Education: Joining the Dots

Putting literacy and assessment at the heart of student transition

In our latest episode we're joined by special guests from two UK Multi-Academy Trusts - Tallyia Charalambous, Director of English at Laidlaw Schools Trust and Graham Findlay, Secondary School Improvement Lead at Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. Tallyia collaborates with senior, subject and literacy leads across her Trust to raise standards in English and instil a lifelong love of reading and literacy. Drawing on her bilingual upbringing, she champions language diversity and innovative approaches to literacy. Graham works with key members of his Trust’s Executive team to develop and implement their secondary phase improvement strategy. He has a particular interest in developing strategies to support disadvantaged pupils. Together with our host Berjees Tata, Education Advisor for MATs, they explore how their respective school Trusts are transforming student transitions from primary to secondary education by placing literacy and assessment at the heart of the process. In our regular Data Spotlight feature, we explain how insights from the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) can be used alongside the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) to support students at transition. Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast [http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast] Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk [podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk] Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast  Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

Lost for Words – how children struggle to participate when they can't articulate

In our latest episode we join the dots on the growing issue of speech and language challenges among UK primary and secondary school children, highlighting key findings from our YouGov survey of over 1,000 teachers. For our discussion, we're joined by Rachael Symons, Reading and Primary English Lead at Cabot Learning Federation. Her previous experience includes leading MFL in secondary schools and working across a range of primary schools. Rachael currently supports literacy development in 35 schools within Cabot Learning Federation - advocating for every child's right to literacy and emphasising staff empowerment through professional development. Also, sharing her "lightbulb moment" this episode is Susanne Humpage, Developing Local Provision Project Facilitator at the Eastwards Consortium of schools in Birmingham. Read our Lost for Words report: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/lost-for-words/ Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast [http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast] Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk [podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk] Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast  Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

Intentional SEND Leadership - a UK and international perspective

In our first episode of 2025, we're joining the dots on the prevalent topic of inclusion and leadership. Our special guests for this discussion are David Bartram OBE, Director of Prescient Education, and Berna Bouwer, Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education. David has been a SEND policy adviser to the Department for Education, adviser to the Mayor of London’s education team and Director of SEND at the London Leadership Strategy. He is also author of the SEND Review Guide, editor of 'Great Expectations: Leading an Effective SEND Strategy in School' and co-author of 'Beyond Boundaries: Leading Great SEND Provision Across a Trust'. Berna worked in the UAE as a SENCo, Educational Psychologist, Head of Inclusion and Director of Inclusion, before working in the UK as a SENCo, Director of Inclusion and Head of Prep. She is now back in the UAE leading the inclusion strategy for GEMS Education. Our regular Data Spotlight feature explains the Graduated Response Model, and Aisling O’Connor, Head of Inclusion at Swiss International School in Dubai, shares her advice for staff working with learners with additional needs. Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast [http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast] Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk [podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk] Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast  Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

The value of standardised assessments – top tips on how to utilise school data

Welcome to another episode of 'Education: Joining the Dots', hosted by Ryan Hughes, Education Advisor. Our special guest for this episode is Becky St. John, a school assessment and performance data specialist who is passionate about helping schools and Multi-Academy Trusts use data effectively to improve outcomes. We join the dots on the value of standardised assessments and best practices for schools to use with data management for assessment. Our Data Spotlight explains proximal and distal assessments, and Jessie Ricketts, Professor at the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London shares her "lightbulb moment" from schools’ use of these assessments. Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast [http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast] Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk [podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk] Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast  Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

Mastering maths assessment - getting the right support to the right students

In our first episode of the new academic year, we join the dots on the key topic of mathematics and hear from listeners sharing the challenges they're currently facing in school around the delivery of this core subject. Our Data Spotlight explains our brand new assessment, the New Group Maths Test (NGMT). We discuss this and more with our Assessment Specialist for Numeracy & Mathematics, Andy Small, who previously spent nearly 16 years as a maths specialist teaching in both Primary and Independent Prep Schools. Find out more about NGMT: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/assessments/products/new-group-maths-test/ Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast [http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast] Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk [podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk] Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast  Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int