The Kitchen Table

Urban Podcasts
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Welcome to The Kitchen Table, with Phil, Mohamed, and Danielle. A space where research meets relationships, and where we slow things down to talk about what really matters. This is where you’ll get to know us - our journeys through education, the questions we’re still wrestling with, and why belonging, mattering, and social justice sit at the heart of the work we do. We’ll also be joined by friends from across education and beyond, people who are committed to building communities that are rooted in care, courage, and the belief that everyone matters. So grab a cup of tea, a coffee, or whatever comfort food you have at arm’s reach, pull up a chair, and spend some time with us at The Kitchen Table.

  1. 14h ago

    Peter Hughes: The Mossbourne Way - Building a 100-Year Legacy in Education

    What does it truly take to build a school culture where academic excellence is non-negotiable, and how do you hold the line when the world pushes back? In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Peter Hughes, CEO of the Mossbourne Federation and author of Outstanding School Leadership. Known for transforming educational outcomes in areas of high deprivation, Peter shares his uncompromising philosophy on discipline, high expectations, and why clarity is the ultimate form of care for disadvantaged children. What You’ll Discover - Creating Environments Where Learning is the Norm: Why true social mobility requires a highly structured, predictable environment where the easiest thing for a child to do is learn. - The Long-Term View of Belonging: Why well-being should be measured by the adults children become in ten years' time, rather than just how they feel on any given Tuesday. - Moral Courage in Leadership: The importance of standing by your principles, protecting your staff, and why true allyship sometimes means risking your career for what is right. Building a legacy that lasts a century requires more than just good intentions; it demands an unwavering belief in the potential of every child. By refusing to lower the bar and holding fast to clear boundaries, we can create schools that genuinely change the trajectory of future generations. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  2. Jul 19

    Finding Cultural Agency in an Uncertain Future

    What if the true measure of social mobility isn't about escaping your community, but having the agency to thrive within it? In this episode of The Kitchen Table, Phil and Danielle sit down for a conversation exploring the powerful concept of "cultural agency." Moving beyond the traditional, often limiting view of social mobility as a ladder of escape, they discuss how we can reframe our educational systems to help young people flourish without requiring them to erase their backgrounds or leave their communities behind. What You’ll Discover - Redefining Social Mobility: Why true flourishing shouldn't require young people to abandon their roots, and how "cultural agency" allows students to succeed while remaining authentic to who they are. - AI as a Social Leveller: How artificial intelligence is democratising voice, allowing individuals who might lack traditional middle-class communication skills to confidently express themselves and be heard. - Navigating the Future of Work: A deep dive into the Milburn Review, the realities facing the 1.2 million young people not in education, employment, or training and why our education system must pivot towards human creativity and critical thinking. If we want to truly prepare the next generation for an unpredictable future, we must stop viewing their backgrounds as something to overcome and instead see them as the foundation for their success. By fostering self-worth and normalising the fear of stepping into new spaces, we can build a system where every young person feels they have earned a seat at the table. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  3. Jul 5

    Andy Wolfe: The Five Domains of Human Flourishing

    What does it really mean for human beings and the communities we build to flourish? In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we are joined by Andy Wolfe, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England and Interim Chief Executive of the National Society for Education. Andy oversees national work across developing leaders, shaping policy, and growing faith, while also authoring key resources including Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators and Schools. We explore the timeless concept of human flourishing and its relevance for schools today. What You’ll Discover - The True Meaning of Flourishing: Why it’s not a new buzzword but a deep, relational concept rooted in Aristotle’s eudaimonia and how it moves beyond individual happiness to community and growth. - The Five Domains of Flourishing: Purpose, relationships, resources, learning, and wellbeing and why these matter for both children and the adults who support them. - Leadership and Culture: How school leaders can create environments where adults and children thrive together, and why flourishing can’t be reduced to competition or narrow academic metrics. Andy’s powerful reminder is that flourishing is not about skipping through life without challenges - it’s about growing through them in community, with purpose and connection. In a world that often feels increasingly competitive and isolating, this conversation offers a hopeful, practical vision for schools (and society) that prioritises belonging, character, and the common good over simple rankings or test scores. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Ambition Foundation, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  4. Jun 21

