Karen Wespieser MBE

Shooting Azimuths

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Karen Wespieser MBE, a renowned educationalist with a background in educational research. Karen emphasised the importance of research in education, particularly the shift towards studying teaching practices and the science of learning. While systems-level research, such as government policies and funding, still receives significant attention, there is a growing interest in research that focuses on how to become a better teacher and how the brain influences learning. Karen discussed why it's crucial for school leaders to take an interest in research and how it can enhance teaching practice.

Karen also shared insights into her work as the chief operating officer of Teacher Tapp, a free app designed for teachers that sends three questions each day and shares the results with the community. Karen highlighted the importance of community support and knowledge-sharing among teachers, as the profession can often be isolating. Additionally, Karen talked about how Teacher Tapp benefits school leaders, as it enables them to compare their teachers' responses with the national average and make data-driven decisions based on the findings. Karen mentioned that Teacher Tapp has been collecting data for five years, revealing, for example, that while headteachers have the greatest sense of accomplishment in their daily work, they also experience the most work-related anxiety.

Karen will be addressing the Embley Education Conference, which takes place on 14 April 2023. To find out more about the conference and to book your place, please visit www.embley.org.uk/conference

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