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Education: Joining the Dots

Education: Joining the Dots

Written by: GL Assessment
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About this listen

Welcome to 'Education: Joining the Dots' - the podcast from GL Assessment (known as GL Education internationally), a Renaissance company. Each episode features guests from across the world of education, jargon-busting explainers on key assessment terms, and conversations with schools like yours across the globe.

Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk

Follow us on X: @GL_Assessment @GL_Education

© 2026 Education: Joining the Dots
Episodes
  • Putting literacy and assessment at the heart of student transition
    May 23 2025

    In our latest episode we're joined by special guests from two UK Multi-Academy Trusts - Tallyia Charalambous, Director of English at Laidlaw Schools Trust and Graham Findlay, Secondary School Improvement Lead at Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust.

    Tallyia collaborates with senior, subject and literacy leads across her Trust to raise standards in English and instil a lifelong love of reading and literacy. Drawing on her bilingual upbringing, she champions language diversity and innovative approaches to literacy.

    Graham works with key members of his Trust’s Executive team to develop and implement their secondary phase improvement strategy. He has a particular interest in developing strategies to support disadvantaged pupils.

    Together with our host Berjees Tata, Education Advisor for MATs, they explore how their respective school Trusts are transforming student transitions from primary to secondary education by placing literacy and assessment at the heart of the process.

    In our regular Data Spotlight feature, we explain how insights from the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) can be used alongside the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4) to support students at transition.

    Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

    Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk

    Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast

    Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

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    28 mins
  • Lost for Words – how children struggle to participate when they can't articulate
    Mar 14 2025

    In our latest episode we join the dots on the growing issue of speech and language challenges among UK primary and secondary school children, highlighting key findings from our YouGov survey of over 1,000 teachers.

    For our discussion, we're joined by Rachael Symons, Reading and Primary English Lead at Cabot Learning Federation. Her previous experience includes leading MFL in secondary schools and working across a range of primary schools.

    Rachael currently supports literacy development in 35 schools within Cabot Learning Federation - advocating for every child's right to literacy and emphasising staff empowerment through professional development.

    Also, sharing her "lightbulb moment" this episode is Susanne Humpage, Developing Local Provision Project Facilitator at the Eastwards Consortium of schools in Birmingham.

    Read our Lost for Words report: https://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/lost-for-words/

    Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

    Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk

    Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast

    Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

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    24 mins
  • Intentional SEND Leadership - a UK and international perspective
    Jan 15 2025

    In our first episode of 2025, we're joining the dots on the prevalent topic of inclusion and leadership. Our special guests for this discussion are David Bartram OBE, Director of Prescient Education, and Berna Bouwer, Corporate Head of Inclusion at GEMS Education.

    David has been a SEND policy adviser to the Department for Education, adviser to the Mayor of London’s education team and Director of SEND at the London Leadership Strategy. He is also author of the SEND Review Guide, editor of 'Great Expectations: Leading an Effective SEND Strategy in School' and co-author of 'Beyond Boundaries: Leading Great SEND Provision Across a Trust'.

    Berna worked in the UAE as a SENCo, Educational Psychologist, Head of Inclusion and Director of Inclusion, before working in the UK as a SENCo, Director of Inclusion and Head of Prep. She is now back in the UAE leading the inclusion strategy for GEMS Education.

    Our regular Data Spotlight feature explains the Graduated Response Model, and Aisling O’Connor, Head of Inclusion at Swiss International School in Dubai, shares her advice for staff working with learners with additional needs.

    Find out more and access bonus content at: http://www.gl-assessment.co.uk/podcast

    Get in touch and send us your contributions: podcast@gl-assessment.co.uk

    Please take a few minutes to give us your valuable feedback on the podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GL_podcast

    Follow us on X: @RenLearnUK @RenLearn_int

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    30 mins
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