If it impacts your school, we’re talking about it. Leading With… brings school leaders honest conversations and real-world strategies from experts with lived experience. From wellbeing and curriculum to funding and inclusion, this is where leadership meets practical solutions. Tune in for honest conversations and real-world strategies from experts who get it.

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What makes great staff want to stay in a school?In this episode of Leading With, Becky Dawson is joined by Reece Howells, Managing Director and Co Owner of Eteach, to explore the connection between recruitment, retention and school culture.Discover practical ways to attract great people, keep staff engaged and build a school where people want to stay and thrive.

What Makes Great Staff Stay? Recruitment, Retention and School Culture

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How can school leaders create a curriculum that delivers deeper learning, not just greater coverage?In this episode of Leading With, Pete Mattock is joined by education adviser, curriculum writer and speaker Mary Myatt to explore what an ambitious curriculum really looks like. Together, they discuss curriculum design, the importance of big ideas, evidence informed practice, reading, and how schools can build learning that lasts. They also examine how leaders can strengthen the transition from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and create meaningful learning experiences for every pupil.

What Makes Learning Stick? Rethinking Curriculum Design

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What happens when a school faces tragedy?In this episode of Leading With, Becky Dawson speaks with headteacher and PhD researcher Amanda Wilson about leading through critical incidents involving students. Together, they explore crisis leadership, communication, emotional wellbeing and the support school leaders need when navigating their most challenging moments.A thoughtful conversation packed with practical insights for school leaders at every stage of their journey.

Crisis Leadership in Schools: What Every Headteacher Needs to Know

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How can we inspire children to reconnect with nature in an increasingly digital world? In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Faulks, best known as Mr Bloom, to explore the power of nature based learning in the early years. Ben shares the story behind Mr Bloom’s Nursery, explains how his beloved baby fruit and vegetable characters encourage empathy, creativity and communication, and discusses why getting outdoors is essential for children&#39;s development. From resilience and sustainability to imaginative play and healthy eating, this episode is packed with practical ideas for educators and school leaders looking to nurture curious, confident learners.

From Mr Bloom to the Classroom: Growing Curious Learners

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What does staff wellbeing really mean and how can school leaders create cultures where staff can thrive?In this episode, Becky Dawson is joined by teacher, coach and author Emma Kell to explore the difference between wellbeing, wellness and &#34;well-doing&#34;, why culture matters more than token gestures, and how leaders can support staff while protecting their own wellbeing. Together, they discuss psychological safety, boundaries, coaching conversations and the role everyone plays in creating a positive school culture.A practical and thought provoking conversation for school leaders looking to build healthier, more sustainable workplaces.

Beyond Wellbeing: Building a Culture That Lasts

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How can schools build confidence in science, create a culture of curiosity and prepare pupils for an increasingly complex world?In this episode, Ashleigh Morris and Sarah Hutson are joined by Professor Lynne Bianchi to explore the future of science education. Together, they discuss teacher confidence, meaningful CPD, the role of AI in the classroom, and why science must become a strategic priority for school leaders. Packed with practical insights and thought provoking ideas, this conversation is essential listening for leaders looking to strengthen teaching, learning and scientific thinking across their school

Science, Leadership, Learning:  What Schools Need Next

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What happens when children move from Reception into formal classrooms with desks, worksheets and less play?In this episode of Leading With, Michelle Windridge speaks to Ruth Lue-Quee about why play based learning is essential for children’s development, the “cliff edge” into Year 1, and what schools can do differently to help children truly thrive.A must listen for school leaders and educators.

Beyond the Desk: Why Children Need Play

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Why do so many children struggle with writing, even when they can read confidently?In this episode of Leading With, Nicola Romaine is joined by Dr Tim Mills, lead drafter for primary English in the revised national curriculum, to unpack the research behind writing, cognitive load, sentence structure and motivation.From handwriting and spelling to AI, working memory and why writing is actually harder than reading, this practical conversation explores what schools need to know to support confident, capable writers.

Beyond the Myths: Teaching writing in the modern classroom

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What does effective intervention actually look like in secondary maths?In this episode of Leading With, Pete Mattock is joined by guests from UCL to explore how university partnerships and structured tutoring programmes are helping schools tackle the maths attainment gap. From confidence and attainment to sustainability and implementation, this episode looks at what it really takes to make interventions work.

Closing the Gap: Can University Partnerships Improve Maths Attainment?

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Your teachers are already using AI. Are you leading it or catching up? In this episode of Leading With, Alex Russell OBE and Dr Sarah Alcock unpack what’s really happening in schools right now.With most teachers already using AI, leadership can’t afford to sit back. This episode explores how to move from awareness to whole school implementation without losing control.AI is already in your classrooms. It’s time to lead.