    Laura McPhee: Driving Psychological Safety

    If the ultimate goal of education is to help students thrive, why do we spend so little time talking about the psychological safety of the adults leading them? In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Laura McPhee, Director of Education for University Schools Trust and a passionate advocate for social justice in education. With twenty years of experience and a proven track record of leading transformational change across London, Laura joins us to explore the profound impact of psychological safety in our schools. We dive into why true leadership requires vulnerability, how our early lived experiences shape the way we lead, and why creating a culture of belonging is the ultimate driver for both staff well-being and student success. What You’ll Discover - The Power of Psychological Safety: Why creating an environment where staff can speak up, make mistakes, and challenge the status quo is the ultimate lever for school improvement. - The Blueprint of Our Leadership: How our early childhood experiences and attachment styles silently shape the way we handle conflict, delegate, and connect with our teams. - The Importance of Cognitive Diversity: Why moving away from "culture fit" and actively building teams that think differently is the missing piece in modern education. We spend so much time chasing superficial metrics and traditional markers of success that we forget the human element at the core of it all. Laura’s honesty about her own journey from a disengaged student to a leader who had to learn that vulnerability isn't a weakness - is a breath of fresh air in a sector that often rewards control over connection. It’s not about lowering our standards or avoiding accountability, but rather about realising that high performance can only truly exist when people feel safe enough to take interpersonal risks. Whether it's rotating the chair in a staff meeting or simply taking the time to understand a colleague's lived experience, the goal is to build spaces where everyone genuinely feels they matter. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  5. Jun 7

    Lisa May Thornley: Connection, Attachment and Belonging

    Connection, attachment and belonging - the real foundations of great education. In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we are joined by Lisa May Thornley, SEND & Safeguarding Advisor at Zen Educate. A qualified teacher, SENCo, and Drama Therapist with extensive experience supporting vulnerable children and families, Lisa shares her journey and powerful insights on why relationships and purpose matter more than ever in schools. What You’ll Discover - Work, Career or Calling: Honest reflections on how viewing your role as a calling transforms your approach to education and life. - Practical Relational Tools: The power of the Karpman Triangle (thought, feeling, behaviour), embodiment, projection and role, and how these frameworks help children regulate emotions and overcome challenges like emotional-based school avoidance. - Attachment, Belonging & Social Agency: Why love and connection are the guiding principles for schools, and how giving children voice, safety and choice builds resilience and purpose. What really stood out is Lisa’s unwavering belief that everything in education comes back to feeling seen, safe, and heard. Whether drawing from her drama therapy roots, her work in prisons and with vulnerable families, or her training at Zen Educate, she shows how relational approaches and simple, practical tools can transform school culture, staff wellbeing, and children’s lives far beyond the classroom. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  6. May 24

    Kamal Ahmed: A Very British Gentleman

    In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Kamal Ahmed - journalist, editor, and now a senior leader at Fortune to explore his journey as the son of a Sudanese father and English mother. Kamal reflects on his book The Life and Times of a Very British Man, sharing honest stories from his childhood in West London, navigating race, class, difference, and the quiet (and not-so-quiet) experiences of feeling “other.” What You’ll Discover - Growing Up Between Cultures: Kamal’s experiences of difference in 1970s/80s Britain, from two-tone music and Soul II Soul to the slow realisation of prejudice and othering. - The Power of Critical Thinking and Partnership: Why giving young people the tools to navigate complex information, social media, and identity matters more than ever. - Belonging, Education & The Next Generation: Reflections on how schools, conversations, and intergenerational sympathy can help the next generation feel they matter. What really stayed with us is Kamal’s honesty about his own prejudices and mistakes as a young person, alongside his deep optimism about Britishness as a rich mix of backgrounds. His call for partnership across generations rather than simply “making way” feels especially powerful. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  7. May 10

