Edufuturists

Edufuturists

We are led to believe that the education system will continually evolve to meet the needs of learners and society. This has not happened. We need a revolution!

  1. 11 hr ago

    The Hardest Part of Teaching Isn't Workload with Grant Wootten (#356)

    What if the biggest problem in schools isn't teachers resisting change, it's that they're never given enough safety to try it? In this episode, Ben and Steve are joined by Grant Wootten, founder of Edusfere, to unpack why so much of a teacher's best work disappears the moment they leave a classroom and what it would take to stop the cycle. Grant spent a decade teaching in Southeast Asia, first with a nonprofit in rural Thailand and then at an international school in Bangkok, before founding Edusfere: a platform built to capture and preserve the instructional knowledge teachers create every day. He's recently relocated to the UK to lead Edusfere's expansion into the UK market. We cover: - Why teachers become "islands" and how decades of instructional knowledge gets lost every time someone leaves the profession - The real reason schools resist change and why psychological safety, not disruption, has to come first - What Grant believes is genuinely the hardest part of being a teacher today - Why EdTech should meet teachers where they already are instead of chasing flashy new features - A live debate: should the teacher or the learner sit at the centre of EdTech design? - Whether human-to-human "formation" is automatically better than a machine's and a story that complicates the answer - Why fear of conflict is quietly holding back adoption in education - How to bring your most resistant, most experienced teachers along for the ride Why listen? If you've ever watched brilliant teaching disappear into a filing cabinet or a departing colleague's laptop, this conversation names the problem precisely and makes the case that fixing it isn't about ripping up what works, but about giving teachers the safety net to build on it. Expect a genuinely sharp disagreement about whether AI or humans should sit at the centre of education, and a story from Ben that will make you think twice about assuming human-led always beats machine-led. Chapters 00:00 Highlights 01:30 Welcome back and the Wolfpack community update 03:25 Meet Grant Wootten: from Thai classrooms to EdTech founder 05:25 What is Edusfere and why target the UK market 07:53 Teachers are islands: the knowledge that gets lost every year 08:48 Ben's story: planning in silos at school 10:26 The hardest part of being a teacher today 15:51 Creating psychological safety before disruption 23:51 The role of EdTech in driving culture change 29:27 Should the teacher not the learner be at the centre? 33:26 Is human formation always a force for good? 38:36 Why we're afraid of conflict, and what it costs education 41:42 Bringing veteran, resistant teachers along 46:36 Three quick-fire questions with Grant Find out more about Edusfere Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Grab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book Join the Wolfpack Community

  2. 3 Aug

    Is kindness a weakness in school leadership? with Joanna Povall (#355)

    Is kindness in school leadership a weakness, or is it the one thing that actually stops your best teachers walking out the door? In this episode of the podcast, Ben Whitaker and Steve Hope sit down with Joanna Povall, principal, COBIS lead improvement partner, and author of Kind Leadership: Leading Schools with Empathy, Honesty and Impact. Joanna has spent 30 years in education across the UK, France and the UAE, including running a school through genuine crisis conditions in Abu Dhabi, and now carries out school accreditation visits everywhere from Tokyo to Ascension Island. We cover: - Why Joanna wrote Kind Leadership after coming close to burnout in a school that turned toxic almost overnight - The difference between being nice and being kind, and why people confuse the two - - The Al Capone quote that shaped the whole book, and what it reveals about legacy and leadership The CHASE framework: Communication, Honesty, Accountability, Self-esteem and Ego - What COBIS accreditation actually looks like when it's done as a relationship, not an inspection - Whether leaders can be both liked and respected - Why teacher and headteacher retention is a leadership problem before it's anything else - Being kind to yourself, and the story behind the now-famous red jacket If you lead people, manage a team, or have ever worried that being kind makes you look weak, this conversation will change how you think about it. Joanna makes a compelling, funny, and occasionally uncomfortable case that kindness and accountability were never opposites. Chapters 00:00 Highlights 02:20 Welcome to the Edufuturists Podcast 04:14 Meet Joanna Povall: from Manchester to Abu Dhabi 06:11 Moving into international school leadership 08:53 A melting pot of cultures and communities 11:14 Inside COBIS: what accreditation really looks like 14:23 Why accreditation should build relationships, not fear 20:10 Introducing the book: Kind Leadership 20:41 The toxic experience that inspired the book 25:38 Kindness vs weakness: the Al Capone question 32:41 The CHASE Framework explained 37:31 The red jacket story: kindness to yourself 39:11 Can leaders be liked and respected? 48:48 Being kind to yourself as a leader 54:00 Quickfire Questions Grab a copy of Joanna's book Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Check out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Grab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book Join the Edufuturists Wolfpack

