Education Research Reading Room

Ollie Lovell: Teacher, author, podcaster, blogger, PhD candidate. @ollie_lovell

The most in-depth education podcast available. Each episode host Ollie Lovell takes a deep dive into an important area of education with an educational thought leader from around the world, from practicing teachers to university professors and everyone in-between. If you're looking to build deep knowledge about education and how learning happens, this is the podcast for you.

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20 episodes
Updated February 27

Episodes20

Newest first

February 27 · 1 hr 41 min
ERRR #109. Chris Such on Teaching Reading and Comprehension
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with reading expert Christopher Such on the three key principles underlying the enabling of reading comprehension for students. Chris and Ollie discuss how these three principles have been communicated through Chris' two books, The Art and Science of Primary Reading and Primary Reading Simplified, in addition to the videos and action steps recently written by Chris for Steplab. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/chrissuch
January 9 · 1 hr 35 min
ERRR #108. Bill Hansberry on Making Restorative Conversations Work
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with experienced educator Bill Hansberry on a practical approach to restorative practices in schools. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/billhansberry
Nov 30, 2025 · 1 hr 30 min
ERRR #107. Doug Lemov on Teaching Reading
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell interviews the hugely influential author of Teach Like a Champion, Doug Lemov, about his newest book, The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading. Doug shares advice on everything from why books are dying in our culture, the role of book choice in teaching reading, book-driven objectives, teaching writing, and much more. This is a must-listen podcast for anyone teaching reading, especially in upper primary and secondary school. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/douglemov2
Sep 16, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
ERRR #106. Lissie Doyle on Test Feedback that Makes Students Think
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with Lissie Doyle about running test feeback in a way that supports students to think deeply about the process and learn from their mistakes. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/lissiedoyle
Aug 8, 2025 · 1 hr 50 min
ERRR #105. Sue Knight on Effective School Leadership
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with Sue Knight, principal of multiple turnaround school stories based upon the Science of Learning. Sue shares her insightful 3 principles for effective school leadership. See all show notes at: www.ollielovell.com/sueknight
Jul 10, 2025 · 2 hr 11 min
ERRR #104. Haywood & Parkinson on System-Level Approaches to Improving Primary Mathematics
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson from The Grattan Institute on their recent research into primary mathematics and what we need to do at the system level to improve it! Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/haywood-parkinson
Jun 5, 2025 · 2 hr 15 min
ERRR #103. James Mannion on Making Change Stick (Implementation)
Host Ollie Lovell speaks with James Mannion about his new book, "Making Change Stick", and how to effectively implement change and improvements in schools and organisations. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/jamesmannion2
May 7, 2025 · 1 hr 46 min
ERRR #102. Benjamin Riley on the dangers of AI in Education
This episode we’re speaking with Benjamin Riley. Ben is the founder of Cognitive Resonance, a think-and-do tank devoted to helping people to understand human cognition and generative AI. Previously, Ben founded and led Deans for Impact, a US-based nonprofit organization that works to improve initial teacher education using cognitive science. As Ben says, he likes to get people thinking, about thinking! This ep goes much wider in scope than usual. But I feel that's fitting given the unique point we're currently at in global politics. Hope you find it interesting at the very least! Full Show notes at https://www.ollielovell.com/benriley/
Apr 7, 2025 · 2 hr 1 min
ERRR #101. Alex Evans on Systematic School Improvement & Instructional Coaching
Host Ollie Lovell speaks with Alex Evans, Deputy Headteacher at St Luke’s Church of England School about the St Luke's change journey that moved the school from the bottom 20% of schools nationally, to the top 20%, within 4 years. This is a story of systematic instructional and curricular change, leveraging the power of Instructional Coaching. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/alexevans
Mar 5, 2025 · 2 hr 10 min
ERRR #100. Steve Biddulph on the Roots of Anxiety
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with the worlds most popular Parenting author, Steve Biddulph, on his new book, 'Wild Creature Mind'. This discussion explores the roots of our anxieties, with important implications in particular for how we support young people (and anyone close to us) at crucial times in their lives. Full show notes at: https://www.ollielovell.com/stevebiddulph/
Feb 1, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
ERRR #099. David Morkunas on Writing Quality Maths Lessons
In this episode of the ERRR Podcast, renowed mathematics education David Morkunas describes the ins and outs of writing high quality mathematics lessons, and particularly how these principals are embedded into the Explicit Mathematics Program. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/davidmorkunas
Jan 7, 2025 · 1 hr 53 min
ERRR #098. Steve Capp on Effective School Leadership
In this episode, host Ollie Lovell speaks with acclaimed school principal Steve Capp to hear what it takes to turn around not one, but two primary schools. Steve shares countless pearls of wisdom on everything from pedagogy to management. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/stevecapp
Dec 10, 2024 · 2 hr 4 min
ERRR #097. Jonathan Sharples on Implementation in Education
Professor Jonathan Sharples from the Education Endowment Foundation shares insights and practical advice regarding how to help educational programs and initiatives to have maximum impact in your school or organisation. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/jonathansharples
Nov 7, 2024 · 1 hr 45 min
ERRR #096. Jennifer Buckingham on Literacy Instruction & Policy in the UK, Ireland & Aus
In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Buckingham describes key instructional and policy differences between the UK, Ireland, and Australia, and how these contribute to differing literacy levels and achievement on international tests such as PISA and PIRLS. Jen and Ollie discuss a multitude of factors including curriculum, instruction, initial teacher education, assessment, school inspections, as well as the all important culture and demographics. Full show notes at https://www.ollielovell.com/jenbuckingham/
Oct 4, 2024 · 2 hr 5 min
ERRR #095. Ron Berger on an Ethic of Excellence
This episode we're speaking with Ron Berger. Ron was a public school teacher and master carpenter in rural Massachusetts for over 25 years and is now a well-known national and international keynote speaker focused on inspiring a commitment to quality, character, and citizenship in students. He is the Senior Advisor at EL Education, a nonprofit school improvement organization that partners with public schools and districts across America, leads professional learning, and creates open educational resources. In this episode, Ron and I go in-depth into the idea of an ethic of excellence, and discuss, perhaps even debate, some of the ins and outs of the use of projects, assessments, and more. Full show notes at: https://www.ollielovell.com/ronberger
Sep 2, 2024 · 2 hr 4 min
ERRR #094. Craig Barton and Ollie analyse Ollie's teaching
In this episode, usual ERRR host Ollie Lovell has a recent maths lesson that he taught pulled apart by fellow edu-podcaster Craig Barton. Craig ask's Ollie a huge number of questions about this recent demonstration lesson, asking Ollie about different pedagogical decisions he made, and what he might do differently next time. For those looking for a truly in-depth discussion about teaching and learning, this is it! Full show notes at: https://www.ollielovell.com/craigbarton4/
Aug 4, 2024 · 2 hr 6 min
ERRR #093. Adam Boxer on the First 10 Minutes of a Lesson
Adam Boxer is a chemistry teacher in North London, he writes about science education, cognitive science, evidence-based education, and many other important topics. He’s an extremely popular on teacher social media and has had a huge impact on education both locally and internationally through his writings, books, podcast, and talks. I’ve followed Adam for a long time and have always found his writing to be extremely logical, practical, and well thought out. His book, Teaching Secondary Science, is a must-have for anyone who is keen for a great overview of a structured and systematic approach to teaching high school science, and I can highly recommend Adam’s other outputs too. This podcast was prompted when I recently explored a fantastic bit of edtech initiated by Adam, Carousel, which is an excellent knowledge management platform to help students to learn and master key knowledge that is fundamental to their success. Off the back of that, I was really keen to get Adam onto the podcast to discuss how he uses the first 10 minutes of a lesson to embed such knowledge… and I’m so glad I did! I hope you love it too See full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/adamboxer
Jul 5, 2024 · 2 hr 8 min
ERRR #092. Harry Fletcher-Wood on Running Effective Professional Development
Expert PD designer Harry Fletcher-Wood shares wisdom on what it takes to design truly deep and impactful PD for teachers. See all the show notes at www.ollielovell.com/harryfletcherwood3
Jun 3, 2024 · 1 hr 9 min
ERRR #091. Greg Ashman on the Essential Elements of a High Performing School
In this episode we speak with Greg Ashman about what it takes to create a high performing school like Ballarat Clarendon College, Victoria's highest performing school. We touch on important factors including shared student expectations, effective professional learning, shared and prescriptive lesson plans, effective data use, and much more. Full show notes at www.ollielovell.com/gregashman
May 6, 2024 · 2 hr 21 min
ERRR #090. Hunter & Parkinson on the Benefits of Multi-school Organisations
In this episode, Dr. Jordana Hunter & Nick Parkinson from the Grattan Institue discuss lessons from their trip to New York and England to visit 7 multi-school organisations, groups of schools working together under common governance and structures to the benefit of students.

