Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
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Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
Series 2 - Episode 4 - A conversation with Emma Turner
Heads Talks
46 minutes 19 seconds
4 months ago
Series 2 - Episode 4 - A conversation with Emma Turner
Our guest today is Emma Turner, a highly respected voice in primary education, known for her deep expertise in curriculum design, teaching and learning, and school leadership. With almost 30 years’ experience in education, she has served as a class teacher, assistant head, deputy head, and co-head. She is a leading advocate for using cognitive science to inform curriculum and pedagogy, and is the author of several influential books including Simplicitus and Be More Toddler. Emma is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, co-hosts the Mind the Gap podcast and is a contributor to the Excellence Hub, a research-based initiative focused on helping schools create high-quality, interconnected curricula that support long-term learning and pupil wellbeing.
In this episode, Emma and Simon discuss the powerful role of early education in shaping how children learn, think, and grow. The conversation draws on cognitive science to highlight how self-efficacy, agency, and independence are best fostered in early childhood. They also reflect on the role of cultural capital, the risks of premature formalisation in primary education, and the vital role of parents in nurturing creativity, language, and confidence at home.
Heads Talks
Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