  3. 27 Jul

    Is school actually worth getting out of bed for? with Andrew Young (#354)

    In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, we chat with Andrew Young, social sciences teacher, co-director of a Teaching School Hub in York, and author of Adaptive Teaching: Culture to Classroom, published by Crown House. Andrew has spent 14 years in education, from an unexpectedly early stint as deputy head of sixth form in London to his current role co-leading a hub supporting 250 schools a year across coastal, rural and urban North Yorkshire.We cover:- Why adaptive teaching depends on the local context a school sits in, not a one-size-fits-all playbook- What an inclusive classroom actually looks like when you strip away the jargon- Why high challenge has to be matched with high support, and how "we" beats "me"- The exam overload facing GCSE students and what it's doing to cognitive load- Why the curriculum needs more breadth: arts, dance, computing, AI and citizenship- The hidden financial barriers that stop disadvantaged pupils accessing enrichment- Why success shouldn't be measured by grades alone, and what schools can do instead- The four ingredients of adaptive teaching: culture, brains, teaching and curriculum- The danger of deficit language and labelling pupils by what they can't doIf you've ever wondered why some pupils switch off from school entirely, or you want practical ways to make classrooms work for every learner regardless of the label attached to them, this conversation gives you a genuine framework rather than another vague call to "differentiate more."Chapters00:00 Highlights01:53 Welcome to the podcast04:46 Andrew Young joins the show05:26 Andrew's journey into teaching08:12 Life as a Teaching School Hub co-director10:20 Why context matters for adaptive teaching15:57 Socialisation, homeschooling and alternative paths22:24 What does an inclusive classroom actually look like24:46 High challenge, high support and the power of "we"31:13 Rethinking a one-size-fits-all curriculum32:37 "Too many vegetarians dining in steakhouses"35:02 Assessment overload and broadening the curriculum37:21 Enrichment, disadvantage and hidden barriers41:34 Alternative pathways and shifting what success means44:03 Milestones, character and personal development47:23 The four ingredients of adaptive teaching53:37 Labels, deficit language and cognitive load55:19 Quickfire questions57:31 Wrap up and where to find the bookGrab a copy of Andrew's bookThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Edufuturists Wolfpack

  4. 20 Jul

    Is your school already breaking the law? EU AI Act, Deepfakes & AI Literacy w/ Matthew Wemyss (#353)

    In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, Ben gets to sit down with AI pioneer and award-winning school leader Matthew Wemyss to unpack what AI literacy actually looks like when you stop treating it as a bolt-on subject and start building it into lessons teachers are already planning.Guest introMatthew Wemyss is Assistant School Director at the Cambridge School of Bucharest, a former Edufuturists AI Pioneer award winner, and founder of the AIDucation conference. He's the author of AI guides for teachers, students and (soon) parents, and creator of the AI Lit Kit - a tool that maps AI literacy activities directly onto existing lesson plans and curriculum standards.We cover:- Life inside a British international school in Bucharest and what makes international school culture different- Growing the AI Education conference from three workshops to hundreds of attendees, and what's next for 2027- Writing AI guides for teachers, students and now parents and why the tools change but the principles don't- Inside the AI Lit Kit: turning existing lesson plans into AI literacy opportunities without adding a new initiative- Navigating the EU AI Act, evolving deepfake definitions, and what schools are legally responsible for- Why "just try it and see what breaks" beats waiting for permissionWhy listenIf you're a school leader, teacher or parent trying to work out how AI literacy, compliance and everyday classroom practice actually fit together, without piling another initiative onto an already packed calendar, this conversation gives you a practical, grounded way to think about it, from someone living the compliance side and the classroom side at once.Chapters00:00 Highlights01:53 Welcome and Edufuturists updates03:59 Matthew's route into teaching09:03 Life in a British international school in Bucharest20:29 Building the AI Education conference25:53 Writing AI guides for teachers, students and parents30:36 Inside the AI Lit Kit38:30 Is AI illiteracy the real problem?42:39 EU AI Act, deepfakes and AI governance in schools49:34 Quick-fire questions53:12 Wrap-up and what's nextGrab a copy of Matthew's new AI book (which he wrote with Ben!)Check out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack - our annual membership

  5. 13 Jul

    Is youth unemployment a crisis? with Alex Levit and Stephanie Loeck (#352)

    In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Alexandra Levit and Stephanie Loeck for a conversation about whether youth unemployment is really a "crisis" and what we should be doing about it either way. Alexandra Levit is a workforce futurist who has spent over two decades tracking the disconnect between what education provides and what employers actually need. Stephanie Loeck is VP of Strategic Development at GPS Education Partners, a nonprofit that bridges education and industry through work-based learning, a model borne out of a very real local talent 'crisis' rather than theory. Together they've co-written Make School Work: Solving the American Youth Employment Crisis Through Work-Based Learning, and their combined lens - one futurist, one practitioner - is exactly what makes this conversation land. We cover: - Whether youth unemployment is a genuine "crisis" or a slower-moving "wicked problem" - The demographic cliff, labour shortages, and the "twindemic" reshaping the future workforce - Why this is as much a moral and equity issue as an economic one - The "presentist" trap - why business adapts fast and education doesn't, and what that costs young people - Why "preparing young people for work" is the wrong goal and what to aim for instead - AI, curiosity, and the "four A's" of authentic work-based learning- Real examples of applying work-based learning thinking to your own kids' choices Whether you're a parent, teacher, school or college leader, or someone shaping policy around education and work, this episode will change how you think about what young people actually need to be ready for their future. Chapters 00:00 Highlights 01:16 Welcome to the podcast 02:49 Meet the guests 03:09 Alexandra Levit: workforce futurist 06:12 Stephanie Loeck: GPS Education Partners 09:27 Crisis or wicked problem? 13:07 The moral and equity crisis underneath it all 14:34 Presentism: why business and education move at different speeds 17:00 Why GPS Ed was built to solve a real local talent crisis 20:43 Inside the Make School Work framework 27:27 Anxiety, agency, and what work-based learning is really for 30:24 Preparing young people for the world, not just for work 34:33 AI, UBI, and the future of work 40:48 Applying work-based learning to your own kids 43:13 Curiosity beyond employment 45:55 AI and the four A's of work-based learning 50:28 Quick fire questionsThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book

  6. 6 Jul

    Blowing up the PX Pipeline with Stephen Steinhaus (#351)

    What if the one thing standing between a child and a lifetime of struggle is simply which adult happened to notice them today?Turning down a pro wrestling contract to study Shakespeare isn't the usual route into running a multi-academy trust but nothing about Stephen Steinhaus's journey has followed the usual route, and that's exactly why this conversation is so good. Stephen is co-founder and CEO of the Solihull AP Multi-Academy Trust, and on this episode he sits down with us to talk about what actually gets him up in the morning: a genuine, fired-up belief that permanent exclusion isn't inevitable, and that every single person in a school - from the cleaner to the CEO - has the power to change a child's trajectory. From Chicago Bears fandom to Falstaff, from a heritage archive project that changed his career to the hard truths about what happens to kids after they're permanently excluded, this one covers a lot of ground. And yes, there's a quick fire round at the end. Yes, he smashes it. We cover: - Stephen's route from American football and professional wrestling to Shakespeare scholarship and teaching - How a heritage archive project called "Other People's Children" reshaped his whole approach to education - The real statistics behind permanent exclusion in the UK and why they should make you angry - Why "alternative provision" should really just be called "provision" - The JFK/NASA mindset - why every role in a school, not just teachers, is a difference-maker - Rethinking behaviour policies: culture, language, and moving away from a punishment-first mindset- Practical starting points for anyone dealing with complex behaviour in mainstream, AP or special settingChapters 00:00 Highlights 01:33 Welcome to the podcast (and Ben's brand new overshirt) 02:50 Meet Stephen Steinhaus 03:55 From Chicago to Solihull: building an AP trust 08:03 Turning down a wrestling contract to study Shakespeare 18:15 How Shakespeare led to alternative provision 23:14 The "Other People's Children" project that changed everything 29:20 The truth about permanent exclusion 39:33 Every role matters: the JFK/NASA mindset 50:51 Rethinking behaviour: culture, language and leadership 59:09 Quick Fire QuestionsFind out more about StephenRead his Let’s tackle the SEND exclusion crisis one child at a time articleThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch Grab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book

  7. 29 Jun

    How AI is for more than just teachers and students in education with Chris Loveday (#350)

