JUST FOR KIDS LAW exists to help children and young people overcome all the difficulties they face, from problems at school and issues with immigration status to trouble with the police. They work with and for young people to ensure their legal

Why young people need lawyers Just For Kids – PP257

Jul 8th, 2020 49m 43s

How Kiran Gill is continuing to make ‘The Difference’ in PRUs and AP PP256

May 31st, 2020 1h 9m

Kiran began her career in inner-city London, as an English teacher in schools serving the most deprived postcodes in the country. After five years on the frontline, Kiran left to work in education policy, searching for solutions to the rising

How Kris Boyd moved from scoring goals to supporting children’s mental health – and why it matters PP255

May 25th, 2020 47m 4s

This week, a new presenter to the Pivotal Podcast, Cathy Duncan, spoke to the Scottish former football star, Kris Boyd. After a very successful career, Kris now works to help improve the mental health of those in need. Kris grew up in the South

How to maximise lockdown learning with Serena Clark PP254

May 15th, 2020 33m 7s

This week, Lynsie Monro speaks to Harrow International School Hong Kong‘s Deputy Head of Lower School (Pupil Wellbeing), Serena Clark. Serena is an award winning mentor and the recipient of outstanding leadership judgements from Ofsted in 2014

Why wellbeing is more important than curriculum coverage with Adrian Bethune PP253

May 6th, 2020 1h 5m

Mark Bocker picks the brains of Wellness champion, Adrian Bethune this week. Adrian Bethune is a Healthy Body and Mind Leader and Teacher at a primary school in Hertfordshire. He was awarded a ‘Happy Hero’ medal at the House of Lords on the UN

What are Therapeutic Schools and why should all schools follow this pattern? Shahana Knight explains. PP252

Apr 18th, 2020 1h 11m

This week, Mark Bocker speaks to Shahana Knight, Childhood Trauma and Mental Health Specialist. Shahana is the Founder and Director of TPC therapy Ltd. A mental health service for children and young people. She manages a large team of play ther

Dr Hope – Learning Packs before Six Packs – PP251

Apr 10th, 2020 53m 55s

This week, new presenter Lynsie Monro speaks to Dr Harry Hope about how he has led his Primary School through the opening stages of the Coronvirus emergency. It’s a fascinating interview and Harry shares a huge amount about his approaches and s

Baby J and the Baby People – UK’s first Hip Hop school! PP250

Mar 11th, 2020 30m

This week, Huw talks to the amazing Baby J about the alternative provision in Derby he runs called Baby People. We use the term ‘inspirational’ a lot but Baby J is definitely an inspiration to the many young people who have benefited from what

What all teachers should know about Autism and learning – PP249

Feb 26th, 2020 37m 7s

This is a compilation episode with clips from the following episodes: Sarah Wild on girls and autism…it’s not just a boy thing – PP159 Autistic? Genius! with Tom Bowes – PP192 Do we know enough about Inclusion? Tara Elie speaks to Emma Brown –

Why we should get our Heads Together in APlace2Be to tackle child mental health issues – with Dame Benita Refson DBE – PP248

Jan 15th, 2020 20m 55s

Benita is Founder of Place2Be and a qualified counsellor. Benita was CEO for 20 years until 2014 when she stepped down and was appointed life time President and continues to support the organisation enthusiastically through her role as Presiden

Coaching, Mentoring – what’s the difference? Rachel Lofthouse explains – PP247

Dec 4th, 2019 54m 9s

Rachel Lofthouse is Professor of Teacher Education in the Carnegie School of Education. She has a specific research interest in professional learning, exploring how teachers learn and how they can be supported to put that learning into practice

Give Yourself Permission To Be Playful at Christmas – and At Any Time! Gavin Oattes – PP246

Nov 27th, 2019 37m 57s

Gavin is a truly motivational speaker. His inspiration for what he does comes from where he started out his career—primary school teaching. He is a firm believer that we as adults can be every bit as inspired by young children as they can by us

