I have been so lucky to be asked to participate in a number of podcasts and have the opportunity to discuss my thoughts on school improvement. To listen to the podcast, just click on the image and it will take you straight to it.
Pinned Podcast: Key Voices – May 2021
Here is I talked to Caroline Doherty in this wide ranging discussion about school improvement. This was the first time I had spoken to Caroline but I had listened to many of her podcast for Key Voices. It was wonderful to be included in this illustrious company. This is a slightly longer podcast than many of the others listed.
Bedrock Learning – April 2024
Navigating the Heart and Soul of School Improvement
In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of education with Paul Ainsworth, Education Director at Infinity Academies Trust and author of “No Silver Bullets 2.0: The Heart and Soul of School Improvement.” Paul shares insights from his extensive career, which spans from teaching math to leading secondary school improvements. We discuss his approach to leadership, emphasizing both inspiration and strategic planning in school development.
Our conversation also covers the dynamics of collaboration and curriculum customization within multi-academy trusts. We examine the balance between personalized education methods and the implementation of robust operational systems. The discussion highlights how collaborative efforts among schools can streamline educational practices while maintaining a sense of collective responsibility and investment in student success.
Headteacher Update – April 2024
Protecting headteacher wellbeing during Ofsted inspection
In this episode we offer a range of practical strategies, tips and ideas for protecting the wellbeing of headteachers and other school staff during Ofsted inspection.
Our guest is Paul K Ainsworth, who has held director of school improvement roles in four multi-academy trusts in the last nine years and in that time has experienced more than 40 Ofsted inspections.
We get Paul’s practical insights – both small ideas and more substantial advice – about how we can protect our mental health and wellbeing, and that of our school team, during inspection.
Sec Ed – December 2023
Subject reviews & deep dives
Our expert panel asks what a subject review or deep dive is and looks like and why we need to carry them out – ultimately, what is their purpose?
We discuss how we can best conduct reviews/deep dives in order to ensure that we gather reliable and valid information that helps to inform our improvement planning.
And how can we do this while minimising the amount of stress that deep dives can cause to subject leader sand teachers, not least in terms of workload?
Headteacher Update – October 2023
A school leadership survival guide
This episode offers crucial advice and lots of practical tips to help primary school headteachers – especially those new to post – to survive and thrive in the top job while maintaining their own wellbeing and work/life balance.
We speak with three experienced school leaders who draw on their experiences and the ups and downs of their careers to offer their tips, ideas, and advice to others.
Sec Ed Webinar – October 2023
Ofsted and the curriculum – current inspection trends
This edition of the SecEd Webinar focused on Ofsted and the curriculum – considering inspection trends, hearing experiences from schools recently inspected, and offering practical advice for all those working on curriculum design and delivery in the secondary school.
This webinar – which took place on October 3 and which is now available to watch back on catch-up – featured an expert panel including colleagues who have gone through Ofsted inspection this year.
We discussed how each of their inspections had gone and offered practical ideas for effective curriculum planning through the lens of Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework
Headteacher Update – July 2023
Self-evaluation in the primary school
This episode considers simple yet effective ways of conducting high-impact self-evaluation in your primary school in order to support high standards and drive school improvement while also meeting Ofsted expectations.
Three primary school leaders discuss their tenets of best practice for effective self-evaluation. We talk about the self-evaluation cycle, what it should look like, and how it fits into the wider process of school improvement.
Sec Ed – February 2023
High Impact Routines
This episode looks at how to embed high-impact routines into your classroom and your teaching. We ask which routines or learning habits are the most successful and how can they be established in order to make teaching and learning more efficient and effective.
We discuss how we can decide upon, create, and establish these routines, including a seven-step process for creating and embedding routines.
We talk about how routines can lessen cognitive load in lessons for students, the importance of consistency and efficiency in the routines we create, and what we do when students don’t get the routines right.
Headteacher Update – January 2023
Improving pupil attendance
This episode looks at how primary schools can boost pupil attendance, including tackling persistent absenteeism and supporting families, with lots of practical ideas, tips and insights from three school leaders.
This episode discusses the current trends and challenges in primary school attendance, including the legacy of Covid. We identify and discuss the main barriers to attendance – including anxiety, school avoidance, SEMH needs, problems with punctuality, poverty and school uniform – and offer strategies and tips for how they can best be overcome, including ideas for positive interventions.
Sec Ed – January 2023
School inspection and OFSTED
This episode tackles Ofsted school inspection. Three experts offer practical insights, advice and tips for secondary schools – including the latest inspection trends to watch out for – to help you thrive when the inspectors come calling.
Our advice covers the 90-minute phone call, what needs to be in place pre-inspection, being ‘Ofsted-ready’ without burdening staff, and what data you need to have in place.
