What would a dream school look like?

Join us - co-hosts David Marshall and Isabel Rich - and our guest, Dr Rebecca Torrance-Jenkins, as we discuss what a dream school might look like…

In this episode, we chat about some of the aspects of life in a school that perhaps is not working for pupils, particularly for those who have learning needs.

Rebecca discusses a panoply of solutions to make school a better learning environment for all students. She talks us through some changes we can make to the pastoral, social and curriculum offering to enable children not to survive at school but thrive. We even discuss the smell of the classroom and how this can alter a child’s ability to learn!

Rebecca specialises in translating insights from neuroscience and psychology into practical, transformative tools and tips for schools, children’s charities, and learning environments. She is all about creating spaces where the human brain can truly thrive which I am sure we can all agree is just what we strive for as teachers.

Links & Resources:

Rebecca’s website: https://www.drtorrancejenkins.co.uk/about/

As a neuroscientist and educationalist, she argues that we should (and can) design education around how children’s brains actually learn, rather than around timetables, buildings, or pre-set curricula.

Her not-for-profit programme in the North West of England won a She Inspires award, and she founded a Prep science department in a school named ‘STEM Prep School of the Year’ 3 years later.

As a writer and researcher, she bridges academic insight and real-world impact, including a forthcoming Cambridge University Press chapter on neuroscience-informed policy for SEND. She is also a council member of the educational neuroscience think tank Learnus, and a senior learning consultant for an EdTech platform—helping shape the future of education.

An interesting article about the Japanese headteacher in Cornwall, mentioned in the episode: https://medium.com/solomonkingsnorth/the-extraordinary-case-of-mr-yamazaki-18739ebb4980