Leading with Rigour and Heart with Sonia Thompson

Sonia Thompson, Head at St Matthew’s CE Research School, explores the importance of community involvement, research-based educational practices, and the challenges educators face.

Sonia shares her experiences as a headteacher, discussing the benefits of being a research school and the collaborative ethos that drives their success.

The discussion also covers the current state of education, the pressures of accountability, and envisioning a better future for schools.

Sonia's optimism and dedication to creating a supportive and innovative educational environment shine throughout the episode.

• Encourage a supportive and collaborative environment among staff and with other schools to share resources and expertise.
• Recognise and address the pressures on teachers to create a more sustainable and positive work environment.
• Tailor your school's initiatives and projects to meet the specific needs of your students and the local community.
• Be open to refreshing and updating curricula and practices to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

Sonia is the Headteacher at St Matthew's CE Teaching School and is also the Director of the Research School. She is co-lead for English and also the History and Assessment Lead. She is an SLE for English and School Improvement and an accredited Talk for Writing Training Centre Lead.

Her work also extends to various groups and national organisations. Sonia is a member of the steering group for the National Tutoring Programme and an Advisory Board Member for OU/UKLA Reading for Pleasure website. She was a judge of the UKLA book awards 2020 and the Empathy Lab Books 2020 frequent speaker at conferences on Literacy, Curriculum and Reading for Pleasure.

Download the Hamilton Brookes' Primary Pledge card to continue the conversation with your teaching community. Share your pledge card by tagging Hamilton Brookes on your preferred social platform.

• Host: Ed Finch
• Producer: Laura Wilkes, Communicating for Impact
• Executive Producer: Joanna Borysiak, Hamilton Brookes
• Recorded and edited by: Story Ninety-Four

Primary Futures podcast is supported by funding from Oxford Brookes’ Small Knowledge Exchange Awards.