Behaviour, Belonging, and Better Schools with Michael Chiles, Mind the Gap, Ep.130 (S7,E3)

<p>On this episode of <em>Mind the Gap</em>, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Michael Chiles, headteacher and author of several educational books, for a candid and practical conversation about what school improvement really looks like from the headteacher’s chair. Michael reflects on the work of building change with an established staff, from listening carefully to teachers and pupils before setting priorities to creating teaching labs and practice labs where staff explore classroom techniques and then rehearse them through deliberate practice. The discussion explores the realities of whole-school leadership: improving attendance, strengthening behaviour and belonging, supporting SEND, working with families, sustaining improvement over several years and keeping multiple plates spinning at once. Michael also speaks openly about the pressures of inspection and accountability when headline data can lag behind the changes leaders and teachers are seeing every day, and why context, culture, and the trajectory of a school matter.</p><p><br></p><p>Michael Chiles is an experienced senior leader and principal examiner who previously taught geography in the North West. Alongside his headship role, Michael supports teachers and leaders nationally and internationally, as well as writing literature for leading subject publishers. He enjoys walking and exploring the British countryside with his Border Collie, Daisy. His books include <em>The CRAFT of Assessment</em>, <em>The Feedback Pendulum</em> and <em>The Sweet Spot</em>. Follow Michael&#39;s experiences of the classroom and leadership at <a href="https://x.com/m_chiles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@m_chiles</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum &amp; assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://twitter.com/teacherhead" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠</a><a href="https://twitter.com/teacherhead" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://twitter.com/teacherhead" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://twitter.com/teacherhead" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer