New Cross-sector lab podcast with ASDAN Director of Education and Impact on rethinking success and the skills that we don't measure

ASDAN has released a new episode of the Cross-sector lab podcast, featuring a conversation between ASDAN’s CEO Melissa Farnham and Gareth Reynolds, ASDAN’s Director of Education and Impact. 

What if some of the skills that matter most to a young person’s future are the ones education measures least? 

In the latest episode, Melissa and Gareth explore what success in education really means and whether we are recognising the things that matter most to learners. Drawing on Gareth’s own experiences as a learner, teacher and education leader, the conversation looks at the importance of recognising skills alongside academic attainment and giving young people opportunities to understand what they are good at, what they enjoy and where those skills might take them. 

Rethinking what we value in education 

Gareth reflects on his own experience of dyslexia and how finding a place in sport helped him build confidence and recognise his own strengths. This experience shaped his view of education and his belief that every learner should have the opportunity to find where they can thrive. 

The conversation explores why skills need to be developed and recognised alongside academic achievement, and why qualifications can play a stronger role in helping learners understand and communicate what they can do. Melissa and Gareth also discuss the importance of parity across different educational pathways, while recognising that learners need flexibility and different ways to demonstrate their skills. 

Preparing young people for life and work 

The episode also considers how education can better prepare young people for their futures. Gareth argues that work experience should be more than a one-off placement and instead form part of a wider journey of meaningful experiences, reflection and development. 

They discuss the importance of helping young people recognise their skills and understand how they can use them in different settings, as well as the role of contextualised learning in making education more relevant and engaging. 

Gareth also shares his vision for ASDAN and its role in helping practitioners understand where skills-based learning can sit within the wider curriculum. He reflects on the value of ASDAN’s portfolio-based approach, which gives learners opportunities to apply, develop and recognise their skills in ways that connect with their own interests, experiences and goals. 

The conversation is ultimately about rethinking what we value in education and making sure young people are equipped not only to achieve, but to thrive in life, work and their communities. 

Listen to Gareth Reynolds: rethinking success and the skills that we don't measure on the Cross-sector lab podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. 

About the Cross-sector lab 

ASDAN's Cross-sector lab brings together voices from education, policy, research, business and communities to explore ideas, challenge existing approaches and consider how we can shape a more inclusive and equitable future for education. 

Hosted by ASDAN CEO Melissa Farnham, the podcast creates space for honest conversations about what needs to change and what is possible when we look beyond traditional boundaries.