

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

Jan 8, 2018 • 23min
056: One Dance UK with Claire Somerville – Head of Children & Young People’s Dance
One Dance UK is the national Sector Support Organisation for Dance and the lead Subject Association for Dance in Schools in England. We have a growing membership of teachers and schools, who all benefit from advice, resources and discounted conference/CPD opportunities.
I chat with Claire Somerville – Head of Children & Young People’s Dance, One Dance UK
We discuss
How dance is used as part of the P.E curriculum
How to use the funding available
U.Dance
Support for Governors and Trustees
Bridge organisations – How to get in touch with people from arts companies to support you in your school
Development of video to aid teachers
Website: www.onedanceuk.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onedanceuk/
Twitter: @onedanceuk and @youthance (our school and youth dance twitter feed)
Useful links
Out PE & Sport Guidance: http://www.onedanceuk.org/resource/delivering-dance-through-the-pe-and-sports-premium-funding/
Bridge Organisations: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/children-and-young-people/bridge-organisations
U.Dance Information (For dance performances): http://www.onedanceuk.org/programme/u-dance/u-dance-registration/
Dance Education: Guidance for Governors and Trustees: http://www.onedanceuk.org/resource/dance-education-guide-governors-trustees/
One Dance UK is the national body for dance in the UK, formed by the merger of Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD), Dance UK, National Dance Teachers Association (NDTA) and Youth Dance England. Our organisation represents dancers at all levels of the dance industry, and champions excellence in education, youth dance, dance of the African diaspora, performance, health and well-being, management, leadership and career development.

Jan 1, 2018 • 32min
055: Growing with Gratitude
Growing with Gratitude – Learn how to change the culture of your school & classroom.
BUILDING & PROTECTING STUDENTS MENTAL HEALTH ACROSS THE UK
The Growing With Gratitude Program aims to help teachers, students and families easily develop the habits of gratitude, kindness and mindfulness that have been identified as the stepping stones to greater happiness and success.
Teaching children these skills as early as possible in their journey helps them develop greater resilience, builds their emotional and physical wellbeing, and promotes positive thoughts and habits.
The program is based around learning the Five Habits of Happiness, and can be completed by children in every primary year level with their teachers or with their parents at home (see the Families page for more information on the Home Grown Gratitude program designed especially for parents).
LISA AVERY is a positive psychologist, with over a decade of experience in educational settings. She’s particularly passionate about empowering young people through positive psychology, helping them uncover previously hidden strengths and tap into deep reserves of resilience.
Growing with Gratitude

Dec 28, 2017 • 29min
054: Funding Music Education in your school with UCan Play
Jonathan Savage is Managing Director of UCan Play and we talk about Funding Music Education in your school.
We discuss the benefits of working in partnerships and making the most of the opportunities around you both on a local level and through the internet.
Jonathan has great experience from his role as Chair of Trustees for The Love Music Trust music hub in Cheshire. He has enjoyed a long career in music education, working for two high schools and co-leading the largest PGCE course in the UK at Manchester Metropolitan University.
He is a published author and editor having written for Routledge, the Open University Press and Sage.
Follow the links below to find out more about Jonathan and get his guide to Funding Music Education.
Business: www.ucanplay.org.uk
MMU: https://www2.mmu.ac.uk/stepd/staff/profile/index.php?id=1314
Funding guide: http://www.ucanplay.org.uk/funding-music-education-in-your-school/
Twitter @jpjsavage
Listen to all the podcasts from the ‘Music and the Arts’ season please visit
About The Show

Dec 18, 2017 • 25min
053: Events made easy with TryBooking
TryBooking is UK’s most innovative event ticketing, booking and registration platform. We provide an all in one system that helps you manage everything online. SELL TICKETSStreamline your events by selling tickets online.REGISTRATIONSCreate smart forms with custom questions and online payments.ONLINE BOOKINGSGrow your business with online bookings.FUNDRAISINGBuild a stronger community with events and online donations.Here is a few examples of how schools use us:https://www.trybooking.com/uk/eventlist/trybookingschools?embed=1All details about our costs: https://www.trybooking.co.uk/pricing/

Dec 11, 2017 • 34min
052: Live classical music in schools with Apollo Music Projects
Apollo Music Projects brings live classical music to children who might not otherwise experience it. Over 13 years, more than 8,600 children have experienced the magic of live performance from classroom to concert hall, culminating in the thrilling spectacle of a full orchestra in concert.
I talk to David Chernaik about how this project was brought to life 13 years ago and how it has positively affected 8600 children.
The 3 main ways are:
Interactive
Self Confidence
Performance
Apollo Music Projects provides a unique opportunity for children to work closely with professional musicians, using the language of music to develop listening skills, communication and teamwork. Our programmes enable students to discover for themselves how to listen to and enjoy classical music, using their own imagination and experiences to enter a new world of sound, stories and feelings.
The programme introduces children to the instruments of the orchestra, the musicians who play them and the music they play, providing the opportunity to hear live music and the tools to understand what they are hearing.
The programme takes the form of a residency in each school. Over two terms, the musicians gradually introduce the different members of the orchestra, starting with small groups including a string quartet, brass ensemble and woodwind quartet. At the halfway point of the programme there is a series of chamber orchestra workshops, each attended by three or four schools. This is a chance for the children to engage in music on a larger scale, to meet musicians up close and to learn about the ways in which the different instruments of the orchestra interact and join together to make music. The programme concludes with a spectacular symphony orchestra concert featuring large-scale orchestral works using the full range of instruments.
David Chernaik (Chief Executive & Programme Director) is a professional conductor and cellist. He is passionate about music education and giving children of all backgrounds access to the life-enhancing experience of music, both performing and listening. He founded the Apollo Chamber Orchestra in 1989 and since then has given many concerts with the orchestra – including chamber orchestra, string orchestra, symphony and opera performances.
http://www.apollomusicprojects.org/
Email: info@apollomusicprojects.org
Twitter: @ApolloMusicLDN
Facebook: @apollomusicprojects
For more podcasts about ‘Music and the Arts’ visit
www.EducationOnFire.com

