

Education On Fire - Sharing creative and inspiring learning in our schools
Mark Taylor
Do you feel the education system is sucking the life out of you and the pupils you serve? I think many of us wish we could click our fingers and make it fit for purpose. A place of growth with shared learning that empowers pupils to be their best selves, so they can create a world they want to inhabit now and in the future.
While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced.
Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you.
‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’
While a magic wand or a visionary politician might sound like the answer I believe change is already happening. Educators are changing futures one conversation at a time. New technology and the environments where we learn are beginning to look different both in and out of the classroom. I hope you are seeing this first hand and are excited about what you can share with your pupils. We are having conversations, sharing organisations and communities that are supporting education in a way that you may have not experienced.
Educational change will come from us all working in way that supports the best interests of each of our pupils, personalised learning. Governments and policy makers will follow when they see fully how it can be different. So let us teach, coach, mentor and create an environment that fuels every child with feedback, inspiration, resilience and empowerment. The Education on Fire community is shining the torch, so no matter where you are in the world or how you are supporting children this podcast is here for you.
‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.’
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 3, 2023 • 31min
337: Nuance Hearing with Tami Harel
Tami Harel is the Chief Audiologist and Director of Clinical Research at Nuance Hearing. Tami is an Audiologist and Speech Pathologist with a Masters Degree in Communication Disorders and is currently working on her PhD in Gerontology. With more than 15 years of experience with hearing aids and auditory rehabilitation, in the public and private sector, she joined Nuance Hearing in the early stages of the company's development.Nuance Hearing was founded in 2015 with the fundamental goal of developing a technological solution for the ‘cocktail party problem’ - the difficulty of understanding speech in noisy environments.Over the years the company has made significant technological developments and algorithmic advancements within the framework of acoustic beamforming, becoming a world-leader in directional hearing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).These developments have led to an impressive array of collaborations with business partners in the hearing aid and assistive technology industry, clinical researcher scientists, educators and EdTech advocates. This includes a table microphone, designed to be used with hearing aids and developed in partnership with hearing aid industry leader Starkey.Websitewww.nuancehear.comSocial Media Informationwww.linkedin.com/company/nuancehearingtwitter.com/nuancehearingwww.facebook.com/NuanceHearingResources MentionedThe Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The HorseShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – 2023Get access NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Mar 27, 2023 • 48min
336: Umbrella Project with Dr. Jen Forristal
Dr. Jen Forristal, BSc ND, is the CEO of The Umbrella Project and a Naturopathic Doctor with a primary focus in pediatric mental health. She has worked extensively with schools, researchers, and organizations, developing mental wellness strategies for families facing social, emotional, and mental health challenges and those looking for optimal health and performance. As the founder of The Umbrella Project, Dr. Jen trains medical professionals, educators and parents to proactively assess and develop the skills needed to cope with lifes’ inevitable challenges. In her private practice, she supports families in raising resilient, healthy children. Dr. Jen has a BSc with Honors from the University of Guelph, and a Doctor of Naturopathy from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Websitewww.umbrellaproject.coSocial Media InformationInstagram & Twitter@umbrellapjctResources MentionedInstagram account - Response ParentingLink to Jen's Book - The Umbrella Effect: Your Guide to Raising Strong, Adaptable Kids in a Stressful WorldShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Mar 20, 2023 • 51min
335: Charity United with William Tucker
William Tucker and his wife have helped over 100,000 kids & civilians in the slums of India, improving their quality of life through literacy education, emergency aid, and other philanthropic initiatives. As a Co-Founder of Charity United, a U.S.-based charity that provides humanitarian aid to children and civilians in need, William helps ensure children receive food, clothing, shelter, and education. He has worked as an educational specialist and corporate training officer in International Charitable organizations for several decades, training thousands of individuals for their jobs in order to improve the productivity of these organizations. After selling his house and living in the slums of India for a year, William discovered through on-the-ground experience the problems that kids most often face while living in the slums, mainly a lack of educational opportunities. In collaboration with charities and volunteers in India, Africa, and Latin America, Charity United provides educational tools to children with the aim of giving all children an equal opportunity for a promising future.Websitehttps://charityunited.us/Social Media InformationFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/CharityUnitedRefugeeAidLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/charity-united/Twitter - https://twitter.com/charityunitedusYoutube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDDg-gIvWYDLtbVlf6w2f2QResources Mentionedhttps://charityunited.us/gift/Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Mar 13, 2023 • 41min
334: Boundless Life with Suzanne Perkowsky
