Thinking Deeply about Primary Education

Apr 11 2025 235 ep. 56 mins 122

Thinking Deeply about Primary Education Podcast artwork

Welcome to Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, the podcast that gives you a peek inside the minds of some truly inspirational primary teachers. Whether you're new to the profession or a school leader with tons of experience this podcast is a must listen. For references, links and extended cut video episodes head over to www.thinkingdeeply.info

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Deconstructing Word Problems with Gareth Metcalfe

Apr 11 2025 39 mins

Episode 223: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Gareth Metcalfe and Elliot Morgan to explore the ideas behind Gareth's latest project: Deconstructing Word Problems. After three years of development and classroom testing, Gareth shares the thinking and pedagogy that underpin his approach to designing word problems that genuinely help stud

Teaching Through Comparison: What Works and When?

Apr 04 2025 60 mins

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Emma Lindley-Thompson and John Jackson dive into a landmark study by Bethany Rittle-Johnson and Jon Star: Does comparing solution methods facilitate conceptual and procedural knowledge?We explore:The premise of the study and how the researchers tested their hypothesis through equation-solving tasks.Key findings that shed light o

Writing First, Assessment Second: A Conversation with Chris Youles

Mar 29 2025 44 mins

Episode 221: Writing First, Assessment Second – A Conversation with Chris YoulesThis week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Chris Youles for a timely conversation about writing assessment—why it often feels so difficult, how we’ve arrived at this point, and what we can do to realign assessment with the true purpose of teaching writing.We explore:Why

From Coaching to Confidence: The Power of Whole-Staff Rehearsal

Mar 21 2025 52 mins

Episode 220: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Alex Gingell to explore the power of whole-staff rehearsal in teacher development and coaching. Drawing on his personal experience of professional development, Alex outlines why this approach holds such promise for schools looking to build consistency, confidence, and expertise across their teams.We

What do schools who provide a stellar religious education offering do so well?

Mar 18 2025 16 mins

From the Archives 009: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Adam Smith shares his thoughts on the features of a high-quality religious education offering in schools.Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, where

What's in Store at TDaPE Manchester 2025?

Mar 14 2025 32 mins

Episode 219: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Anna Hackett and I dive into what’s in store at the upcoming TDaPE Manchester Conference on Saturday, 29th March 2025.We explore the talks, themes, and workshops that will bring together educators passionate about primary education, with practical insights to enhance teaching and learning. From mathematics to prof

Ausubel's concept hierarchy explained

Mar 11 2025 4 mins

From the Archives 008: In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into the archives to retrieve some of the most inspirational responses to questions posed over the last few years. This week, Sarah Cottinghatt shares her thoughts on the way David Ausubel structures his hierarchy of concepts and what this means for teachers.Enjoy this episode? Let us

Sustaining School Improvement – Leadership, Culture, and Change with Adam Lowing & Stuart Welsh

Mar 07 2025 39 mins

TDaPE Manchester TicketsEpisode 218: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, Stuart Welsh is joined by Adam Lowing to explore sustained school improvement—what it takes to make meaningful changes that last. Drawing on extensive experience working with schools at different stages of their improvement journey, Adam shares insights into leadership, culture, and profess

What are some high-impact, low-effort ways to improve mathematics across a school?

Mar 04 2025 11 mins

Unseen Question 003:In this episode of Thinking Deeply about Primary Education we're diving into an unseen question from our listeners. This week, Stuart Welsh gives his thoughts on ways to develop a mathematics teaching across a school.⁠TDaPE Mathematics Playlist⁠ (Over 22 hours of mathematics focused episodes) Enjoy this episode? Let us know in the comments, wherever you

Concreteness Fading: Bridging Procedural and Conceptual Understanding

Feb 28 2025 72 mins

Episode 217: This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, John Jackson and Emma Lindley-Thompson from Ambition Institute return to explore the next extract from their expert edit—this time, focusing on concreteness fading and its role in mathematics teaching.We discuss: The relationship between procedural knowledge and conceptual understanding and how this influences mat