#EdInfluence - podcast for education leaders

06 March 2019

Trusted by thousands of education providers across the country and an approved partner of the NGA, NAHT, CST, ASCL and ISBL, we are a national law firm helping our clients and partner organisations shape and influence education policy.

Providing insight and advice to education leaders in a collaborative and innovative way – our aim is to help you do what is right for your pupils and staff.

#EdInfluence draws on our own experiences and those of our clients and partners, to uncover the insights and beliefs of people who are truly invested in shaping the education space right now and those that are passionate about making a difference in the way in which we educate our children and young people.

Join our sector leading lawyers, Mark Blois and Nick MacKenzie as we cut through the policies, politics and red tape to engage in honest, humanised conversations with some of today’s most inspiring leaders.

When speaking about the series, Nick said:

“What has been fascinating is hearing about the incredible things that are happening right now within schools and academies – for example, how Shireland are harnessing technology to support learning, how co-founder of Games Workshop Ian Livingstone believes in the notion of learning through play. We hear how Paul Whiteman is passionate about removing the fear from data and installing confidence in the teaching profession, and our client Hugh Greenway talks about the purpose of education and piloting Ofsted's new inspection framework.... everyone will enjoy listening to these real stories…”

S02E09

Laying the foundations for the development of a national long-term education vision and plan

Carl Ward, founder and Chair of the Foundation for Education Development (FED) shares with us how a long-term education vision and plan can best serve the needs of our country and its people. Carl outlines the thinking behind FED’s ambitious three-year objective to unify our country’s approach to life-long learning focus and discusses the need for research, the ideas and voices of our young people and the regionalisation of education.

Watch the video

What makes a great school?

We're joined by Alastair Falk a former headteacher currently working as an education consultant to talk about what makes a great school. Topics discussed are: three broad roles of a great school, hearing the voice of parents and pupils, learning from the online experience, the role of schools in social and economic regeneration and the importance of networks and raising your ‘head up’.

Rising to the challenge - looking forward with optimism (part 2)

The final part on Covid-19 where five leading voices share examples of meeting this challenge and ideas for long-term positive change. Resilience, adaptability, collaboration and civic role of schools continue as key themes. Guest speakers are:

Joy Madeiros - Global CEO, Oasis (01:12)

Graham Feek - Deputy Chief Executive, Greenwood Academies Trust (12:16)

Justin James - Chief Executive, Lion Academy Trust (23:50)

Dan Morrow - Trust Leader & Chief Executive, Woodlands Academy Trust (40:55)

Stuart Gardner - Trust Leader, Thinking Schools Academy Trust (52:35).

Rising to the challenge - looking forward with optimism (part 1)

Resilience, adaptability, collaboration and civic role of schools are key themes in this first of two episodes on Covid-19. Five leading voices share examples of meeting this challenge and ideas for long-term positive change. Guest speakers are:

Leora Cruddas - Chief Executive, Confederation of School Trusts (01:12)

Luke Sparks - Executive Director, Dixons Academies Trust (09:20)

Debbie Clinton - Chief Executive Office, Academy Transformation Trust (22:10)

Richard Gill - Chief Executive Office, Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (32:15)

Hugh Greenway, Chief Executive, The Elliot Foundation (43:26).

Developing a successful multi-academy trust

We're joined by Sir Steve Lancashire, CEO of the REAch2 Academy Trust to discuss the continuing development of the largest primary-only multi-academy trust in the country. We explore a range of issues including the Trust’s origins and history, its approach to governance and the Trust’s ‘Cornerstone’ and ‘Touchstones’ strategies.

Bringing in technology to support learning and school improvement

Having successfully inspired thousands of young people through integrated learning systems Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust’s Executive Principle Sir Mark Grundy shares his insights into how their approach has developed over time. We examine what it takes to do it at scale, the importance of being brave and the positive outcomes for pupils who are being encouraged to learn differently.

The value of play, collaboration and creativity in learning

Ian Livingstone CBE takes us behind the UK’s high-tech creative and video games industries for a thought-provoking look at the national curriculum. We explore possible ways of making it more engaging and consider the use of learning through play to develop critical thinking, problem solving and creativity skills.

Contact