Tara talks exclusions and crime on Voice of Islam Radio – PP245

Nov 21st, 2019 28m 55s

This week, Tara was invited onto Voice of Islam Radio to take part in a programme about the link between exclusions and crime, including knife crime. About Voice of Islam Voice of Islam Radio is a new Digital DAB 24hr radio station which offers

Kirstie Mackey – Barclays Life Skills – for life! PP244

Nov 13th, 2019 37m 32s

This week, Mark talks to Kirstie Mackey from Barclays Life Skills which provides: Tool tips and learning resources for you to help yourself or to support you in the development of others For students, educators and parents, the scheme provides

Technology in the Maths Classroom – helpful or harmful? PP243

Nov 6th, 2019 36m 45s

This week, Tara speaks to three guests about Maths in the classroom and how technology can help or hinder learning. Dr Christian Salas (below centre) is a Maths Lecturer from Waltham Forest College, Stephen Farmer (below left), is Headteacher a

Behaviour Problems in England with Mary Meredith PP242

Oct 21st, 2019 55m 43s

This week, Mark speaks to Mary Meredith, Head of Inclusion at Lincolnshire County Council. In an engrossing and detailed conversation, they cover many different areas of behaviour in English schools – what’s going well, what’s going badly and w

Do you think vlogger Blair Minchin is ‘bad’? PP241

Oct 14th, 2019 41m 22s

This week, Kevin and Ollie speak to the talented Blair Minchin, a primary school teacher based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Blair has been teaching for 5 years, having previously worked in law, practising in commercial litigation. He says he ADORES

Mark Bocker – from Head of PE to Pivotal Principal Trainer – PP240

Oct 8th, 2019 39m 26s

Mark has 37+ years’ experience in special, PRU and mainstream education; most recently as a headteacher of a small specialist (ASD/SEMH) residental school and a headteacher of a large pupil referral unit (PRU). Prior to headship, Mark also held

Innovation is the name of the game – with David Miller PP239

Sep 30th, 2019 35m 37s

Tara Ellie enjoyed speaking to David Miller this week. David is from Glasgow’s Kelvinside Academy which opened Scotland’s School of Innovation, the first of its kind in the UK, in September 2019. “This is a must for Scotland if it is to continu

Phonics Fun in the Jungle! PP238

Sep 23rd, 2019 18m 29s

In a great fun episode this week, Tara meets ‘The Jungle Master’ and ‘Kiosk Keef’ AKA Chris and Lewis from Hillcrest Early Years Academy in Lincolnshire. Chris and Lewis are both Key Stage 1 teachers and they make what they describe as ‘fun pho

Why Design is crucial for humanity – PP237

Sep 16th, 2019 27m 36s

Supporting the National Curriculum for Design and Technology and tailored for key stages 2, 3, 4 and 5, the Design Museum offers students and educators world class design education facilities supporting a vibrant and relevant programme connecte

Reading? There’s an app for that – Poio with Daniel Senn PP236

Sep 9th, 2019 31m 2s

In our first episode for the new academic year, Tara speaks to Daniel Senn whose background and skills helped him to invent a new reading app called Poio which has helped more than 100,000 children aged 3-8 crack the reading code! Daniel also s

RIP STARS battling for equality! PP235

Jul 15th, 2019 22m 29s

This week, Tara Elie speaks to the truly inspirational RIP STARS: Here’s how the Disabled Young Researchers describe themselves: We are a group of disabled young people aged 17 – 25 from Coventry, UK. We have been trained by Anita Franklin and

How and why to change your culture with Maxine and Ewan from Haileybury Turnford PP234

Jul 8th, 2019 21m 35s

This week, Tara Elie talks to Maxine and Ewan from Haileybury Turnford in Hertfordshire. It’s an excellent chance to hear all about how they have embarked on a process of culture change around behaviour and rates of exclusion – and their succes