Teaching: an art or science - part 1

02/25/25 • 30 min

In the first episode of a three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host, Harry Madgwick (EEF senior content and engagement manager) and expert guests including:

Damilola Ajagbonna (Deputy Headteacher, Hitchin Boys’ School)
Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching)
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach)
Dr Sally Riordan (Senior Research Fellow, UCL)

In this episode, Harry meets with his mentor from when he was an ECT to discuss what ECTs must master first upon entering the profession, what good mentoring can involve, and how to stay present and motivated as a teacher, accompanied by insights from a panel of experts.

Damilola Ajagbonna (Deputy Headteacher, Hitchin Boys’ School)
Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching)
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach)
Dr Sally Riordan (Senior Research Fellow, UCL)

Previous Episode

Breakfast clubs

In this instalment, host Alex Quigley is joined by co-host Kirsten Mould and expert guests. They discuss breakfast club provision in schools, implementation challenges, impact, and advice for those looking to set up breakfast club provision in their setting.

Lindsey McDonald, Chief Executive, Magic Breakfast, @LindseyMac_ @Magic_Breakfast (Start – 19:50)
Toni Hayzen, Headteacher, Pembroke Park Primary School and Nursery, @PrimaryHT_Mum and
Ash McGann, Headteacher, Burton Green Primary School (19:59 - End)

Further Resources:

EEF Breakfast Interventions: Rapid Evidence Assessment (August 2024)
TES, How to Build an Effective Breakfast Club: What the Research Says (August 2024)
To find out more about the Magic Breakfast Early Adopters Scheme: Early Adopters Scheme - Magic Breakfast
School Food Matters | School Food Matters

Next Episode

Teaching: an art or science - part 2

In this second episode of our three-part series, ‘Teaching: an art or science?’, host Harry Madgwick meets with Sarah Stock, Director of Newcastle Research School, to discuss teachers’ use of research evidence, with insights from a panel of experts: Sarah Stock (Director of Newcastle Research School, Primary School Improvement Lead NEAT Academy Trust) Panel:

Dr Cat Scutt (Deputy Chief Executive, Education and Research, Chartered College of Teaching) @CatScutt
Sarah Cottinghatt (Professional development consultant and instructional coach) @scottinghatt
Dr Sally Riordan (Associate Professor of Social Policy Research, Northeastern University London)

You can catch up on part 1 here.

Further resources