Brighter Futures - The EDT Podcast

We discuss the shifting paradigm in professional development, a growing need to formalise comms strategies between head teachers & parents/guardians, and how ‘Leaders of Learning’ in Rwanda are collaboratively upskilling fellow educators in their local area.

In recent years there’s been a shift in how we nurture teachers at the beginning of their career journeys, so how has a ‘golden thread’ approach to training Early Career Teachers helped solve the teacher retention equation?

If we consider the specific needs of genders in the delivery of education as we do with other factors such as disability, then the benefits of gender-responsive education can be felt by all.

When peer review does away with the ‘assessment’ approach and puts schools in charge of their skills growth, that’s where the power of the Schools Partnership Programme lies.

Creating pathways for young people to bring career aspirations to life is an essential part of their educational journey, and one in which we’re seeing a positive shift.

An evidence-based approach to applying research in the education sector is a great grounding for improving practices, but how do we ensure its proper application?

School improvement through external review is a burgeoning sector of education provision, and the International School Quality Mark (ISQM) and the inspection of British Schools Overseas (BSO) are two methods being increasingly used in this area. But what do these reviews focus on, and how far do they lead to change and improvement?

The learning crisis in many low-income countries demands reform at scale, but how exactly can change be delivered swiftly and successfully? The Brookings Institution’s work in recent years has been trailblazing in what it takes to achieve this, and Brad Olsen is able to give key insights into how we deliver such reform in the Global South. Brad joins us alongside EDT’s Elizabeth Ogott and Clare Buntic, as we delve into the ingredients to transformation, teacher buy-in, and togetherness.

A child’s early years are arguably the most important in their development, so the quality of early years education should be paramount. Whether we have consensus on what is needed for this vital age group, the priority areas of improvement, and how we address inequity of early learning experiences are all conversations at the heart of episode 9 of Brighter Futures.

The climate crisis is arguably top of the agenda globally, but its impacts on education and the work we need to put into resolving such impacts remains understated. In this episode of Brighter Futures, we’re bringing those issues and necessary resolutions to the forefront. Join a fantastic panel of Kulima’s Dr Katharine Vincent, and EDT’s Donvan Amenya and Rachael Fitzpatrick, as we highlight the interconnected nature of these challenges, and how best to approach these vital solutions.

There is currently a focus in the UK on work-related skills, and our investment into equipping people with appropriate skills for life and work is vital. Our expert guests on episode 11 of Brighter Futures have an excellent perspective on the area of adult skills and how it can evolve for the better. This episode, we are joined by WEA's Director of External Relationships, Chris Morgan, and EDT's Deputy Director for Skills, Kiri Baxter.

International tests have played an important part in evidence-based education reform globally, and there are some fascinating cases to be made for the value of these benchmarks. Episode 12 of Brighter Futures features a panel of guests perfectly placed to offer a wider view on the remarkable influence these tests can have on global education: England’s former schools minister the Rt. Hon. Nick Gibb, EDT's Director of Research Dr Richard Churches, and CfBT Brunei's Country Manager Dr Louise Pagden.

EDT has played a key role in the DfE’s National Tutoring Programme, but what can we learn from its findings about how schools can better support students? Early findings have been very encouraging, and as we share the key benefits of school-based tutoring on Brighter Futures, Tony dives deeper into the topic with our expert panel of ImpactEd Evaluation's Holly Waddell, and EDT's Laura Fox and Fiona Rutherford.

Oracy is a field that matters across every single subject, and the benefits to school students are not only academic but extend to strengthening identity and self-actualisation. Despite this, there is a clear challenge in defining oracy and assessing it in schools. Joining us in a brand-new episode of Brighter Futures to discuss the nuances of that challenge are Associate at Oracy Cambridge Alan Howe, and EDT’s Policy & Solutions Director Dr Nicky Platt and Principal Education Advisor Dr Jim Rogers.