Boundless Life build a collection of thoughtfully designed communities located in beautiful destinations around the world comprised of private homes, co-working spaces, a school system based on experiential learning and locally adapted recreational hubs where like-minded families can develop connections, work, sustainably explore different parts of the world and be immersed in the local cultures.Suzanne Perkowsky is the Head of Academics at Boundless Life. She was the co-founder of New Nordic Schools, a Finnish education development company that created the Nordic Baccalaureate based on the Finnish education system. She has been in the education field for over 30 years as a teacher, leader and trainer, setting up and working in schools in Finland, Singapore, China, Saudi Arabia, UK and the US. She has been involved in the set-up of over 15 new schools or campuses. Suzanne has qualifications from Finland, UK and the US which has been key in understanding global education, its accolades and its shortcomings to best inform current best practices. She believes there’s always something more to learn no matter how experienced or educated you are. Revolutionising where, when and how children learn.Inspired by the world-renowned Finnish system, Boundless Education was developed by taking the finest ingredients from the world's best educational practices to build one coherent system to follow your child anywhere. Boundless Education is a transformational learning system that lays the foundation for innovation, maximizes experiential learning, and creates meaningful connections to ourselves, our communities and the world.Along with rigorous academics, our education centres leverage local cultures and environments to deliver an unparalleled learning experience including arts, music and nature exploration. Join a flexible, forward-thinking education programme for your children.Websitewww.boundless.lifeSocial Media Informationwww.instagram.com/boundlesslife/www.facebook.com/myboundlesslifetwitter.com/boundlesslifewww.linkedin.com/company/boundlesslife/Resources MentionedRadical CandorShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Mar 6, 2023 • 47min
333: Creating art to be and stay human with Michaell Magrutsche
Michaell Magrutsche is an Austrian/Californian multidisciplinary artist, awareness and creativity educator, speaker, and author. Michaell’s dyslexia and dysgraphia forced him to develop an awareness of seeing the world purely from a human perspective. Creating art completed his awareness of what it is to be human-relevant vs system-relevant.Michaell’s talent is recognizing awareness to seed a new consciousness that allows us to unveil the untapped superpowers of human’s limitlessness, art/creativity, healthy discourse and adaptability to make all humans fit within our human tapestry.Because Michaell has been a sick child also dyslexic and has dysgraphia (hand eye coordination) he could only navigate in very few systems. Michaell was forced to find his salvation in art. Interacting and creating art outside of systems helped him feel humane and got him through life. Michaell is completely self-taught. Art allowed him to experience life with other humans and 5 books later, Michaell produced with Robert Evans and became a City Arts Commissioner etc. etc.Michaell discovered that creating art is humans greatest inherent superpower, followed by healthy dialogue and our adaptability. These superpowers are applicable to everything from Creativity, Leadership, Business, Education, Relationships and what else humans focus on.Today, Michaell keeps unveiling the limitations of all man-made systems like technology, science, economy and generalized knowledge to change systems to be more human adaptable instead of humans keep forcing themselves to be system adaptive.Michaell’s mission is to show us something very different.Website & Social Media www.michaellm.comShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Feb 27, 2023 • 40min
332: What is self-efficacy and why should we be paying attention to it in Primary Schools?
RS Assessment conducted a study among 21,000 key stage 2 pupils in English schools recently. The study was funded by the Nuffield Foundation and aims to better understand the longer-term impacts of the Covid lockdowns on this cohort of kids’ attainment, wellbeing and attitudes to learning.What is self-efficacy and why should we be paying attention to it in Primary Schools?We talk a lot about self-esteem in our children, but what is the connection between self-efficacy and their achievements? Our research shows that the majority of Key Stage 2 pupils report feeling some vulnerability in self-efficacy, with large (greater than 7 Percentage Point, or 14%) drops since the pandemic. Professor Clare Wood and Katie Blainey, Director of Assessment at Hodder Education talk about the role of self-efficacy in improving pupil outcomes and how we can we restore our children’s sense of their ability to achieve – both in the classroom and at home.Websitewww.risingstars-uk.com/rs-assessment/whitepaperswww.schoolsweek.co.uk/whats-up-with-year-3-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/Watch the live recording of this podcast at www.youtube.com/@educationonfire5530/streamsShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Feb 23, 2023 • 38min
331: Sustainability in schools with Shamanth Pereira
With a background in finance, an aha moment from an exhausted mother of 3, Shamanth Pereira, occurred when cleaning up her then-4-year-old's hundredth toilet roll lovingly placed down the loo. This waste and the fact that we cut down 27,000 trees daily just to wipe our bums fuelled Shamanth to create 'Something Cheeky', a bamboo, fully decomposing, organic toilet and kitchen rolls delivered to your door without a piece of plastic in sight. The Something Co now delivers toilet rolls and kitchen paper towels across the UK from Loch Lomond to Lands End. Their mission is to offer a range of sustianable everyday essentials to consumers.We discuss how schools can utilise this resource and it can inform teaching sustainability in schools.Websitewww.somethingco.comSocial Media InformationInstagram – @somethingcheeky.coShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Feb 20, 2023 • 30min
330: Khalifa International Award for Early Learning (KIAEL) with Prof. Nirmala Rao