Dec 4, 2017 • 26min
051: Why 18,000 schools are using ‘Out of the Ark Music’
Out of the Ark Music was born out of a passionate belief that children deserve the very best.
Good songs leave a lasting impression and contain huge potential to make a difference to our lives. The importance of music and the arts cannot be emphasised enough and, though often overlooked, they are a vital part of our children’s education.
Our goal is…
To enhance and expand children’s enjoyment of music and the world around them by producing songs that are thought provoking, relevant and most of all great fun to sing.
To produce top quality materials to give today’s children music which excites them and to which they can readily relate.
To teach about music using traditional methods i.e. by providing strong melodies, interesting song structures and clever rhymes and combining these with modern musical arrangements.
To preserve the best of our musical and literary heritage whilst embracing modern styles and instrumentation.
To write good positive songs that re-enforce self-worth and significance and that are appropriate to children’s experience.
To convey truth and teach about Christian values and faith.
To make all our resources completely teacher-friendly and to support our customers through excellent customer service.
I interview Antony Copus – Head of Education Development about their history and new projects being developed.
For full details please visit
www.EducationOnFire.com
History
In 1989 Mark and Helen Johnson were asked to write a short nativity musical by the headteacher of the primary school where Helen was teaching. ‘Off To Bethlehem’ was a huge success and within months Mark and Helen were given the opportunity of leaving their jobs to explore and develop their gift in writing music. It was with a deep breath and a big step of faith that Mark and Helen went on to set up their own publishing and production company as a vehicle for distributing their songs to primary schools.
What began with only a tiny desk under the stairs, has grown over 25 years to become a thriving business, which now supplies over 18,000 primary schools and prep schools (not to mention nurseries, churches, theatre groups, etc!) across the UK and countless others around the world. With publishing offices and a warehouse in Middlesex, a recording studio in Sussex and with an associate office in Australia, ‘Out Of The Ark’ is reaching out to the corners of the earth with good, positive songs, that everyone will enjoy.
http://www.outoftheark.co.uk
https://twitter.com/singoutoftheark
https://www.facebook.com/outofthearkmusic
https://www.youtube.com/outoftheark

Nov 27, 2017 • 26min
050: How to produce a local music project for primary schools
Today I talk about my experiences from producing a music project for local primary schools.
My insights and thoughts about expectations, how schools work together and being a beacon for people to follow.
How do you use your time and are there more effective ways to get great results?
For more information please visit
www.EducationOnFire.com

Nov 20, 2017 • 39min
049: Bonus Ep. – Better Leaders Better Schools with Daniel Bauer
I interview fellow educator Daniel Bauer from the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast.
Daniel E. Bauer helps school leaders create winning cultures, focus on the essential, and lead with courage and integrity.
Better Leaders Better Schools is designed to connect excellent leaders in education and promote leadership development. My passion is developing leaders to their fullest potential – there is nothing greater than this. I accomplish this through creating free consistent content on the blog and podcast as well as offering premium services (like masterminds) that accelerate leadership growth.
We discuss:
saying ‘Yes and’ and what that means
taking away obstacles to make things happen
how to support teachers
masterminds/mentors
creativity
FREE resources
Listen at www.EducationOnFire.com
For full details visit his website at
https://betterleadersbetterschools.com
Twitter @alienearbud
https://www.facebook.com/betterleadersbetterschools/

Nov 13, 2017 • 32min
048: Charanga – Best-selling online resource for primary music
Charanga is the best-selling, modern resource for primary music — online, easy to use and great value.
Includes
A complete scheme to teach the national curriculum for music
A vast library of songs, topics, instrument courses and creative apps
In-depth support for assessment, SEND and personalised teaching and learning
I chat to founder Mark Burke about the history of the company.
We cover:
How things have changed in technology over their 20 years
The engagement with over 7000 schools
Working in partnerships with over 100 Music Hubs
How it is used by both music specialists and non-music specialist teachers
International Expansion
FREE trials
Visit www.charanga.com
You can listen to the full podcast at www.EducationOnFire.com and search for Charanga in the search bar.

Nov 6, 2017 • 36min
047: First steps in teaching Primary Music with Carol Aveyard
Teaching primary music is often a frightening thought for teachers. Carol Aveyard has over 25 years experience working as a music teacher for music services, primary schools and private practice in the UK and USA.
We discuss simple free ideas every classroom teacher can implement easily. Fear often comes from the unknown, so we take music back to basics and walk you through examples of lessons that will have your classes filled with rhythm and song to give a wonderful foundation on which to build a thriving musical culture in your school.
Here are some of the resources we talk about:
https://www.youngvoices.co.uk
http://www.outoftheark.co.uk
http://www.sarah-watts.com
Interviews from this season referring to our cluster music events with Andy Williams from EWS and Hartwell Primary School please search for:
041: Our primary music project with Andy Williams – Head of Music at Elizabeth Woodville School
042: How music was embedded at Hartwell Primary School with Jayne Clancy
If you would like to receive more of the FREE resources we have to offer please just sign up to the email list at
www.EducationOnFire.com


