Rocking the system: Live songwriting, earworms and education reform with Rocktopus
- Sophie Dean
- 13 minutes ago
- 2 min read
AUDIO
Rocking the system: Live songwriting, earworms and education reform with Rocktopus
SHOW NOTES
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!
CREDITS
Outro track: How it is and how it should be by Grit Control
DON'T BE A STRANGER
The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted by Dr James Mannion and produced by Sophie Dean. You can contact James at rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing:
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