Managing Behaviour - Pivotal Podcast - Behaviour Management, Safeguarding, Teaching And Learning

Andy founded the Holistic Life Foundation with two co-founders he met at college. They decided that their mission in life was to try to save the world and work out how to get everyone to stop suffering. One of the group’s godfathers agreed to teach them all facets of yoga practice – at 4am each … Continue reading Andres Gonzalez on Mindfulness and Meditation – not Detention! PP158 →

Paul makes a welcome return to the Pivotal Podcast this week and our very special guest is Andy Buck. Originally a geography teacher, head of year and head of department, Andy went on to become a headteacher in east London for thirteen years. In the last year of headship, his school was judged outstanding in … Continue reading You’re in luck – it’s Andy Buck! (On Leadership) – PP157 →

Ollie and Kevin speak to David Bowman, Managing Director of Crown House Publishing, about the educational book market and why it’s booming again. David also talks about how they find educational authors and what makes a great educational book. David was originally in ‘productivity service’ with a gas board but moved into the family business … Continue reading How to get your educational book published with Crown House Publishing’s David Bowman – PP156 →

Oldham Sixth Form College have had two trainers trained by Pivotal Education in Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Pivotal Curriculum. Tara visited the college and recorded some interviews ‘on location’ to find out how the Pivotal Curriculum is affecting staff and students. What has changed? Tara spoke to Louise and Doug and asked … Continue reading How to transform behaviour with staff and students from Oldham Sixth Form College – PP155 →

Pivotal’s own Mike Armiger discusses the state of Mental Health in our children and young people. He suggests a range of ways in which schools can cope with the situation and best support those young people who are struggling with their own mental health. Why are Mental Health issues on the rise in schools and … Continue reading Why Mental Health issues are on the rise and what schools can do about it – PP154 →

In an unusual but very engaging episode, Paul and his son, Bertie, interview Netta, a year 9 student and her mother, Penny. Netta tells us about her personal experiences of whole class punishment and her feelings about it. We also discuss many other aspects of school behaviour and it was great to get a student … Continue reading Whole class punishment – a student speaks out – PP153 →

We welcome Parenting Expert, Sue Atkins, onto the podcast. It’s the first time we have spoken to a parenting specialist and it was a fascinating interview with Sue, who regularly appears on radio and TV – even sharing the sofa with Piers Morgan! Sue is a Parenting Expert, Writer, Speaker, Broadcaster, Parenting Coach and Mum … Continue reading Perfectly Practical Parenting with Sue Atkins – PP152 →

Tara Elie shares with us an amazing interview she recorded with the Dutch Detective Inspector Thorlief. It’s an amazing, thought provoking and deeply affecting episode with lots of parallels in every educational setting. Find out why Thorlief was accused of ‘Rolling out the red carpet for the Jihadis’ and why Tara was immediately by his … Continue reading How to reintegrate radicalised young men with Detective Inspector Thorlief – PP151 →

We had such a fun time this week talking to Juliet Robertson all about outdoor education. We learned some amazing things about settings which spend 90% of their time out of doors as well as a huge heap of tips and strategies for every classroom! Juliet is one of Scotland’s leading consultants on outdoor learning … Continue reading A Yearning for Outdoor Learning with Juliet Robertson – PP150 →

In a different kind of episode to normal, Paul and Kevin discuss a voicemail from Hannah who is looking for inspiration on research topics around behaviour and answer a question about how to persuade the last few children in a school to wear black shoes. The Varndean Goats get a mention as well… Then there … Continue reading Fastrack Behaviour and Black School Shoes – 149 →

Jonathan Lear joined us this week to talk about ‘Guerrilla Teaching’. Jonathan is a practising teacher and deputy head at an inner-city primary school. His Independent Learning bio reads: ‘Jonathan doesn’t so much teach as create an atmosphere in his classroom that is magical, engaging and exciting and that makes the children desperate to get … Continue reading How to Teach Guerrilla Style with Jonathan Lear – PP148 →

Dr. Phil Wood is a former geography teacher, subject leader and AST and is now at the School of Education at Leicester University. His research is about changing pedagogy and challenging organisations and teachers to look at their pedagogy. Phil is also an associate trainer with Independent Thinking. Accountability Phil is concerned that a lot … Continue reading How to Train, Retain and Research with Dr. Phil Wood – PP147 →

Our first guest in 2017 was English teacher and author of ‘Reading for Pleasure‘, Kenny Pieper. Here’s how his author biography describes him: “Kenny Pieper has been teaching English for seventeen years and still loves every minute of it. He stands shakily on the shoulders of giants in the shape of his amazingly inspiring colleagues. … Continue reading How To Get Children Reading For Pleasure With Kenny Pieper – PP146 →

In the first of a couple of shorter episodes over the festive period, we raid the cutting room floor as well as some of the most interesting episodes of 2016 in search of what’s important in education. We find fun, motivation and creativity! Featuring some additional thoughts from Julia Skinner as well as a whole … Continue reading Fun, motivation and creativity! PP145 →

It was great to have Lisa Ashes as our last guest of 2016. Lisa is an Advanced Skills English teacher, a development trainer, a writer, Independent Thinker, charity worker and a Reflective Learning Geek! Lisa’s latest book is called ‘Manglish’ and she aims to encourage the practice of fusing cross-curricular subjects in a challenging way. … Continue reading Lisa Ashes on ‘doing education to them’ and naked teaching! PP144 →

For the third year in a row, we present the mayhem and madness which is the Pivotal Podcast Christmas Quiz. Play along with our guest participant, Pivotal Education’s own Mike Armiger, as our Mystery Question-master takes us through rounds about Education – past, present and future!     What will your score be? Will you … Continue reading It’s the Pivotal Podcast Christmas Quiz 2016! PP143 →

Dr. Mary Bousted, General Secretary of ATL joined us this week to talk about the state of education, initial teacher training, recruitment and retention and a lot more besides! Originally a teacher in Harrow, Mary was a union representative for the National Union of Teachers and eventually became General Secretary of the Association of Teachers … Continue reading Bousted Lets Loose! PP142 →

We were joined this week by Bigfoot Arts Education’s Creative Director, Lizzie Clancy. Lizzie is a passionate advocate for creativity in education but that doesn’t mean just the arts subjects. She believes that creativity should pervade everything we do in schools. How important is creativity in the education system? Lizzie thinks that creativity should be … Continue reading Creativity is Crucial in the Classroom with Lizzie Clancy – PP141 →

This week we tackle one of the most controversial subjects amongst teachers, parents and learners – homework. We are joined by Mark Creasy – Teacher, ITL Associate, author of ‘Unhomework’ and Sky News guest! Mark has completely changed the way he, his classes and a lot of schools think about homework. Mark was a secondary … Continue reading The Great Homework Debate with Mark Creasy – PP140 →

The new President of the National Association of Headteachers, Kim Johnson, joined us this week. It was great to speak to him about what happened when he took the role and what he wants to achieve in his time as President. As an experienced Special School head, Kim is keen to ensure that these schools … Continue reading How to improve education with NAHT President, Kim Johnson – PP139 →