Épisodes

  • Frank and Stan Chat NO. 214

    Frank and Stan Chat NO. 214
    Feb 14 2025

    Our planned guest Ross McGill was unable to make the recording date for this edition so we decided to record a chat between the two of us. Apparently, some of our followers like to have this sort of chat every now and again so here is a treat...for some.


    This week we announce that our little video cast/podcast won an award as the most popular education podcast in......wait for it.....OTTAWA! Who would have thought five years ago when these chats started that it would lead to this.


    Our chat kicks off with Stan considering the positive and possible negative impact of machine learning on how children learn. Frank makes clear that he is experiencing this sort of learning through his grandchildren and there are some clear benefits but some really significant problems. We then move on to a certain high profile headteacher who met the Secretary of State this week. And then we close by reflecting on the latest SPOTLIGHT edition of our chat with Dr james Mannion that is due to be published on Monday.


    Hope you enjoy the return of the two of us.


    Frank and Stan


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    31 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 213

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 213
    Feb 7 2025
    Sometimes the choice of guests aligns with a major development in an area they have a keen interest in. This was the case this week when Tracey O'Brien, Headteacher at Wallington High School for Girls and author of 'Rethinking School Inspection' joined the chat to consider the launch of a draft school inspection framework and the announcement by the Secretary of State of a fresh approach to school improvement. With a deep understanding of inspection drawn from 30 years experience Frank and Stan were able to discuss in detail some of the key proposals with Tracey. It's not a complete wipeout in terms of criticisms but there is no holding back. We hope it is helpful and we encourage everyone to contribute to the Ofsted consultation. Enjoy.

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    43 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 211

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 211
    Feb 1 2025
    The two gents are delighted to be able to welcome back Sarah Davies, an Assistant Headteacher, keynote speaker and author with a keen interest in oracy. Sarah provides an interesting update on where the oracy issue is at the moment and provides some underlying principles for how it should or could be introduced into every teacher's classroom. Stan considers what he's gained from a garage clearance and reflects on how useful it is for all in education to just reflect on what is useful and what is not. Sarah considers changes to the AQA syllabus for GCSE and how they will impact on what students learn and how they express themselves. Frank closes off the chat with a reflection on some CEO salaries and how excessive they are, in his view. It's another great chat. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it. Until next week.

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    41 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 212

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 212
    Feb 1 2025
    The two gents are delighted to be able to welcome back Sarah Davies, an Assistant Headteacher, keynote speaker and author with a keen interest in oracy. Sarah provides an interesting update on where the oracy issue is at the moment and provides some underlying principles for how it should or could be introduced into every teacher's classroom. Stan considers what he's gained from a garage clearance and reflects on how useful it is for all in education to just reflect on what is useful and what is not. Sarah considers changes to the AQA syllabus for GCSE and how they will impact on what students learn and how they express themselves. Frank closes off the chat with a reflection on some CEO salaries and how excessive they are, in his view. It's another great chat. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it. Until next week.

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    38 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 210

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 210
    Jan 17 2025
    Life is full of contradictions and this week's chat is no exception. The two gents reflect on the knowledge, skills, understanding, attitudes and behaviours necessary for living in today's world and the one that is coming. Stan considers the challenges he has faced in rebuilding a family member's bathroom. It has been a journey of discovery both for him and for those he has sought help from during the past three weeks. Frank reflects on the PM's speech about AI and considers whether all of the connections have been made in terms of what is taught in schools and whether there is clarity on how to achieve this. The government wants growth and it will need to do more to ensure education delivers what the economy needs moving forward. So, the chat highlights a possible contradiction or does it?. Stan wants more traditional life skills so that young people can make the most of their lives as well as supporting the drive for economic growth whereas Frank wants to focus fully on the future where AI will be a key feature. But, all of these aspects are central to successful personal and national futures. We definitely need greater clarity on all of this and a shift away from viewing the academic route as the preferred route. This is where the PM missed a trick, in our opinion. We hope you enjoy the chat.

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    37 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 209

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 209
    Jan 10 2025
    Frank and Stan are delighted to welcome back Lisa Fathers. Lisa was a guest in Edition 164 just over a year ago. During that time she's been promoted to Deputy CEO of the trust. The start of 2025 has seen a very cold spell and no let up on the education news front. This week Stan considers the power of AL and the somewhat circular nature of some of its insight. Lisa then picks up the baton to consider the Schools Bill that passed its Second Reading this week as well as the impact of the various news stories around child exploitation. Frank then considers the data on GCSE resits and how the current approach blocks pathways for too many young people. We also have time to reflect on the various tricky decisions school leaders have had to make this week about whether to open or close due to the cold weather conditions. For every parent/carer who agrees with the decision there is likely to be just as many dumbfounded by it. Enjoy.

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    31 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 208

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 208
    Dec 13 2024

    The final chat of 2024 sees Eric Craven 'The Scouse Poet' return for his fourth appearance as a guest on the chat. He reads some of his whimsical poems and Stan offers one to him! We also reflect on five chats drawn from the year that made an impression long after they were broadcast. We have been fortunate to have so many colleagues willing to join our chats each week and as we always say these are the real stars. We have noticed that some very high profile guests often receive correspondingly high viewing and listening figures. We have tried here to highlight guests with a lesser profile but who offer fascinating insights. The chats that are specifically covered in this edition are:


    Aelwyn Pugh Edition 187

    Emma Ainsworth Edition 195

    Dr Vic Carr Edition 207

    Neil Sheldon Edition 184

    Lisa Lea Weston Edition 176


    Have a happy Christmas and a great New Year. We are back on 10th January with guests already lined up into the second half of 2025.


    Best wishes


    Frank and Stan


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    43 min
  • Frank and Stan Chat No. 207

    Frank and Stan Chat No. 207
    Dec 6 2024

    Dr Vic Carr was a popular and insightful guest back on our chat in April so we decided to invite her back again. She is a mum to two young adults, the school dog, primary school Headteacher, Reserve Officer in the British Army Intelligence Corps, Chartered Manager, 'CollectivED' Fellow at Carnegie School of Education, Leeds Beckett University, Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Army Leadership, author and TEDx speaker who focuses on leadership, the power of language and how we all have the power to change lives.


    This chat opens with Stan again reflecting on how the lack of a clear national education strategy is preventing many who want to drive change and improvement from engaging in a meaningful way. Vic explains how she is managing this period of uncertainty and is trying to hold back from a feeling of disappointment, through having a belief that things will improve eventually. She considers the points made by Sam Freedman in his recent book 'Failed State' that explain the inner workings of the previous government wanting a catchy news item for the weekend newspapers. Frank then gets around his 'no Ofsted pledge' by reading a recent Linkedin article from Adrian Gray on the 'non-event' that was the annual Ofsted report. https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-gray-23642442/


    Another amazing chat with a committed school leader. We are the lucky colleagues who have the privilege to chat with so many brilliant people involved in education. Enjoy.


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    38 min