In this joyful and thought-provoking episode, we’re joined by Tom Veck and Andy Hawkings from Rocktopus – the world’s greatest rock band for kids (and educators, as it turns out).
At the last Rethinking Education conference, Tom and Andy did something truly remarkable: in front of a live audience of 500 people, they wrote a brand new song on the spot. With lyrics provided by the audience and four chords chosen entirely at random, they created a tune that’s both hilarious and haunting – and just wait until you hear it. Fair warning: it’s an absolute earworm.
But this episode is more than a musical moment. Tom and Andy – both former teachers – use the lyrics of the song as a springboard for a fascinating conversation about the perks and peculiarities of the English education system. We explore the power of creativity, the limits of conformity, and what it might take to build a system that helps everyone to thrive.
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, policymaker or student, this one’s for you.
In this episode:
A live songwriting experiment with audience participation


Why music and creativity matter more than ever in education


Stories from the classroom – and why Tom and Andy left teaching


Reflections on control, compliance and how to do things differently


We have a narrow curriculum which squeezes out the arts - so let’s rethink education
There is a lack of imagination and not enough fun - so let’s rethink education

Children should be self directed showing us their way let them lead
Transferable skills should be the core of what we teach learn for life

So let’s trust
Let’s be brave 
Let’s do what’s right and not what is required

Let’s have fun
Let’s explore 
Let’s bring back the love forget the fear of being fired!

We're forced to rank the children as OFSTED ranks the schools - so let’s rethink education
We have a lack of agency - we're trapped inside the system - so let’s rethink education

A place of transformation that embraces community school is the heart
A place to dream a place to play a Place to think and love feeling free

So let’s trust
Let’s be brave 
Let’s do what’s right and not what is required

Let’s have fun
Let’s explore 
Let’s bring back the love forget the fear of being fired!

Outro track: ‘How it is and how it should be’ by Grit Control: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ud69RIV1eOV9poMR7AORI 

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Rocking the system: Live songwriting, earworms and education reform with Rocktopus

"Civilisation is a race between education and catastrophe." (HG Wells)

In this podcast, we take Wells at his word. Hosted by Dr James Mannion and David Cameron, Rethinking Education features long-form conversations with fascinating guests about how we might create a more diverse, intelligent, responsive educational ecosystem that works for *all* young people.

If this sounds interesting to you, welcome to Rethinking Education: Education's Critical Friend: https://rethinking-ed.org/podcast