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

We had a great conversation this week with author, educationalist and Ofsted inspector, Mary Myatt. We talked about why high challenge and low threat are a good combination and we also answered an email question about noisy lunchtimes! Mary works in schools talking to pupils, teachers and leaders about learning, leadership and the curriculum.  She advises, … Continue reading How to lower the threat and increase the challenge with Mary Myatt – PP138 →

Paul returned to the podcast this week and we answered an email from an NQT who completed her PGCE recently. She says she is now struggling with her behaviour management. In hindsight, she says, she would have  started the year differently by being more consistent and she is now struggling to bring the behaviour back … Continue reading How to make the best of a bad start in behaviour – PP137 →

Ollie and Kevin managed to speak to former headteacher and creator of the 100 Word Challenge, Julia Skinner, this week. Julia ‘rediscovered’ herself via social media and blogging after retiring from teaching. She believes young people can be engaged with reading and writing through the power of blogging and that teachers can benefit hugely from … Continue reading Julia Skinner on how to get children reading and writing – and loving it! PP136 →

Mike and Kevin spoke to Marcus Cherrill this week about how to transform a classroom with music. Marcus is a Digital Champion, educator, trainer and consultant who is also Director of  I Can Teach Ltd. Amongst other roles, he spent 15 years as a head of year, teaching science but also maths, ICT and even … Continue reading Marcus Cherrill on how to transform your classroom with music – PP135 →

It was a privilege to speak to TES Blogger of the Year 2016, Natalie Scott, this week. Natalie is a teacher, a senior leaders, currently working as a Specialist Leader of Education and has volunteered in the ‘Calais Jungle’ camp. What did your time at the sharp end of school leadership teach you? Natalie learned … Continue reading Natalie Scott – Blogger of the Year on Jungle Teaching – 134 →

Dr. Carlene Firmin MBE  joined us this week to share her wealth of research on and practical experience with gangs, exploitation and violence amongst young people. Carlene is Senior Research Fellow at the International Centre, researching Child Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking and was awarded her MBE for service to women and girls. Does the language … Continue reading Carlene Firmin on gangs, exploitation and violence – research and practice – PP133 →

This week, Ollie Frith spoke to Dave Whitaker, Executive Head at Springwell Special Academy in Barnsley. Unconditional positive regard for students This is something which has been borrowed from the counselling and therapeutic areas. It’s a metaphor, an ethos or a set of values – it should be something you see and feel as you … Continue reading Dave Whitaker on how to create and use ‘Unconditional Positive Regard’ in your School →

In an episode packed with news, Paul and Kevin also discuss what’s important in behaviour management when starting a new year. Paul comes up with a brilliant list of advice including some dos and don’ts which will help anyone who finds themselves with a new class. Here’s Paul’s list of tips (in no particular order): … Continue reading Starting with Brilliant Behaviour – PP131 →

This is the sixth week of the Pivotal Podcast Summer Shorts. As we approach the new academic year in the UK, I’ve been looking back through archive and once again I’m amazed to see the breadth of topics and range of speakers we have featured over the past 130 episodes. The clips come from the … Continue reading The Pivotal Podcast Mixtape 2016! Summer Shorts 6 – PP130 →

This is the fifth week of the Pivotal Podcast Summer Shorts. The Pivotal Podcast has always been about bringing you inspirational moments to inspire from educational experts. Sometimes we have to cut parts of interviews out due to time contraints so this week I have been back through what’s on the cutting room floor. I’ve … Continue reading Nancy Gedge and David Cameron on keeping children at the forefront of what we do – Summer Shorts 5 – PP129 →

This is the fourth and final week of the Pivotal Podcast Summer Shorts from the recent TeachMeet London Boat event. More than 100 educators met at Westminster Pier and took to the water to discuss a wide range of issues in education. The fourth session I recorded dealt with issues around English as a Foreign … Continue reading English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and Literacy – Summer Shorts from #TMLondonBoat – PP128 →

The third session I recorded at #TMLondonBoat was based on the question, ‘What job satisfaction do you get from your role?’ It led to a brilliant number of different answers and the focus on positive responses was lovely to hear. It left us all with a warm glow and reminded us what’s great about being … Continue reading Job satisfaction – Summer Shorts from #TMLondonBoat – PP127 →

In our second Summer Short from TeachMeet London Boat, a group of teachers and educators talk about mental health and mindfulness. They cover areas such as student anxiety around exams, ADHD, how and why to use mindfulness techniques and practical, classroom approaches to making a positive impact on the mental welbeing of their classes. Links … Continue reading Mental Health and Mindfulness – Summer Shorts from #TMLondonBoat – PP126 →

This is first of four Summer Shorts which were recorded at TeachMeet London Boat recently. This one is about Policy and Politics. Over 100 educators gathered at Westminster Pier to board the boat and cruise the River Thames while discussing educational issues. The format was different to many TeachMeets – delegates submitted the questions they … Continue reading Policy and Politics – Summer Shorts from #TMLondonBoat – PP125 →

Over the Summer 2016, we will be releasing 4 sessions from Teach Meet London Boat as ‘Pivotal Summer Shorts’. Paul and Kevin had a fantastic time on the boat this week along with over 100 teachers who talked about a huge variety of topics and enjoyed the views of London as they sailed down the … Continue reading Say goodbye to Garth Smith and sail away on the #TMLondonBoat! PP124 →

This week we have no guest but Paul answers questions from our old friend, Benny Bagels, and an email about how to maximise your classroom display. You might well be surprised by his ideas… There’s also some very exciting news about the new Pivotal Flare in tweet of the week from Ellie Dix and a … Continue reading How to get fantastic displays and reduce your workload – PP123 →

This week Ollie and Kevin spoke to Ros Wilson, creator of Big Writing. Ros has over forty-five years experience in education, including twenty-seven years in schools, ten years in Senior Management positions and fourteen years in advisory and inspection work. She has taught in primary, middle and secondary schools in England and overseas, and has … Continue reading How to teach writing with Ros Wilson: Satisfaction Guaranteed! – PP122 →

We had a great time talking to Heath Monk this week. Heath has just taken over as Executive Director of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham. He was previously Chief Executive of The Future Leaders Trust, which he led from a small start-up to its present position as an established and highly regarded … Continue reading Monk’s Transcendental Education – PP121 →

This week, Ellie and Paul had a remarkable conversation with David Cameron – the ‘Real’ one – who is a presenter, trainer and consultant on all areas in education and children’s services. They cover a wide range of topics and there’s plenty of challenging views to get your teeth into! David talks about education in … Continue reading The ‘Real’ David Cameron on education in Scotland and how to improve assessment through trust – PP120 →

In this episode, Rob Carpenter joined us to talk about his work in several Primary Schools in the London borough of Greenwich. Rob is now Executive Headteacher with Woodhill & Foxfield Primary Schools in South East London. He describes himself as ‘passionate about sharing best practice and learning together’. We loved talking to Rob about … Continue reading Rob Carpenter on how to establish fantastic, high expectations…and meet them! PP119 →