Key Voices Podcast

We spoke to Natasha Devon, writer, speaker and mental health campaigner about her work in schools and as a campaigner. We talk about the mental health issues faced by pupils and school staff today, as well as Natasha’s advice on what a school can do to take action on mental health.

Also, in the news this week: The grace period Ofsted promised to schools to develop their curriculum plans will not include the way primary schools teach the three Rs, KS2 interim results indicate girls widen the gender gap and more…

We speak to Jackie Bailey, Project Manager at WRAP and Recycle Now about what more school leaders can do to help promote recycling in schools.

Also, in the news this week: outstanding schools will no longer be exempt from routine Ofsted inspections, a rise in teacher starting salaries and more…

We speak to Laura McInerney, Co-founder of Teacher Tapp, former editor of Schools Week and Guardian Education columnist about her polling app and the top concerns of teachers today

Also, in the news this week: a leaked document has revealed potential Tory plans for schools, legal challenges over changes to the teacher pension scheme and more…

We speak to Kaley Foran, Lead Content Editor at The Key about how schools can deal with negative comments posted by parents on social media

Also, in the news this week: 2019 GCSE results stay ‘stable,’ less than one in five teachers think Ofsted is reliable and more…

We speak to David Weston, CEO of The Teacher Development Trust about how schools make improvements to teaching and learning and develop their staff.

Also, in the news this week: the number of girls taking science A-levels has overtaken boys for the first time ever, more pupils gaining top A* grades in English and maths and a record number of students expected to take up places on degrees through clearing.

We speak to Bethany Eadie, former primary school teacher and current Content Producer at The Key to discuss the introduction of the Year 4 multiplication tables check and the reception baseline assessment.

Also, in the news this week: schools serving the most disadvantaged children are set to miss out under Boris Johnson’s pledge to “level up” funding, a secret document revealing governor fear for schools chaos after a no-deal Brexit and more…

We speak to Richard Harley, CEO of ScholarPack about cloud technology in schools and the future of management information systems.

Also, in the news this week – Boris Johnson repeats his pledge to increase school funding, poor pupils lag 18 months behind their peers and more…

Our Lead Content Editors Kaley Foran and Adam Wainwright discuss the biggest developments in education in the past academic year and look ahead to 2019/20.

Also, in the news this week – Gavin Williamson named the new education secretary, Ofsted survey finds that inspections themselves are a major source of stress and more…

We’re joined by Laurence Guiness, CEO of The Childhood Trust to talk about how school leaders can support children from impoverished backgrounds.

Also, in the news this week – Ofsted announces new mental health inspections, the DfE is consulting on bringing LA school spending reports ‘in line’ with academies and more…

We’re joined by Makesa Mwanza and Kayleigh La Forte to talk about The Key’s work experience week.

Also, in the news this week – 97% of primary school teachers would like to see high-stakes SATS tests scrapped, Ofsted looking at its complaints procedure and more…

We’re joined by Alex Cunningham, CEO of Magic Breakfast to talk about removing hunger as a barrier to education in UK schools.

Also, in the news this week – schools to be given more specificity about teaching LGBT content, the opening of the first ‘secure school’ and more…

We’re joined by James Granville Hamshar, headteacher of St. John the Baptist School in Woking to talk about careers guidance and supporting pupils to become good global citizens.

Also, in the news this week – DfE calls for schools to adopt 3-year pupil premium plans, reactions to the final RSHE guidance, and more…

We’re joined by Sabrina Hobbs, Principal at Severndale Specialist Academy, to talk about leading an SEN school and the importance of inclusion.

Also, in the news this week – 1 in 6 teachers want to work part time, schools advised to spend their pupil premium funding on developing teaching staff, and more…

We’re joined by Sir Andrew Carter, CEO of South Farnham School Educational Trust, to talk about teacher training, growing effective middle leaders and the future of school recruitment.

Also, in the news this week – Ofsted chief inspector calls for lifting of outstanding school exemption, off-rolling schools named in a nationwide survey, and more…

We’re joined by Mary Myatt, curriculum expert, to talk about the creative curriculum and what it means for schools.

Also, in the news this week – the rise in EHC plans, concerns about Ofsted’s inspection of behaviour and more…

We’re joined by Gareth Thyer-Jones, Managing Director of Talented Teacher Job, to talk about what schools can do to become more effective recruiters.

Also, in the news this week – protests over funding cuts for SEND services, Damien Hinds sets up group to help schools boost pupils’ character and resilience, concerns over new Ofsted framework, and more…

We’re joined by Jon Glenn, Learn to Swim & Workforce Director at Swim England, to talk about supporting pupils to meet swimming targets.

Also, in the news this week – two thousand pound ‘incentive’ payment for Maths and Physics teachers, the effects of mobile phones on pupils, new advice on A-level choices and swapping Mozart for Stormzy.

We’re joined by Julia Clements, Children’s Psychologist from Place2Be, to talk about supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing during exam time.

Also, in the news this week – Ofsted published its new inspection framework, a quarter of teachers have witnessed off-rolling, and more…

We’re joined by Sidonie Bertrand-Shelton, Head of Education Programmes at Stonewall, to talk about LGBT-inclusive curriculum content and the government’s new guidance for teaching SRE.

Also, in the news this week – schools could be held responsible for excluded pupils’ results, Ofsted is considering creating a school reviews website, and more…

We’re joined by Laura Tomkinson and Joy Corner, Team Managers for Data Protection at the ICO, to talk about GDPR one year on and what schools should be doing to ensure they are compliant.

Also, in the news this week – parents want outstanding schools inspected more often, the government planning to tighten accountability around exclusions and more…

We’re joined by Tom Pinfield, Senior Education Officer at Childnet International, to talk about how to ensure that children and young people stay safe online.

Also, in the news this week – more than a half of schools not GDPR compliant, teachers using their own money to buy school resources and more…

We’re joined by Carolyn Roberts, Chair of the Ethical Leadership Commission and Headteacher of Thomas Tallis School in Blackheath, London, to talk about the importance of ethical leadership and the impact that headteachers can have on the positive behaviour of pupils.

Also, in the news this week – 50,000 children disappeared from school roll, teachers backing plans for a possible boycott of primary school tests and more…

We’re joined by Chris Kirk, education consultant and MAT expert, to talk about the multi academy trust landscape and the challenges MATs face.

Also, in the news this week – the launch of the DfEs free teacher recruitment service, cuts to pupil mental health spending and more…

We’re joined by Anita Samani, Martine Clark and Jane Palmer, school leaders at Byron Court School in Brent, to talk about effective strategies for improving staff wellbeing.

Also, in the news this week – a surge in primary school children in PRUs, a letter from councillors to the government urging an increase in school funding and more…

We’re joined by Oli de Botton, headteacher of School 21 in Stratford, to talk about oracy as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.

Also, in the news this week – knife crime among young people, a soar in unauthorised pupil absences and more…

We’re joined by Vikkey Chaffe, creator of Facebook’s 21,000-strong Primary School Leader group, to talk about networking and the benefits that it can bring to schools.

Also in the news this week, we will be updating you on the £5.7 billion shortfall in education funding, Ofsted potentially reconsidering its 150 minute notice inspections and more…