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Today we’re speaking with James Mannion and Kate McAllister on the Learning Skills curriculum. James and Kate developed and implemented this curriculum at ‘Seaview' high school, to very impressive effect. The curriculum utilises metacognition, self-regulation, and oracy to develop more independent, empowered, and effective learners. The program closed the gap between higher and lower advantage students, and the story of this program is one of the most inspiring stories that I’ve come across in education to date, which I’m sure comes across in the following podcast.
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James was a science teacher for 12 years and in school leadership for 8. He has a masters in person-centred education and a PhD in Learning to Learn from the University of Cambridge, and the topic of James’ PhD is the topic of today’s conversation. James also works as a Programmes Leader at the University College London Institute of Education, an Associate of Oracy Cambridge, and passionate advocate of practitioner inquiry as a basis for professional development, and implementation science as a framework for school improvement. Oh, and an all round great guy. James is the first return guest on the ERRR after his initial appearance back in episode 7!
Kate McAllister worked as a French teacher for 14 years and has over 10 years experience in school leadership roles. She was the initiator of the Learning to Learn curriculum about which we’re speaking today and has gone on to work on some amazing projects since, such as crowd-funded the purchase of a double decker bus, installing solar panels on the roof and working in refugee camps in Calais, providing much-needed education and support for people living in displacement. Since then she’s set up the Human Hive, a global community of organisations and individuals working together to create a more welcoming and inclusive world and at the time of recording was just about to start yet another school in the Dominican republic. As I said, Kate is a powerhouse.
Links/resources mentioned in the show
- Contact James Mannion at
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Web: rethinking-ed.org
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Email: james@rethinking-ed.org
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Twitter: @RethinkingJames
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- If you're interested in discussing what a Learning Skills curriculum could look like at your school, contact Ollie (if you're based in Melbourne), or James and Kate if you're anywhere else! We'd love to start the discussion with you : )
- Book: James and Kate's Fear is the Mind Killer (order for 35% off using the code included in the podcast)
- Book: 21 lessons for the 21st century, Yuval Noah Harari
- Instructional approach: Philosophy for Children
- The Human Hive – Kates initiative bringing together changemakers from around the world
- James Pennebaker, a tool for transformative writing
This episode of the ERRR Podcast is brought to you by John Catt Educational. Use this link along with the code provided within the podcast to get 30% off all books from John Catt Educational! https://www.johncattbookshop.com/books/errr
Listen to all past episodes of the ERRR podcast here.