AI: Your Teachers Are Using it. It’s Time to Lead It

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In this episode of Leading With, we unpack the phrase “not ready for phonics” and why it might be holding children back.Focusing on Reception, we explore what strong foundations really look like, why waiting isn’t the answer, and how early identification and targeted support can close gaps before they widen.A must-listen for school leaders and EYFS teachers looking to take a more confident, effective approach to early phonics.

Ready or Not: Rethinking Phonics in Reception

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In this episode, Michelle Windridge speaks with Laura Shepherd, an experienced EYFS lead and Influencer, about her recent Ofsted inspection experience.They explore what Ofsted 2026 really looks like in practice, from leadership pressure to the realities of data, provision and professional judgement.Laura shares honest insight into how inclusion is approached, what inspectors are really looking for, and how leaders can prepare with confidence.A must-listen for EYFS leads, headteachers and SLT navigating inspection in today’s landscape.

Ofsted 2026: An EYFS Lead’s Experience

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What if a child isn’t “bad at maths” but struggling with something we’re not spotting?In this episode of Leading With, Pete Mattock is joined by Rob Jennings to explore dyscalculia, a widely misunderstood learning difficulty affecting how learners understand and work with numbers.We cover what dyscalculia is, how it differs from maths anxiety, why it’s often missed, and what school leaders can do to better support pupils and staff.Because this isn’t about lowering expectations. It’s about removing barriers so every learner can access maths.

Dyscalculia: The Hidden Reason Some Pupils Struggle With Maths

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How do children develop a love of reading before they can even read?In this episode of Leading With, Tracie Butterfill speaks with Jo Tregenza, President of the UK Literacy Association, about why talk, play and relationships are the true foundations of literacy in the early years.Discover practical ways educators and families can build language rich environments, support reading for pleasure and help children make meaning from stories long before formal reading begins.

Reading Starts Before Words: Building The Foundations of Literacy

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In this episode of the Leading With Podcast, Jon Cripwell, National Education Lead for Primary Maths at Twinkl, speaks with Gráinne Hallahan, Head of Community at Teacher Tapp, about what teachers across the UK are really experiencing in schools.Using insights from Teacher Tapp data, they explore workload, behaviour, CPD, AI in classrooms and what school leaders can learn from the real voices of teachers.

The Real Voice of Teachers: What the Data Tells Us

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Play is not a luxury. It is the foundation.In this episode of Leading With, Tracie Butterfill speaks with Amber Ogunsanya-William, inclusive play advocate and NSPCC Champion for Childhood, about why play builds resilience, belonging and achievement. From growing up in an adventure playground to influencing national conversations on childhood, Amber shares why protecting play is essential if education is serious about raising standards and preparing children to be life ready, not just test ready.

Play Is Not a Luxury: Reclaiming Childhood in Education

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What does it really take to lead phonics across more than 50 schools, without losing the joy of reading?In this episode of Leading With, Laura Brogan, National Phonics and Early Reading Lead at Twinkl, is joined by Kali Jauncey- Childs, National Early Years and Phonics Lead at Oasis Community LearningTogether, they discuss leading phonics across a multi academy trust, embedding joy into early reading, and balancing consistency with inclusion at scale. From developing a love of reading through Book Wings to preparing for the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check, this episode offers practical insight for leaders and teachers shaping early literacy.

Building Fluency with Joy: Transforming Phonics Across a Multi Academy Trust

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In this episode of Leading With, Michelle Windridge, National Education Lead for School-Based EYFS, is joined by Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Ofsted, to discuss how inspection is evolving and what that means for schools.Sir Martyn reflects on the new Ofsted framework, its focus on collaboration, inclusion and supporting improvement, particularly for the most vulnerable children. The conversation also explores early years, school readiness and the importance of professional dialogue in reducing pressure and improving outcomes.

From Accountability to Support: Sir Martyn Oliver on Inspection Today

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How can school based funding support early years expansion?In this episode of Leading With, Michelle Windridge, National EYFS Lead for Schools at Twinkl, is joined by Alex Armstrong, Headteacher, and Anna Hughes, EYFS Lead, from Bloemfontein Primary School to discuss using school based nursery grant funding to open a baby room and expand early years provision.They share practical insight into funding, delivery challenges, and why investing early can make a lasting difference for children and families.

From Funding to Foundations: Expanding Early Years From Birth

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Reading starts long before children enter the classroom. In this episode of the Leading With podcast, Laura Brogan speaks with early years educator and Phun Phonics creator Jasmeen Basi about the brain science behind early reading.They explore neuroplasticity, play based phonics, dyslexia, and why the early years are a critical window for developing reading skills, confidence and access to the wider curriculum. A practical and insightful conversation for educators and parents supporting children from birth to five.

Reading Starts Before School: What Brain Science Tells Us About Phonics

Honest conversations and strategies for school leaders

A podcast for School Leaders, by School Leaders. Tune in for expert voices, real perspectives, and strategies you can use in your school tomorrow.