Education Research Reading Room

ERRR #109. Chris Such on Teaching Reading and Comprehension

ERRR #108. Bill Hansberry on Making Restorative Conversations Work

ERRR #107. Doug Lemov on Teaching Reading

ERRR #106. Lissie Doyle on Test Feedback that Makes Students Think

ERRR #105. Sue Knight on Effective School Leadership

ERRR #104. Haywood & Parkinson on System-Level Approaches to Improving Primary Mathematics

ERRR #103. James Mannion on Making Change Stick (Implementation)

ERRR #102. Benjamin Riley on the dangers of AI in Education

ERRR #101. Alex Evans on Systematic School Improvement & Instructional Coaching

ERRR #100. Steve Biddulph on the Roots of Anxiety

ERRR #099. David Morkunas on Writing Quality Maths Lessons

ERRR #098. Steve Capp on Effective School Leadership

ERRR #097. Jonathan Sharples on Implementation in Education

ERRR #096. Jennifer Buckingham on Literacy Instruction & Policy in the UK, Ireland & Aus

ERRR #095. Ron Berger on an Ethic of Excellence

ERRR #094. Craig Barton and Ollie analyse Ollie's teaching

ERRR #093. Adam Boxer on the First 10 Minutes of a Lesson

ERRR #092. Harry Fletcher-Wood on Running Effective Professional Development

ERRR #091. Greg Ashman on the Essential Elements of a High Performing School

ERRR #090. Hunter & Parkinson on the Benefits of Multi-school Organisations