In this episode, Brendan Lee speaks with Dr. Vicky Leighton and Dr. Terry Byers from Churchie (Anglican Church Grammar School) and they share how they’re bringing the science of learning to life in real classrooms for both students and teachers.
We dive into their work on A Learner’s Toolkit, explore why teacher clarity matters more than ever and unpack a groundbreaking PD model that’s personal, contextual, and actually sticks. Plus, Terry brings the analogies including a surprisingly fitting comparison between cows and the science of learning!
Whether you’re leading change across a school or just trying to sharpen your practice, this episode is full of insight, laughter and plenty to think about.
Resources mentioned:
- A Learner’s Toolkit (ALT) – for students and teachers
- TRIM Framework
- Sarah Cottinghat
- Dr. Tom Perry
- John Dunlosky
- John Hattie
- The impact of a preparatory science of learning intervention in secondary schools contexts in Australia
- Research into practice: from blueprint to jigsaw
A Matter of Translation
Friday, 5 September 2025
Anglican Church Grammar School
Keynote Speakers
- Dr Carl Hendricks (Live from the UK)
- Professor Daniel Willingham (Live from the USA)
- Professor Tanya Serry (in person)
Brendan Lee will also be presenting!
You can connect with Vicky:
Twitter: @victorialynne99
Website: alearnerstoolkit.com.au
You can connect with Terry:
Twitter: @tezzabyers
Website: alearnerstoolkit.com.au
You can connect with Brendan:
Twitter/X: @learnwithmrlee
Facebook: @learningwithmrlee
Website: learnwithlee.net
Support the Knowledge for Teachers Podcast:
https://www.patreon.com/KnowledgeforTeachersPodcast
About Dr. Vicky Leighton
Dr Victoria Leighton is the Director of Staff Development and Research at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) and Co-Director of the Churchie Research Centre alongside Dr Terry Byers. She leads teacher professional learning and instructional coaching both at Churchie and across a growing network of partner schools in Australia, New Zealand, and internationally.
Victoria is the co-developer of A Learner’s Toolkit (ALT), an open-access, evidence-based program grounded in the Science of Learning and now implemented in over 50 schools worldwide. She also leads ALT for Teachers, a professional development initiative designed to bridge the gap between cognitive science and classroom practice. Supported by international researchers, this program helps teachers translate research into action, adapting strategies for their unique contexts.
Her PhD examined how learning environments shape teacher practice, resulting in new tools to support spatial thinking in education.
About Dr. Terry Byers
Dr. Terry Byers is the Director of Teaching, Learning and Research at Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) in Brisbane, where he also co-leads the Churchie Research Centre. With over two decades of experience in education, Terry has been at the forefront of bridging research and classroom practice. His work focuses on implementing the science of learning, developing responsive professional learning models and rethinking how schools use data to improve student outcomes. Terry brings a practical, systems-level perspective to some of education’s most complex challenges.
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