Sociology Staffroom

Sociology Staffroom

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Join Katie from tutor2u Sociology and our special guests for lively discussion, support and encouragement for all GCSE & A-Level Sociology teachers. The Sociology Staffroom podcast is suitable for every Sociology teacher. Whether you're an Early Career Teacher, have taught for many years, or somewhere in between!

tutor2u Sociology


    • Apr 17, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 96 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Sociology Staffroom

    Season 3 | Episode 11 | "Teaching controversy: navigating British Values and political neutrality in the classroom", with Andrew Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 47:00


    Assistant headteacher, PhD student and experienced sociology teacher, Andrew Jones, returns to the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how teachers of sociology (and other subjects) can maintain political neutral in the classroom, as well as the limits to that neutrality. Another fascinating chat with this great returning guest.

    Season 3 | Episode 10 | Gender, employment, social policy and inequality, with Dr Helen Kowalewska

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 59:01


    Sociology lecturer at the University of Bath, Helen Kowalewska, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into the impact of social policy on women and gender inequality. They discuss Helen's most recent research into women over the age of 60 (including the WASPI women) and the different research methods that she has employed. They talk about the often double-edge nature of social policy that can on the one hand help women but in other respects reinforce patriarchal assumptions (e.g. maternity leave). They also consider some of the reasons for why there has not been more progress towards gender equality.

    Season 3 | Episode 9 | Personal and Family Relationships with Dr Katherine Davies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025 50:01


    Dr Katherine Davies, from the University of Sheffield, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about her research into siblings and other family and friendship relationships, as well as her work on the impact of Brexit on families. She also discusses her qualitative and creative research methods. Definitely worth a lesson to hear about some contemporary research (relevant to families, education, identity, stratification and more) and research methods.https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526142177/

    Season 3 | Episode 8 | Qualitative Research & Legal Aid with Dr Emma Cooke

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 42:52


    Criminologist and sociologist from the University of Kent, Dr Emma Cooke, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about her journey into the subject and her research into the criminal justice system, as well as how we can support students for Higher Education. Want to add something really contemporary to your lessons on the CJS? Here's a good starting place!https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/the-hidden-world-of-the-legal-aid-lawyer

    Season 3 | Episode 7 | Key words in essay questions with Duncan Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 41:11


    The Sociology Staffroom returns in a new "every other week" schedule with lots of great guests scheduled. In this episode, the subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to look at those important words that can be key to higher marks in Sociology essays. One area they particularly focus on is "today" and "contemporary" and the importance of contemporary research is an important focus for the rest of this academic year on the Podcast. Stay tuned folks!

    Season 3 | Episode 6 | Interactive Lessons with Richard Brinkley

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 30:54


    Experienced sociology teacher Richard Brinkley joins Duncan in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to make lessons more interactive, including some great ideas!

    Season 3 | Episode 5 | Engaging GCSE Sociology Pupils, with Rhiannon Watson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 34:46


    Experienced social science teacher Rhiannon Watson joins her old Sociology teacher Katie Tyler in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss issues relating to GCSE Sociology and how to engage and inspire the students.

    Season 3 | Episode 4 | Applying the science of the brain to Sociology, with Zenab Farag

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 38:18


    Experienced sociology teacher, Zenab, joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss how we can apply various aspects of brain science to our teaching as well as exploring some popular misconceptions.

    Season 3 | Episode 3 | September Teacher Panel Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 41:46


    In this episode, a teacher panel (consisting of Anna Lise White, Craig Gelling and Duncan Hall) discussed a range of issues relating to the start of a new term, mostly ones raised by teachers in the AQA A Level Sociology Teachers Group.

    Season 3 | Episode 2 | Sociology & Literacy, with Richard Brinkley

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 45:42


    Experienced sociology teacher Richard Brinkley joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about the important links between sociology and literacy.

    Season 3 | Episode 1 | Managing your ECT year, with Lizzie Skinner

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 28:47


    ECT social science teacher Lizzie Skinner joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her experiences of ECT 1.

    Episode 35 | Reflections on Season 2 with Katie and Duncan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2024 14:54


    Regular host Katie Tyler and subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, look back on what's been a fascinating second "season" of the Sociology Staffroom and forwards to what's coming in September.

    Episode 34 | Improving and Updating our Subject Knowledge, with Fran Nantongwe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 31:34


    Experienced teacher Fran (otherwise known as Norfolk Fran) joins Katie to discuss ways to check, develop and update our Sociology subject knowledge.

