: educationpa.org Sign up to the Rethinking Education Round-up Newsletter: rethinkinged.beehiiv.com DON'T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at rethinking-ed.org/contact SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: https://patreon.com/repod Buy James a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/repod

In the last episode, almost 300 people tuned in to our first ever live podcast, when I was joined by Naomi Fisher, Ellie Costello and Ben Davis to talk about the attendance crisis. In case any of you listened to that and were wondering ‘Hey, who is this Ben Davis guy? Why don’t you do a full episode with him?’ Well, strap yourself in! Ben is the headteacher of St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford. I’ve had the great pleasure to get to know Ben a little over the last year or so, as part of the Education Policy Alliance. He is one of the loveliest people you could wish to meet - and that view was echoed in many of the comments we received during last week’s episode. A passionate, principled headteacher who embodies the principles of public service, Ben has recently been one of the courageous headteachers who have raised their heads above the parapet to talk about the pernicious impact Ofsted has on schools and school leaders. LINKS Full video, audio, show notes: https://rethinking-ed.org/ben-davis Education Policy Alliance: https://educationpa.org Sign up to the Rethinking Education Round-up Newsletter: https://rethinkinged.beehiiv.com DON'T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at rethinking-ed.org/contact SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: https://patreon.com/repod Buy James a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/repod

Since the COVID pandemic, persistent absenteeism in England has more than doubled, from 10% to 22%. According to recent reearch by the Centre for Social Justice, more than one in four parents agreed it is not essential for children to be in school every day. Both the major political parties have announced plans to tackle the attendance crisis. Often, there is an assumption that school is the best place for children to be, and blame is laid at the feet of the parents. What's going on? Why are so many young people voting with their feet? Are the politicians correct - is school the best place for young people to be? Do the parents have a point - is it 'essential' for children too attend school every day? How do we think about attendance currently - and how else could or should we think about it? In this interactive webinar, Dr James Mannion (Director, Rethinking Education) is in conversation with: * Ben Davis - Headteacher, St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Salford * Ellie Costello - Director of Square Peg and author of Square Pegs: Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in: A guide for schools * Dr Naomi Fisher - Clinical psychologist, homeschooling parent and author of 'Changing our minds' and 'A different way to learn' LINKS No to the surveillance state: notoschoolsbill.uk/surveillance-state Square Peg: teamsquarepeg.org Naomi Fisher: naomifisher.co.uk Education Policy Alliance: educationpa.org Sign up to the Rethinking Education Round-up Newsletter: rethinkinged.beehiiv.com DON'T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at rethinking-ed.org/contact SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: https://patreon.com/repod Buy James a pumpkin frappacino: https://buymeacoffee.com/repod

Eliza Fricker is a talented writer and illustrator who has written three books: 'The Family Experience of PDA: An Illustrated Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance' 'Can't Not Won't: A Story About A Child Who Couldn't Go To School' And most recently 'Thumbsucker: An illustrated journey through an undiagnosed autistic childhood' It’s the second of these books that we’re talking mostly about in this episode - Can’t Not Won’t. It’s a fascinating read - funny and heartbreaking in equal measure - and Eliza’s illustrations and wry observations really shine a light on what it’s like when your child finds that they are no longer able to attend school. It really should be recommended reading for any teachers and school leaders, as well as for young people with barriers to attendance, and their families There is no shortage of young people who struggle to attend school of late - Eliza has cunningly tapped into a growing market. There are many lessons to learn from this conversation and I’d love to hear your thoughts. The best way to stay in touch is via the Rethinking Education newsletter, a monthly round-up of podcast, blogs, conference news and updates about the Education Policy Alliance. If you’re interested, sign up at the link below. And you can reply to those emails and let me know what’s going on for you. LINKS: Eliza’s website: https://missingthemark.co.uk/ Sign up to the Rethinking Education Round-up Newsletter: https://rethinkinged.beehiiv.com/ DON’T BE A STRANGER: The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

