Carpet Time: Recent Episodes
Andrew Hammond & Phil Birchinall
A celebration and exploration of what it means and how it feels to be a teacher. Andrew Hammond and Phil Birchinall from Discovery Education share their thoughts and experience of a combined 50 years in the classroom. Join Andrew and Phil on the carpet at the end of the day, for a chat, a show and tell and some quality carpet time.
Schools have started the new academic year under the most unique circumstances since World War 2. The toll on mental health is yet to be fully understood on young and old but we know one thing, teachers will be sensitive and responsive to the needs of those in their care.
Who looks out for teachers and other staff in schools? In this episode, prompted by a 'back to school' webinar with the Discovery Education & National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) Pathway programme, Andrew and Phil discuss the vital place of understanding wellbeing for personal and professional development.
The works of the 13th century Persion poet, mystic, theologian and philosopher Rumi are known and treasured throughout many parts of world. How many of us in the UK are aware of his existence and great works? At a time when diversity is rightly at the forefront of all our thinking, Rumi's absence feels like an underlining of the fact that our curriculum does not have diversity built into it. Through the NAHT and Discovery Education's Pathway Programme, an encounter with inspirational educator and activist Pran Patel provides serious food for thought for Andrew and Phil on diversity and curriculum.
Is true creativity a spontaneous act? Can creativity be planned and structured or do we have to wait until the muse is upon us? Join Andrew and Phil on the carpet for a free ranging discussion on planning for, and bringing creativity to the classroom. In an excerpt from Discovery Education's Pathway programme (in partnership with the the National Association Headteachers), Hayley Thomas from EY3 Media joins the discssion and reveals her creative process as an actor.
In our first episode we set out what is ahead and what to expect from this series.
As we were sitting at our mics, A-level results were being announced and pupils and their families were absorbing the individual impact of each packet of news, good or bad. Regardless of faceless, emotionless algorithms, teachers and pupils have poured 14 years into those grades in a shared journey. Not just facts and figures but a real story of professionalism, care and yes, love.
We celebrate what it is to be a teacher and why during these times, the full reboot of our education system is in safe hands. Teachers have not stopped during the pandemic and have made sure that those that needed to, could join the front line and fend off an invisible viral threat. We share some inspiring stories of teachers going the extra mile and even a poem or two.