    Episode 33 | Supporting High Achievers with Liv Le Poidevin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2024 25:11


    Experienced sociology teacher Liv joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to support, stretch and challenge high achievers in A Level Sociology.

    Episode 32 | Multicultural awareness with Anna Lise White

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 32:57


    Experienced Sociology teacher Anna Lise returns to the Sociology Staffroom to talk to Katie about the importance of multicultural awareness in Sociology teaching.

    Teaching Global Development, With Bridget Gray

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2024 44:27


    Experienced Sociology teacher Bridget Gray joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her experience of teaching the Global Development optional topic for A Level Sociology.

    Episode 30 | Teaching Sociology Remotely, with Nicole Levy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 27:38


    Experienced teacher, Nicole Levy, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to share her experiences of teaching sociology remotely, challenges and opportunities, and effective techniques.

    Episode 29 | How to make effective starters, with Ian Luckhurst

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 33:38


    Experienced sociology teacher Ian joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to share some of his great ideas for starting lessons, and explore the reasons why simple, effective starter activities work.

    GCSE Troubleshooting, with Vicki Woolven

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 37:00


    Subject lead for GCSE Sociology, Geography and History at tutor2u, Vicki Woolven, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss misconceptions about GCSE Sociology and how to deal with some of the problems that are specific to that qualification.

    Supporting and Retaining Trainees, with Alison Wiggins

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 44:11


    Subject leader for PGCE Social Sciences at UCL, Alison Wiggins, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom for a fascinating discussion about trainee teachers and how we can support them in the early part of their career.

    Episode 26 | In conversation with Duncan & Katie: Issues and concerns for teachers towards the end of the Spring term

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 24:44


    In a departure from the usual format, usual host Katie and subject lead Duncan have a conversation about issues that teachers face at this time of year: when to "start revision", what to do if there's content still to complete, etc.

    Episode 25| Teaching Culture & Identity, with Shahina Yasmin

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 27:18


    Experienced sociology teacher, Shahina, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss switching to the optional topic of Culture & Identity, why you might want to, challenges faced, and advice for teaching it.

    Episode 24 | How to Lecture Less, with Katie Tyler

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 29, 2024 36:20


    Regular host Katie Tyler joins Duncan in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how and why to lecture less and have more student-focused lessons. Lots of practical tips and professional discussion about teaching and learning.

    Episode 23 | Helping students who have underperformed in their mocks, with Kate Flatley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 35:42


    Experienced Sociology teacher and YouTuber Kate Flatley (@theteachersociology) joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss "bouncing out of the pit" - how to encourage and support students whose mocks show they have a lot to do!

    Episode 22 | Methods in Context Revisited, with Craig Gelling

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 30:01


    Experienced Sociology teacher Craig Gelling (aka The Sociology Guy) rejoins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to once again look at the Methods in Context question and how to help students prepare and revise for this.

    Episode 21 | Switching to Stratification, with Duncan Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 34:44


    Subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the Stratification and Differentiation topic and some of the reasons why people may or may not want to switch, and some approaches that teachers might like to take if they are tackling this topic.

    Episode 20 | Effective Marking with Jodie Robert

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 34:35


    Experienced sociology teacher, Jodie Robert, joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss some great tips on how to make marking and feedback more effective.

    Episode 19 | Getting A*s and As with Erhan Bora

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 30:12


    Experienced sociology teacher Erhan joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the methods he uses to help students access high grades.

    Episode 18 | Sociology Trips & Visits with Anna Lise White

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 25:34


    Experienced sociology teacher Anna Lise White joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss a wide range of possible trips and visits for Sociology students and the benefits and challenges of taking them.

    Highlights from 2023 in the Sociology Staffroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 23:53


    Katie and Duncan review some of their favourite moments from the last 12 months of podcasting, and look forward to some of what's coming up in 2024. It would be great to hear from you, our listeners, what some of your favourite parts were.

    Episode 16 | In Conversation with Steve Taylor, Head of Curriculum for Sociology at AQA

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 51:50


    Head of Curriculum for Sociology at AQA, and experienced sociology teacher, Steve Taylor joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss a range of issues and questions surrounding his role, priorities and the future of the qualifications.

    Episode 15 | Teaching Postmodernism with Reece Goscinski

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 38:18


    Returning guest Reece Goscinski joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss postmodernism and postmodernity and how and when to teach it.

