The Renaissance Space Podcast

Reading for fun with World Book Day

In this episode, Georgina is joined by Kate Sayer, Education Specialist at the World Book Day charity and former primary teacher, whose career has centred on supporting children’s literacy through schools, arts organisations and family engagement. Kate explores the charity’s six principles for reading for pleasure and why they matter so much in today’s classrooms. She discusses the role of teacher knowledge, the power of choice, how to build genuine reading cultures and the importance of positioning reading as something children want to do, not something they have to do. Kate also shares early insights from her PhD research into how parents support their children’s reading, along with practical approaches schools can use to deepen relationships with families and their wider communities. Packed with thoughtful reflections and real‑world ideas, this episode offers valuable guidance for anyone committed to helping children read for fun. Find out more about World Book Day 2026: https://www.worldbookday.com [https://www.worldbookday.com] Access our World Book Day quizzes and resources: https://www.takethequiz.co.uk/ [http://www.takethequiz.co.uk/] If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: podcast@renaissance.com

Cracking the working memory code

In this episode, Polly is joined by Beccie Hawes, CEO of Cadmus Inclusive and specialist SEN advisory teacher, to explore one of the most overlooked barriers to learning: working memory. Beccie shares insights from her new book on demystifying executive functioning and explains why assumptions about these skills can leave some learners struggling. From identifying subtle classroom indicators to implementing simple but powerful “teaching tweaks,” Beccie offers practical strategies that lighten cognitive load and help every child thrive. Discover how routines, visuals and adaptive approaches can transform learning experiences - not just for pupils with working memory challenges, but for all learners. Beccie's new book "Demystifying Executive Functioning: A Practical Classroom Guide and Toolkit" is available now, published by Taylor & Francis Ltd. Find out more about Recall, our working memory assessment: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/Recall2026 [https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/campaigns/recall2026/] If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: podcast@renaissance.com [podcast@renaissance.com]

Developing a trust-wide culture of reading

In this episode, our host Margaret Allen is joined by Gary Hillyard, Headteacher at The Carlton Academy - part of the Redhill Academy Trust. Gary has been in education for 22 years and led the secondary reading strategy across the 10 secondary schools in the trust for the last 8 years. We explore Gary's journey from bookseller to teacher and his deep commitment to developing a trust-wide culture of reading. He emphasises the importance of authentic reading experiences, emotional engagement, and cross-curricular literacy to foster lifelong reading habits. Sign up for our ‘What Kids Are Reading Report 2025’ report, featuring insights from over 6,700 schools and 1,200,000 students in the UK and Ireland using Renaissance Star Reading and Accelerated Reader data: https://uk.renaissance.com/resources/wkar-2025/ If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: podcast@renaissance.com

Does Dyslexia have to impact learning?

In this episode, hosts Margaret Allen and Emma Dibden are joined by Dr Helen Ross - an independent educational research consultant, specialist assessor, and SEND expert. Together they delve into Helen's perspectives on reading, dyslexia, and education. Helen discusses the challenges of teaching children to love reading, her personal experiences with dyslexia and the pressures of the education system - advocating for authentic teaching and having diverse pathways to success. Helen chairs the Wiltshire Dyslexia Association and serves on the board of the US-based National Coalition of Independent Scholars. She has also consulted for the British Dyslexia Association, the UK Government’s Committee for Science and Technology, and Wiltshire Local Authority. Her recent book "Literacy Learning Journeys: An Educator’s Guide to Dyslexia, Aged 0-18" sold out on Amazon within a day of publication, and continues to generate a buzz online. If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: podcast@renaissance.com

Birdie: a braver version of me

In this episode, Margaret Allen is joined by bestselling author Jacqui Rose (better known to readers as 'J.P.') who shares her journey as an author - highlighting her Northern roots and adoption, which profoundly influenced her worldview and writing. They discuss her latest book "Birdie" inspired by her empathy for pit ponies she saw growing up - reflecting themes of loss, grief, and racism. J.P. shares her childhood love for reading and writing as a means of escapism and self-exploration. J.P. Rose is the bestselling author of over 18 adult crime novels, and is also collaborating with Martina Cole on her new novels. Last year, she was a judge for the Jhalak prize writing for children's books and YA. She was also winner of our 2024 Quiz Writers' Choice Award for Secondary Fiction for "The Haunting of Tyrese Walker". If you’d like to get in touch, please email us at: podcast@renaissance.com