The new Khalifa International Award for Early Learning (KIAEL), funded by the United Arab Emirates, wants submissions from UK academics, projects, schools and nurseries displaying brilliance and innovation in the early education sector.Two winners in each of the categories “Best Research & Studies” and “Best Programmes & Teaching Practices” will receive $50,000. The recipients will be announced in June 2023.The KIAEL Awarding Committee, which features Professor Iram Siraj, Professor of Child Development and Education, University of Oxford, are looking for high-quality, evidence-based research and impactful programmes, methodologies, and advanced teaching practices. Early education is defined as anything aimed at children aged eight and under.Initiatives for children with disabilities are particularly welcome.The prize was founded by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister, and aims to improve the standard of early childhood education around the world.It is open to entrants from any country, including developing nations.There have already been more than 40 prize registrations from the UK, but the organisers want many more through January and February.“Our mission is to identify and reward research on early-childhood education, care that supports improvements in practice and exemplary programmes or teaching practices demonstrated to improve quality and/or the learning and development of young children,” says Professor Iram Siraj.Professor Siraj is one five internationally renowned early learning experts who make up the KIAEL Awarding Committee. They also include: Dr Steven Barnett, founding Co-Director of the National Institute for Early Education and Board of Governors Professor of Education at Rutgers University in the US; Dr Nirmala Rao, a Chair Professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong and Serena H C Yang Professor in Early Childhood Development and Education; Fatma Ahmad Abdulla Al Bastaki, Cluster Manager, Emirates Schools Establishment, Ministry of Education, UAE; Dr Jana Fleming, Director, Early Childhood Development, Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, Abu Dhabi.Judging will place a firm emphasis on rigorous evaluation and impact to recognise initiatives and research in early childhood that can be globally inspirational due to measurable positive results.“All programmes submitted for consideration should have been subject to an evaluation of implementation or outcomes that provide strong evidence of current or potential impact,” said Professor Siraj.The deadline for entries is the 28 February 2023. Applications need to be submitted online at https://el.khaward.ae/.Nirmala Rao is a Serena H C Yang Professor in Early Childhood Development and Education, Chair Professor of Child Development and Education, and Director of the Consortium for Research on Early Childhood Development and Education (CORE), Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU).She is a Developmental and Chartered (Educational) Psychologist by training and has conducted research on early childhood development and education in Asian cultural contexts. Professor Rao has published widely and serves on the Editorial Board for premier scholarly journals. She is a regular participant in high-level international meetings, written advocacy material, and undertaken consultancies for international organisations. Professor Rao has received awards for both research and teaching.Mentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Feb 16, 2023 • 12min
329: Changes to the podcast from March 2023
From the start of March 2023 the Education on Fire podcast will return to releasing 1 episode a week on a Monday. The reason for this is the Primary Education Summit. I will be involved in hosting 4 live discussion panels and coordinating the events during March which will need a lot of my focus. With a natural break in place I started considering how the podcast could/should change to support me with regards to my work/life harmony and how I can best support you moving forward.Please get in touch if anything in the episode resonates with you or you can help provide feedback about the options I explained.SponsorshipCreating additional themed podcast series to support the main show.Community action through my www.buymeacoffee.com/educationonfireThank you to Sandy from www.thegoodeggs.org for her recent purchase of 4 coffees and kind words of support for the show.Subscribe on YouTube to get information about our new live podcasts where you can comments and ask questions www.youtube.com/@educationonfire5530Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/

Feb 13, 2023 • 42min
328: Ocean Plastics Academy with Sarah Duffy - Common Seas
Common Seas is a social enterprise tackling the plastic pollution crisis by driving new policy, investing in the circular economy and catalysing a cultural shift in how we make, use and dispose of plastic.Common Seas has four interconnected programmes. Together, these achieve the system change we need to halt plastic pollution and protect our ocean.Their mission is to quickly and significantly reduce the amount of plastic produced and stop it polluting our rivers and seas. Common Seas is an international team of scientists, researchers, policy experts, communicators and behaviour change professionals. As Project Manager for Ocean Plastics Academy, Sarah Duffy is working with Common Seas to help inspire and empower the next generation of change makers. Our ocean needs a new generation of sea champions. Common Seas want every child to understand the plastic crisis so they can help create a plastic waste-free future.Ocean Plastics Academy combines a suite of curriculum-aligned resources with practical activities to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead a plastic waste revolution in their school and beyond.Sarah has shaped her career to combine her interest in education and her passion for the natural world. With Qualified Teacher Status, a Master’s in Education for Sustainability, and more than a decade working in the environmental education sector, she has extensive experience designing and managing programmes on complex topics of sustainability.Websitewww.commonseas.comSocial Media InformationTwitter @CommonSeasInstagram - Common SeasResources MentionedCommon Cause for NatureShow Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)Primary Education Summit – ‘Visions for the Future’ – March 2023Book NOW at www.nape.org.uk/summitMentioned in this episode:NAPE Al Kingsley Summit PromoWatch Mark Taylor interview Al Kingsley about 'Creating Digital Strategies for Schools' as part of the Primary Education Summit 2023 - Visions for the Future - presented by National Association for Primary Education (NAPE)
https://www.educationonfire.com/creating-digital-strategies-for-schools/