    Episode 14 | Should Sociology be a Compulsory Subject? With Rita Marvin

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 23:42


    Experienced Sociology teacher and head of sociology in her school, Rita Marvin, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to ponder the question of whether Sociology should be made a compulsory subject in school. What do you think?

    Episode 13 | Coaching in the Classroom, with Jenny Weidner

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 35:56


    Experienced and qualified coach and educational manager, Jenny Weidner, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the role and importance of coaching, particularly to help students (and staff) suffering stress and anxiety around exams and achievement.

    Episode 12 | How to teach synopticity, with Nusrath Sharmin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 32:06


    Experienced Sociology teacher, Nusrath Sharmin, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the importance of synopticity and tips on how to teach it and improve the skill with our students.

    Episode 11 | Pedagogy and Sociology with Andrew Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 50:57


    Return guest Andrew Jones joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom again, this time to consider some fascinating insights relating to applying sociological theory to pedagogy.

    Episode 10 | Metacognition in Sociology, with Garnette Watts

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 32:08


    Experienced sociology teacher Garnette Watts joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss metacognition and its application to the Sociology classroom.

    Episode 9 | Research vs Practice with David Morris

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 19:22


    Experienced Sociology teacher David Morris joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the relationship between research and classroom practice in sociology.

    Episode 8 | New to Heading a Department, with Reece Goscinski

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 30:06


    New head of sociology, Reece, is back in the Sociology Staffroom with Katie Tyler to talk about his experiences and the challenges associated with taking on this role.

    Episode 7 | tutor2u Strong Foundations cinema workshops, with Duncan Hall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 21:44


    Subject lead for sociology and politics at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the upcoming workshop tour for Year 12 students. See here for more information.

    Episode 6 | Anti-racism for sociology teachers, with Azryah Harvey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 36:45


    Anti-racism consultant and teacher, Azryah Harvey, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the importance of anti-racism in our teaching practice and what it might look like in the Sociology classroom and in our schools and colleges.

    Episode 5 | Teaching Minority Topics, with Risteard Mac Fheorais

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2023 41:27


    Experienced sociology teacher Risteard joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss teaching the less popular optional topics in A Level Sociology, with particular focus on Work, Poverty & Welfare. They also discuss the issue of objectivity in the sociology classroom.

    Episode 4 | Challenging Students with Theory, with Brett Byatt

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 33:04


    Early career teacher Brett joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss theory, especially more niche theories or nuances within the main perspectives.

    Episode 3 | Teaching the Classics with Andrew Jones

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2023 37:06


    Experienced Sociology teacher and assistant principal Andrew Jones joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss teaching the classic theories in A Level Sociology.

    Episode 2 | Whole Class Feedback, with Mark Gill

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2023 33:54


    Sociology teacher Mark Gill joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the use of whole class feedback - why you might use it, who to use it and the advantages and potential disadvantages of its use.

    Episode 1 | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in A Level Sociology, with Jacquiline Agyeman-Duah

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2023 42:37


    Experienced Sociology teacher Jacquiline Agyeman-Duah joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in A Level Sociology. Jacquiline has authored a forthcoming e-learning course for AQA on this topic.

    Episode 48 | Addressing controversial topics in sociology, with Reece Goscinski

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 41:53


    In the final episode of season 1, experienced Sociology teacher Reece Goscinski joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss techniques for addressing controversial topics in the sociology classroom.The podcast is taking a little break for a few weeks now, but will be back with a new series in September. Have a good summer :)

    Episode 47 | What 27+ Years Experience Has Taught Me, With Sarah Faughnan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2023 25:27


    Experienced Sociology teacher Sarah Faughnan joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the lessons she was learned from long experience in the classroom and teaching Sociology.

    Episode 46 | Making Homework Meaningful with Alexia George

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2023 20:41


    Experienced sociology teacher and subject leader Alexia George joined Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss homework and how to make it as useful and meaningful as possible.

    Episode 45 | A happy balance between teaching to the exam and for the love of learning, with Cerys Dyke

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 22:53


    Experienced Sociology teacher Cerys Dyke joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to strike the balance between teaching to the exam and encouraging a love of learning sociology.

    Episode 44 | Maximising the talents and skills of your colleagues, with Emma Stack and Carly Benge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 26:49


    Head of department, Emma, and experienced teacher Carly, join Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss working as a team and making the most of your colleagues' talents and skills.

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