This week Sarah is joined by Lee Connelly, AKA The Skinny Jean Gardener. Lee is the UK's no.1 children's gardening educator. Lee has hosted on shows such as CBBC Blue Peter, BBC Teach, BBC Radio 1 as well as appearances on ITV, Channel 4 & 5. He is also the author of 'How to get kids gardening' and host of the Sunday Times Best Gardening Podcast, The Teacher/ Parent Garden Club. Today Sarah ask's Lee how he found gardening, how it can benefit children and what changes he would make to the education system. You can check out Lee's podcast here: https://skinnyjeangardener.co.uk/pod For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Tom Hodgkinson, Paralympic Podium Coach for the Great Britain cycling team. We chat about Tom’s fascinating career, he shares the experiences that the world of sport has given him and he tells us how he would change the education system for the better. For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Jamie Edwards, CEO of Shrewsbury Town in the Community. Jamie was a professional footballer for Bristol City FC, and played semi-professionally in Australia. He has been a UEFA B License coach since 2007 and founded and managed a sports coaching company from 2005 – 2007. Shrewsbury Town in the Community creates opportunities for people to lead healthy and active lifestyles through their fun and inclusive programmes. They provide opportunities to help individuals achieve their goals and realise their potential. This includes preparing young people for the world of work, particularly those young people who don’t thrive in the traditional school environment. Jamie kindly shares his story with us, what experiences have shaped him into the person that he is today and how he would change the education system for the better. For more information on Shrewsbury Town in the Community: https://www.shrewsburytowninthecommunity.com/ For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by year 13 student Lucy Craig, one of the creators of ‘Herstory’, a student-led newsletter highlighting remarkable women’s stories both contemporary and from history. This is the first time that we have heard from a current student on the Together We Grow podcast and Lucy provides some fascinating insights into what she likes about the education system and what she would like to see change in the near future. To read Lucy’s impressive work on ‘Herstory’, you can visit the Sir John Talbot’s school website: https://www.sirjohntalbots.co.uk/herstory-newsletter-issue-3-feminism/ For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors, former head boy of Sir John Talbot’s school (part of the Marches Academy Trust) and a graduate of Oxford University. We chat about the ups and downs of Robert's very successful career journey, who/what influenced him growing up (in and out of school) as well as discussing what schools can be doing differently to better prepare students for life after education. Robert also shares with us his experience on the ITV show Undercover Big Boss as well as what all billionaires have in common. The answer may not be what you think! Books mentioned in this episode: Road Less Stupid - Keith Cunningham Tools of Titans - Tim ferries Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Dr. Zareen Roohi Ahmed, the Founder & CEO of Gift Wellness Ltd who champion an award-winning range of natural products. The GIFT anion sanitary products range is sold across the UK and Europe, but most importantly, due to Zareen’s commitment to helping women in crisis, over 4 million sanitary pads have been donated to homeless and refugee women, foodbanks and schools. Zareen is also Chair of The Halimah Trust, a charity established to fulfil the dreams of her daughter who was tragically murdered in 2007. Zareen has channelled this negative energy into some truly positive and beautiful things, one example being opening an all girls school in Pakistan, built by The Halimah Trust and partners. This school has given young women a much needed education and the opportunity to escape poverty. Join us for a truly inspirational chat about the power of education, Zareen’s journey and her thoughts on the future of education. For more information on The Halimah Trust please visit their website: www.halimahtrust.org.uk For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Dr. Sam Collins, a leading global voice on women’s leadership, equality and empowerment. She is a social entrepreneur, a coach and author. Sam and her team at Aspire for Equality give women the freedom and support to change themselves and the world. Their trailblazing events spark action and their community sustains it. Aspire For Equality have worked with thousands of women around the world and know that change can be difficult but it is possible, and daring to imagine a different future is where it starts. Join us for this conversation where Sam shares some of her own childhood educational experiences as well as some interesting and inspiring insights on how she sees the future of education for our children. Sam believes, particularly with special needs education, that we need to encourage a passion or talent, instead of obsessing over fixing a weakness. Sarah and Sam agree that education should be more of an experiment because children have different needs. We should resist the urge to fit them all into one system and show them more trust. Listen to what they think they need, their answer might pleasantly surprise us! For more information on Aspire For Equality you can visit their website: https://aspireforequality.com/ For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Dr. Ellis Crasnow all the way from LA. Dr. Crasnow is a director at the STEM³ Academy, a WASC accredited school dedicated to K–12 students who are bright, have a passion for STEM-related fields, and benefit from non-traditional learning methods. Ellis really considers the journey that young people with special needs will be on once they finish education and he works tirelessly to prepare them for life as best as possible. Join us for a truly inspirational and fascinating discussion. For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

This week Sarah is joined by Branwen Jeffreys, Education Editor for BBC News. Branwen is a broadcaster and writer with a broad interest in social policy and education. She investigates the impact of various government initiatives aimed at children & young people. In 2015 she became a Governor of The Health Foundation and she is directly involved in ‘REAL’, the Research for Equitable Access & Learning. This campaign is committed to turning around the lives of disadvantaged people by reducing poverty, empowering women, improving health standards and encouraging economic growth. Join us we discuss Branwen’s life experiences and how this has shaped her thoughts on what education could look like. For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY

Professor Michael Waters is an inspiration to many, including our host Sarah. Mick was the Director of Curriculum at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, based in London, from 2005-9. He was responsible for what British children are legally obliged to study at school via the National Curriculum. In this episode he shares his thoughts on what education could/should look like in the future and what the true purpose of education is. He poses some thought-provoking questions to us. Should all students attend school at exactly the same time? Take exams at the same time? Should schools be closed during the summer? Should education even physically be in a school? Mick also shares some heart warming stories about being a teacher and tells us why it’s the best job in the world.   For more information about the Marches Academy Trust, visit our website: https://www.marchesacademytrust.co.uk/ Music - Good Love by Vendredi https://soundcloud.com/vendrediduo​ Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/3unfdOw​ Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/HVH3GJyejXY