    What if the most important people in your school or college never set foot in a classroom?In this milestone 350th episode of the Edufuturists podcast, we sit down with Chris Loveday for a conversation years in the making - one that reframes who really drives an education organisation.Chris Loveday is Deputy Principal for Digital, Data and Funding at City of Portsmouth College, and the author of Operational Intelligence: The Power of Digital, Data and AI. His route into education leadership is anything but conventional - from leisure assistant on a school site, to running a 5,000-capacity music festival, to senior leadership in schools, sixth form and FE. That breadth is exactly what makes his thinking on systems, data and AI so distinctive.We cover:- Why "co-professionals" - the people who support learning beyond the classroom - are often the unsung backbone of education- The real value and untapped potential of Further Education in the UK- Why schools and colleges are "data rich but insight poor" and how to fix it- Using live data and AI to spot at-risk learners early and actually measure whether interventions work- Moving from "can we?" to "should we?" - guardrails, ethics and red-teaming AI in education- Building one of the UK's first student digital assistants - safely, at scale, for 5,000 students- Practical first steps: auditing legacy systems, writing a digital strategy, and getting an AI policy in place- Freeing humans up to be human by automating the mundaneWhether you're a teacher, school or college leader, EdTech professional, or someone working in operations, IT, data or finance, this episode will change how you think about the systems that hold education together and the people who run them.Chapters00:00 Highlights01:49 Welcome to Episode 35002:57 Meet Chris Loveday: an unconventional journey into education06:30 What is FE — and why it matters more than people realise11:29 Running a 5,000-capacity music festival13:23 Challenging convention and the power of rebel ideas16:28 Why he wrote Operational Intelligence — and why now18:44 Data rich, insight poor: the problem with education data23:30 Data with context: the story behind the numbers25:10 AI, natural language and at-risk early warning systems28:19 IT as a service: ego, vision and working in tandem38:25 From "can we?" to "should we?": ethics and guardrails42:14 Building one of the UK's first student digital assistants45:10 Solving the workforce crisis: freeing humans to be human49:55 Practical first steps you can take tomorrow53:07 Quickfire questionsThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve xFind out more about ChrisGet a copy of his latest book, Operational IntelligenceCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book

  8. 22 Jun

    What if the lessons that look most like play are actually the most serious teaching happening in your school? with Shahneila Saeed

    In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, Ben and Steve sit down with Shahneila Saeed for an extended version of a conversation that began at the Brilliant Festival. They dig into why play-based learning is rigorous pedagogy, how computing can be taught without a single computer, and what the games industry can teach the classroom about preparing young people for the world as it actually is. Shahneila Saeed is Head of Education at Ukie, the trade association for the UK's video games industry, and the founder and director of the Digital Schoolhouse programme. A former IT and computing teacher, she is also the author of How to Raise a Tech Genius. We cover: Why play is serious pedagogy, not a break from real learningHow "Just Dance with the Algorithm" teaches programming concepts through danceTeaching in-game AI with nothing more than a playground and some beach ballsThe classroom with no computers that reshaped Shahneila's entire approachMotivation, failure, and the problem with the GCSE "finish line"Whether schools are really preparing children for the jobs that exist right nowWhat industry actually says about the skills graduates are missingGame IP in the classroom, and how to use it without losing the pedagogyDigital Schoolhouse as a bridge between the games industry and educationHow parents can support computing and tech learning at home, including free resourcesWhether you're a teacher, school leader, edtech professional, or a parent trying to make sense of your child's screen time, this conversation will change how you think about play, computing, and the gap between school and the real world. Expect practical, low-cost ideas you can use on Monday morning, free resources you can access today, and a sharp case for why engagement has to come before assessment. Chapters: 00:00 Highlights 02:01 Welcome and the new Edufuturists book 03:42 From IT teacher to Ukie and Digital Schoolhouse 06:02 The classroom with no computers 10:36 Why play is serious pedagogy 12:56 Just Dance with the Algorithm 15:13 Teaching game AI with a game of dodgeball 16:24 Motivation, failure and the GCSE "finish line" 24:01 Computational thinking at home 27:44 Are we preparing kids for jobs that exist now? 28:34 What industry really says about graduate skills 32:08 What is Game IP and why it works in the classroom 36:14 Digital Schoolhouse as a bridge to industry 41:10 Parents, tech and the home conversation 46:14 Quick-fire questions Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you. Ben & Steve x Book  a Digital Schoolhouse workshop Digital Schoolhouse free computing resources Digital Schoolhouse Playful Computing ConferenceCheck out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education book

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

We are led to believe that the education system will continually evolve to meet the needs of learners and society. This has not happened. We need a revolution!

Information

  • Creator
    Edufuturists
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    414
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Edufuturists
  • Show Website
    Edufuturists

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