    Haili Hughes: Belonging, Mentoring, and Why Teachers Leave

    This was one of those conversations that really made us stop and think. In this episode of The Kitchen Table, we sit down with Haili Hughes to explore belonging in education, not as a simple idea, but as something complex, personal, and often uncomfortable. We get into her journey, from feeling like an outsider growing up to shaping a career around mentoring, teacher development, and retention. This is a conversation about identity, courage, and what it really takes to build cultures where people feel they matter. What You’ll Discover - Belonging Is More Complex Than We Think: It’s not about fitting everywhere, it’s about understanding where and why we feel we belong. - Why Mentoring Must Go Beyond Coaching: Real mentoring blends skill development with trust, support, and human connection. - What Actually Keeps Teachers in the Profession: Belonging, agency, and identity matter just as much as workload when it comes to retention. Haili brings a rare perspective to the conversation. She is currently the only professor in the UK still working within a school, combining her role as Professor of Coaching and Mentoring with her work as Director of Professional Development at a MAT in Merseyside. Alongside this, she has served as an ITT Quality Advisor for the Department for Education since 2021, facilitated and assessed the ECF and NPQs for both Teach First and UCL, and continues to contribute to national teacher development through her work with Teach First and the Ambition Institute. In 2024, she was elected to the council of the Chartered College of Teaching, and in 2026, she was awarded Fellowship status. What really stayed with us is how honest this conversation is about the reality of education right now. The pressure, the complexity, and the challenge of creating environments where people feel safe to grow. But also the reminder that small shifts, better conversations, and intentional leadership can make a real difference. Haili has written 10 education books: Mentoring in Schools Preserving Positivity Ready to Teach: An Inspector Calls Teacher Hacks: English Love the One You're With Coaching for Adaptive Expertise GCSE Literature Boost: A Christmas Carol Humans in the Classroom Clearing the Path to Leadership - not yet on pre-order. Tackling the Unseen Poem - not yet on pre-order. Mentoring English Teachers - not yet on pre-order. GCSE Literature Boost: Jekyll and Hyde - not yet on pre-order. Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog. Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Substack. Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Substack. The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

  8. Apr 26

    Designing a Curriculum for Belonging and Inclusion

    There has been increasing reflection on what belonging really looks like in education, not just as a concept, but as something intentionally designed into the everyday experience of schools. In this episode of The Kitchen Table, Aidan Severs, an education consultant and former deputy head with over 20 years in teaching and leadership, shares what it truly takes to build a curriculum for belonging and inclusion that goes beyond good intentions. Drawing on his experience from the classroom through to whole-school leadership in Bradford, and now his work supporting schools across the UK, Aidan offers a practical, deeply grounded perspective on how real change actually happens. What You’ll Discover - Belonging Beyond Buzzwords: Why inclusion isn’t about policies or posters, but about how people actually experience a school every single day. - Designing Culture Through Curriculum: How intentional curriculum thinking can shape identity, empathy, and connection across a whole school. - Sustainable Change That Sticks: How leaders can support staff development and build improvements that genuinely last. One of the key takeaways from this conversation is how deliberate this work needs to be. Aidan’s experience across teaching, leadership, and consultancy is evident in his perspective on change - not quick fixes, but thoughtful, sustained work that supports both staff and pupils. That’s what makes this conversation so powerful. For school leaders, teachers, or anyone shaping learning environments, this is a conversation that is likely to stay with listeners. If it resonates, consider sharing it with someone working to build a more inclusive and thoughtful school culture. Connect with Aidan Severs Website | LinkedIn Connect with Phil Banks thebelongingcollective.blog Connect with Mohamed Abdallah Drawbridge Collective | Mohamed Abdallah | Substack Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu Danielle Lewis-Egonu | Substack The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.

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About

Welcome to The Kitchen Table, with Phil, Mohamed, and Danielle. A space where research meets relationships, and where we slow things down to talk about what really matters. This is where you’ll get to know us - our journeys through education, the questions we’re still wrestling with, and why belonging, mattering, and social justice sit at the heart of the work we do. We’ll also be joined by friends from across education and beyond, people who are committed to building communities that are rooted in care, courage, and the belief that everyone matters. So grab a cup of tea, a coffee, or whatever comfort food you have at arm’s reach, pull up a chair, and spend some time with us at The Kitchen Table.

Information

  • Creator
    Urban Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Urban Podcasts
  • Show Website
    The Kitchen Table