We offer tips for hosting the inspection team and managing the two days, including the emotional stress.
We discuss protecting staff wellbeing and workload before and during inspection.
The Schools and Academies Show – November 2022
Arriving late to the Trust Party
Our expert panel joined the Trust & Trustees Theatre at the Schools & Academies Show Birmingham to discuss the process of joining or forming a trust for schools following the release of the Schools White Paper.
The panel discussion was focused on the following key points:
- Is it too late for schools to start forming their own trusts?
- How to find a trust compatible with your pedagogical vision?
- How will Local Education Authorities’ new powers impact school choice when seeking to join a trust?
- Can schools maintain their identity within a trust?
- Are schools unique and can they be unique within a trust
Headteacher Update – October 2022
Effective appraisal & performance management
This episode discusses effective appraisal and performance management practice in primary schools. Three experienced school leaders discuss the principles of effective appraisal systems, including elements of a successful appraisal, and tips for setting objectives.
The podcast touches on issues including building trust, preparing for appraisals, whole-school culture, the importance of getting feedback right, how to sweat the small stuff, and creating the right conditions for professional learning.
Sec Ed – September 2022
Back to school – A leadership checklist
Are you ready for the new school year? This podcast offers a practical checklist for senior leaders working in secondary schools to help you prepare for the autumn term and beyond.
Our experts discuss the common ‘new year’ tasks that school leaders need to consider as well as common problems at this time of year and how to respond.
Headteacher Update – September 2022
School Inspection and OFSTED
This episode tackles Ofsted school inspections, offering practical advice, tips and anecdotes for primary schools – including on subject deep dives – to help you thrive when the inspectors come calling.
Two experienced headteachers offer a wealth of tips and ideas – big and small – including their tenets of best practice for handling Ofsted from start to finish.
Flying High – May 2022
It was a pleasure to talk to Alison Kriel the host of the Flying High podcast. We recorded this on #IanCurtis day which made it particularly poignant to me. Alison wrote, ‘Today we’re celebrating the work of Paul K Ainsworth, Education Director of Infinity Academy Trust, author of No Silver Bullets and huge fan of the late Ian Curtis from Joy Division. In this episode he shares his passion for school improvement, connection, collaboration and building up communities. ‘
Sec Ed – September 2021
Effective school improvement: Practices and processes
This episode offers practical advice and ideas for effective school improvement practices and processes, including guidance from four experienced secondary school leaders who discuss their common priorities and areas of focus, core principles, vision and values and much more besides…
The panel of four school leaders discuss the core elements and philosophy of effective school improvement, including vision, values & strategic priorities.
Tiny Voice Talks – July 2021
I love the concept of #TinyVoiceTalks so I was really excited to talk to Toria Bono. She said ‘In this episode, Toria talks to Paul Ainsworth (@pkainsworth), the author of ‘No Silver Bullets: Day in, Day out School Improvement’ and a system leader who has worked in four MATs. Paul explains his thoughts on school improvement both at a school level and a MAT level and suggests that to make school improvement sustainable, ‘day in, day out’ efforts are far more effective than silver bullets.’
Teacher Toolkit – March 2021
I have known Ross McGill of Teacher Toolkit fame since 2010 when he contacted me after reading one of my blogs for Secondary Headteacher Update. Finally in 2021 we had our first conversation which we recorded as a podcast for the Teacher Toolkit website. It was such a pleasure to share our views on school leadership and the importance of kindness and relationships to our leadership.
Naylors Natters – February 2021
The Naylors Natter podcasts have such a range of educationalist featured. It was such a pleasure to talk to Abby Bayford. Abby is the Director of the ATT institute and is a real expert on providing CPD in a Multi-Academy Trust environment. We had been sharing thoughts on CPD for the year before so it was great to capture this conversation.
Key Voices – May 2021
Here is I talked to Caroline Doherty in this wide ranging discussion about school improvement. This was the first time I had spoken to Caroline but I had listened to many of her podcast for Key Voices. It was wonderful to be included in this illustrious company. This is a slightly longer podcast than many of the others listed.
Every Teacher Matters – April 2021
I have had the pleasure of knowing Suneta for over 5 years. She is an extremely inspirational leader and has worked in a range of roles. I was delighted when she asked me to have a candid conversation. In this podcast we discussed how system leaders can support the well-being of staff in balance with the school improvement imperative.
Teach Well Toolkit – February 2021
Avoiding Headteacher burnout
It was great to talk to Steve Waters about this important topic which is very close to my heart.
Paul Ainsworth, former Headteacher and now School Improvement Partner, explains why it is vital that we take care of our headteachers.
Jeremy Hannay, Headteacher of Three Bridges Primary School in Southall, London tells us why Ofsted and high-stakes accountability is destroying teachers, children and schools.
Day in, day out. Day in, day out. 