The Headteacher Update Podcast offers practical and useful advise, ideas and insights to support the work of primary school senior and middle leaders. Out on the first Wednesday of every month, each episode features a panel of school leaders discussing best practice relevant to the primary phase.
Listen to our latest episodes via your streaming service or by clicking below.
This episode offers practical advice and examples for how primary schools can best support the education and wider development of pupils who use English as an additional language (EAL), including refugee children.
This episode looks at best practice for delivering phonics programmes and teaching early reading, asking what high-quality phonics teaching looks like, how we can inspire a love of reading in pupils, and what inspectors look for in this area
This episode offers crucial advice and lots of practical tips to help primary school headteachers – especially those new to post – to survive and thrive in the top job while maintaining their own wellbeing and work/life balance.
This episode considers how school leaders can navigate difficult conversations that often need to take place with staff, parents and others, with lots of tips and examples of effective approaches
This episode considers simple yet effective ways of conducting high-impact self-evaluation in your primary school in order to support high standards and drive school improvement while also meeting Ofsted expectations.
This episode advises primary schools on how to engage with the different statutory and non-statutory agencies working to support pupils, especially our most vulnerable.
This episode identifies the key aspects of effective and purposeful curriculum evaluation in primary schools, looking at curriculum development, teacher workload, supporting disadvantaged pupils, meeting Ofsted expectations, and more.
This episode looks at how to be an effective school leader during challenging and difficult circumstances – both expected and unexpected. Three experienced leaders discuss how to lead and manage these situations, how to lead under pressure, and specific examples.
This episode is packed full of advice, ideas, and tips for delivering effective and impactful outdoor learning in the primary school.
This episode focuses on the use of coaching and mentoring approaches to support the professional development of teaching staff in schools, including important principles to keep in mind, some different models to use, and useful tips.
This episode looks at how primary schools can boost pupil attendance, including tackling persistent absenteeism and supporting families, with lots of practical ideas, tips and insights from three school leaders
This episode considers what effective middle leadership looks like in the primary school, including subject leadership, handling Ofsted's subject deep dives, and strategic middle leadership.
This episode considers how primary schools can balance their budgets, raise funds, and make the most of limited financial resources, offering a range of ideas and tips for income generation and reducing expenditure.
This episode discusses effective appraisal and performance management practice in primary schools. Three experienced school leaders discuss the principles of effective appraisal systems, including elements of a successful appraisal, and tips for setting objectives.
This episode tackles Ofsted school inspections, offering practical advice, tips and anecdotes for primary schools – including on subject deep dives – to help you thrive when the inspectors come calling.