Lord Jim Knight of Weymouth is a life peer and former Labour politician with a strong interest in education. He is also the chair of the Beyond Ofsted inquiry which recently published a fascinating report setting out an alternative vision for a schools accountability system. In this conversation we put the 'Beyond Ofsted' recommendations under the microscope, comparing them with the recommendations of the Education Policy Alliance. LINKS: Beyond Ofsted: https://beyondofsted.org.uk Education Policy Alliance: https://educationpa.org Activate: https://crownhouse.co.uk/activate The Schools Guide: https://www.theschoolsguide.com/ DON’T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

SHOW NOTES Until recently, Calvin Henry was the headteacher of St. Mark’s C of E Primary School in North London. Last year, Calvin went through an experience that he describes as being “uncannily similar” to that of Ruth Perry, the headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Reading who tragically took her own life earlier this year following an Ofsted inspection that downgraded her school’s rating from “outstanding” to “inadequate”. Calvin has since left the teaching profession. In this episode, Calvin tells his story - which goes right to the heart of everything that is wrong with our current approach to schools accountability. LINKS Schoolsweek: “What Ofsted don’t seem to understand is the impact that single word has on people, and how it can destroy them” https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-left-head-feeling-powerless-weak-and-humiliated/ BBC News: Academy school bosses call for Ofsted rethink: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-65140383 DON’T BE A STRANGER The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

Christian Bokhove, Professor in Mathematics Education, discusses domain knowledge, generic skills, the Maths wars, and the transformative power of teaching spoken language. They also explore the dangers of extreme views on social media and the importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making.

Dave McPartlin is the headteacher of Flakefleet Primary School in Lancashire. In this episode Dave speaks openly and candidly about the impact Ofsted has had on his mental health and that of his colleagues. He makes a compelling case for why Ofsted needs to change - and how. LINKS Dave on BBC breakfast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMNRMQOBhL0 Flakefleet get the golden buzzer on BGT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itSbV3YiRkI Metro profile on Dave: https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/06/who-is-flakefleet-primary-school-headteacher-dave-mcpartlin-who-won-a-golden-buzzer-with-his-school-on-bgt-9126524/ THE RETHINKING ED CONFERENCE 2023 Sat 23rd September, London Tickets: bit.ly/reconf23 Speakers, sessions, bios: www.rethinking-ed.org/rethinked23 Making Change Stick: makingchangestick.co The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

SHOW NOTES Ron Berger is Chief Program Officer for the non-profit school improvement network Expeditionary Learning, a national network of over 160 public project-based schools in 30 states in the US. Ron was as a public school teacher and carpenter in rural Massachusetts for 25 years. His writing and speaking centre on inspiring quality and character in students, specifically through project-based learning, original scientific and historical research, service learning, and the infusion of arts. He is the author of two books - An Ethic of Excellence and A Culture of Quality - the former of which is the focus of this podcast, in its 20th anniversary year This was a game-changing conversation in which Ron provides a way out of the trad-prog debate, and explains how to transform the culture of a school so that the students really start to care about their learning, and to consistently produce work to a staggeringly high standard. LINKS EL Education: https://eleducation.org/ An ethic of excellence: https://www.wob.com/en-gb/books/berger/ethic-of-excellence/9780325005966 THE RETHINKING ED CONFERENCE 2023 Sat 23rd September, London Tickets: https://bit.ly/reconf23 Speakers, sessions, bios: https://www.rethinking-ed.org/rethinked23 Making Change Stick: makingchangestick.co The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: www.twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/repod

Dennis Sherwood, a management consultant specializing in creativity, innovation, and systems thinking, discusses his book 'Missing the Mark', focusing on the issue of inaccurate school exam grades. Topics include implementing a transformative program for positive change in schools, strategies to address unreliable grading, challenges in education reform, the problem of groupthink, and transitioning power in the education system.