Bancroft’s Broadcasts: the School’s Podcast
Welcome to Bancroft's Broadcasts, the podcast where we talk to staff, parents, pupils and special guests to find out more about life within the school and of matters of current educational interest. A new episode is released every two weeks during term times.
All episodes are available on:
or search for Bancroft’s Broadcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever you usually get your podcasts.
Episode 19: Meet Dylan Campbell our Director of Sport and Fitness
Sport, Games and Physical Education, where do they fit within the life of Bancroft’s pupils? What do they bring in terms of learning and well being? We’re asking Mr Dylan Campbell , who’s recently started as Bancroft’s Director of Sport and Fitness.
15 May 2023,24 minutes
Episode 18: Sixth Form Life at Bancroft’s
What’s it like to be a Sixth Former at Bancroft’s? In this episode of Bancroft’s Broadcast, we are meeting the people who can really let us know, the Sixth Form students themselves. Faith, Amina, Maanvi, and Joe have lots to share with us about how they decided where and what to study, how Sixth Form feels a little different, and what else they’ve learned along the way.
28 April 2023, 35 minutes
Episode 17: In Conversation with the Student Leaders of the Bancroft’s Muslim Association
In this episode of Bancroft’s Broadcasts, we are meeting the leaders of the Bancroft’s Muslim Association; Tara, Zayba, Yusuf, Bilal. We’ll be asking about the purpose of the Association, its role within the wider Bancroft’s community, and what our four guests have learned and developed around their own skills in leadership and organization.
24 March 2023, 27 minutes
Episode 16: Pastoral Care at Bancroft’s with Liz Channer & James Barr
In this episode of Bancroft’s Broadcasts we are learning more about the pastoral care provided at the school. Our invited experts are Liz Channer who is Deputy Head Pastoral and James Barr who is Assistant Head Pastoral. We’ll be asking Liz and James about the issues that might trouble children and about the support that’s there to help them. We’ll gain some insight into how children value the opportunity to be listened to and to be given space to explore their feelings.
10 March, 28 minutes
Episode 15: Neurodiversity
Antonia Fryer-Green is Director of Learning Strategy at Bancroft’s. She’s a specialist in supporting neurodiverse students, for example children who may be on the autistic spectrum or have ADHD or dyslexia. In this episode, Antonia talks about about how Bancroft’s helps and supports students with particular learning needs.
14 February 2023, 28 minutes
Episode 14: Everything Musical
Adam Baum is Musical Director at Bancroft’s Prep School, and Julia Whitbread is Director of Music within the Senior School. In this episode we’re speaking to Adam and Julia about music at Bancroft’s, the lessons, the concerts, the choirs, and the musical opportunities that are there for the whole Bancroft’s community.
3 February 2023, 27 minutes
Episode 13: Exploring IdentiTEA at Bancroft’s
In this episode, we are in conversation with Sam in the Upper Sixth and Chair of our IdentiTEA Society. He explains why IndentiTEA is important to him and how things have changed at Bancroft’s for pupils who are questioning their own identity.
20 January 2023, 18 minutes
Episode 12: The Co-Curricular Side of Life at Bancroft’s with Eleanor, Alex and Jaya
In this episode, we’re taking a look at the co-curricular side of life at the school. That’s all the good stuff that goes on outside regular lesson times, like sport, music, drama and adventures beyond the classroom. To help us understand more we’re speaking to Assistant Head, Co-Curriuculum and Activities, Eleanor Burnside as well as Lower Sixth students Alex and Jaya.
19 December 2022, 28 minutes
Episode 11: Learning for Life with Simrat Khera
In this episode, we’re spending time in Bancroft’s Prep School. We’ll be meeting Simrat Khera who is the Head of Learning for life, Simrat Khera is head of Learning for Life at Bancroft School. Simrat is the person to speak to when it comes to the way we help children understand topics like health, relationships, citizenship, and everything that goes into their understanding of the wider world in which they live.
25 November 2022, 25 minutes.
Episode 10: The Prep School Curriculum with Tim Paramour, Director of Studies
In this episode, we’re spending time in the Prep School, meeting its Director of Studies Tim Paramour. Tim explains his approach to the Prep School’s Curriculum, how it’s decided, how it works and what benefits it brings for the children of the school.
11 November 2022, 24 minutes.
Episode 9: A Year in Review with Simon Marshall & Joe Layburn
We take a look back with Simon Marshall and Joe Layburn at the last academic year and also take a glimpse at the summer ahead.
4 July 2022, 32 minutes
Episode 8: Pride club and Pride Week at Bancroft’s School with Gill Entwistle & Ian Lucas.
In this episode we’re meeting Gill Entwistle, Drama teacher & Ian Lucas.What roles do Pride Club and Pride Week have at Bancroft’s School? To find out we speak to Gill Entwistle, a teacher at the school as well as being a diversity & inclusion mentor, and Ian Lucas, a longstanding queer activist who’s seen many changes since his own school days.
Gill and Ian help us understand more about how sexuality and inclusion can be seen at Bancroft’s and we discuss the value of positivity and openness. We learn about the plans for Pride Week at Bancroft’s and we are reassured that support is there for pupils considering who they are and how they feel.
24 June 2022. 27 minutes Listen here
Episode 7: Speaking with Deputy Head Academic, Dr Matthew Lim
In this episode we’re meeting Dr Matthew Lim who is Deputy Head Academic at the school. We ask Matthew about his role at Bancroft’s and about his understanding of what makes the school such a special place to learn. Matthew tells us what he brings to his teaching career from his previous work as a scientist.
10 June 2022, 22 minutes
Episode 6: Reflections from our Heads of House
For this episode of Bancroft’s broadcasts we’re meeting four guests who know the life at the school better than perhaps anyone. Maha, Lucy, Georgia and Constance are our four outgoing Heads of House and, as they approach their final weeks at the school, they reflect on their time at Bancroft’s, picking out some favourite memories and offering some advice to younger pupils.
29 May 2022, 24 minutes
Episode 5: Preparing for the Future, Careers Education at Bancroft’s
Michelle Dean our Head of Careers, Innovation and Entrepreneurship discusses the importance of careers education, how it applies to different age groups and what advice she has for children and parents discussing career options.
6 May 2022, 24 minutes
Episode 4: Exam Preparation and Dealing with Exam Stress
In this episode of our podcast, our Director of Learning Strategy, Antonia Fryer-Green, and Exams Officer, Claire Everett-Ellis, explain how children can best prepare for exams and how sometimes space and time to relax before exams can be as important as revising.
22 April 2022, 33 minutes
Episode 3: Gurdip Chana Invites Chris Hemmings to Talk About Positive Masculinity
In this episode of our podcast we’re talking to Gurdip Chana, Diversity and Inclusion Co-ordinator as well as author and journalist Chris Hemmings. Chris, author of Be A Man, has visited Bancroft’s to talk to pupils about positive masculinity.
25 March 2022, 32 minutes
Episode 2: Stepping into the Prep School with Head Joe Layburn
In this episode we’re talking to Joe Layburn – Head of Bancroft’s Prep School. Joe will talk all about the Prep School, what he brings to the role and how Bancroft’s Prep prepares pupils for their future.
11 March 2022, 21 minutes
Episode 1: Simon Marshall, Head of Bancroft’s, opens Bancroft’s new podcast
In our first episode we’re talking to Head of Bancroft’s, Simon Marshall, about life at the school, the challenges a Head faces and what Simon does to unwind during the weekends.
24 February 2022, 23 minutes