S03E07 - Jeanette Breen on lessons learnt from high-performing schools

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeanette Breen — Learning Specialist at Templestowe Heights Primary School and Head of Global Partnerships at No More Marking — to unpack insights from her recent tour of some of the highest-performing schools across the UK. From standalone primaries to schools within trusts like Ark Academy, and even the renowned Michaela Community School, where she met Katharine Birbalsingh, Jeanette explored what’s making a real impact in classrooms and leadership teams.

What makes this conversation truly unique is not just Jeanette’s sharp eye for what works — it’s that you’ll also hear directly from the educators she met along the way, thanks to recordings made on-site during her journey. You’ll hear from: 

• Andrew Percival and Jess Rennie - Stanley Road Primary School, Oldham
• Madeleine Roberts, David Williams, Jonathan Howlett and Ellen Clarke - Ark Curriculum team
• Matt Burnage - Ark Soane
• Claire Stoneman - 4 Dwellings Academy, Birmingham
• Michael Eggleton - Charles Dickens Primary
• Stuart Houghton - Ribbon Academy, Murton
• Dr Haili Hughes - Professor of teacher coaching & mentoring, Academica University oas, Director of Education, IRIS Connect. ECF & NPQ facilitator
• Bruno Reddy - CEO Times Tables Rock Stars and former head of Mathematics at King Solomon Academy

If you're looking to sharpen your teaching, rethink your curriculum, or get inspired by what’s working in leading schools abroad, this episode is packed with gold.

Resources mentioned:

• Daisy Christodoulou - Seven myths in education and Making good progress
• The Rose report
• StepLab
• Teach Like A Champion
• New wave maths books
• The Writing Revolution
• TimesTable Rockstars
• Grattan report on multi-school organisations
• Think Forward Educators
• Core knowledge units
• Numeracy screener being trialed by the Center for Independent Studies (CIS)
• White Ros