Teachers Talk Radio

Highly experienced and award winning advisor Ruth Swailes joins Tony to chat about the misconceptions in early years education, specifically around play and developmentally appropriate practice. With her vast experience of primary education, you can expect this to be an interesting and illuminating conversation.

Louise Marie chats to Ben Hobbis about developing future leaders.

In the last Saturday Breakfast Show of 2025, Darren talks about how we make sure our assessments are both equitable and fair.

No new year energy, no summer finish line — just Term 2. Tune in for an hour of reflection, perspective, and gentle humour about teaching when consistency matters more than caffeine (almost).

Carl chats to former General secretary of ASCL, Brian Lightman about the emergence of a new form of school partnerships known as local area based school partnerships and asks the question whether they might be an alternative to MATs for schools moving forward.

Jen Hurst interviews Michael Wright on how his neurodiversity has had an impact on his teaching, students as well as insight into how being neurodivergent is both his superpower and kryptonite!

In this show, host Famida Choudhary is joined by educational leader Surji Aboubakker to explore The Power of Wonder in literacy classrooms. Together, they discuss how to embed joy, curiosity, and connection in reading and writing, moving beyond worksheets to create meaningful, story-rich experiences. Tune in for insights on leadership, phonics, and reimagining literacy for lifelong impact.

Staff at a London academy instilled a “climate of fear” among pupils, with a drive for academic success likely to have harmed vulnerable children including those with special needs, according to a damning independent investigation. The report by Sir Alan Wood found that staff at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy (MVPA) routinely used measures “designed to humiliate pupils”, frequently shouting at them and isolating them in corridors as part of “a harsh and damaging disciplinary culture”. The panel of Yasmin Omar, Rae Whitehouse, JB and Liz Webb discuss the report in full.

In this week's show, we invite Rolade Berthier to chat about culture in the classroom.

Darren thinks about how we can make sure all children feel included when schools celebrate cultural and religious festivals.

We talk in depth about what stress looks like this close to the end of term.

Join Chris as he explores how live marking can transform feedback in the classroom. He breaks down simple, effective strategies that reduce workload and boost student progress, offering practical insights for any teacher looking to make feedback truly work

Robbie Coleman has an unusually clear window into the minds of early career teachers — not by guessing, but by analysing how thousands of them respond to real-world school scenarios. In this month's show, we dive into what those responses reveal: what schools can do to help early career teachers flourish, and what early career teachers themselves can focus on to grow with confidence. The show is packed with useful insights on managing behaviour, navigating safeguarding, and why obsessing over “open vs closed questions” isn't the key to improving questioning after all. A thoughtful, practical show packed with takeaways for anyone in or supporting the early years of teaching.

Tim will meet with his guest Samina Jardaneh to discuss some of the challenges facing teachers and young people in education. From the pressure placed on both teachers and students with the volume of assessment, through to the varied quality of Professional Development Tim and Samina will explore some of the major gaps seen in education. To add to this Tim and Samina will also discuss diversity across the curriculum.

With her two guests, Eva Halasz and Richard Ahenkorah, Timea discusses the importance and know-how of embedding employability skills in the curriculum and bringing industry practice into the classroom.

In this show, Matthew Wemyss talks to Aaron Patching about using AI in the D&T classroom. We'll talk tools, tips and a few takeaways you can try straight away. It will be real and practical!

Join Lee Pace and his special guest, David Anderson as they talk about teachers' wellbeing. Lee will consider how schools can support the wellbeing of their staff and David will offer his endless wisdom. David is a true wellbeing champion.

Khanh Duc Kuttig and Zarina Zakhanova explore the challenges of effective feedback. Listen in for ideas on how to give better feedback to ensure that your feedback feeds up and feeds forward!

On tonight's show, I chat with Dr. Lou Mycroft about finding joy in the FE sector: the microjoys, finding joy in teaching and collaborating with learners, teachers and the wider community.

A conversation with Jon Biddle about the challenges facing reading for pleasure today, and his vision for how reading time should look in primary schools.

Regular guest and experienced MFL teacher Yannick joins Tony to talk about the big issues affecting teachers. The same pressures have been around for some time, but is it really getting better?

Darren looks at two pieces of research in the Read Aloud debate - one looking at the pros and one looking at the cons, before changing his mind regarding how he feels about the practice.

We get really into how transactional analysis can be used to help teachers. And of course the regular features!

Admit it: you've got sheets tucked away in your cupboard that you're scared to throw away, just in case they become useful again. The cycles of teaching are inevitable. Sometimes there's just a quick rebrand and we're back where we were ten years ago. Join the discussion with Liz and Kate as they reminisce about education's fashions and fads.

Louise Marie speaks to Paul Gannaway about how to lead a successful sixth form whilst in a full time SLT role.

Join Tim as he discusses Direct Instruction with guest Adam Seymour. In this show Tim will explore the place and importance of Direct Instruction and how it`s principles can be applied in the classroom. Tim and Adam will then begin to wrap up with the show with insight into where educational research and literature can be found to further support teachers as they explore and play with this fascinating area of pedagogical practice.

In this week's show, we invite Claudia Tumba to chat with Martin Sketchley about storytelling in the language classroom.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Budget sparks warnings about a real-terms drop in school funding but includes spending on school libraries and books. So, what do teachers think? What are the implications for the sector? How will it impact teachers in their pockets? Tom Rogers discusses with Joel Kenyon.

My guest for this show is Konstantinos Pappas, Course Leader and serious entertainer! As he puts it, sometimes teachers have to be actors, even clowns. And he has a point. Last time we talked about voice; now let's talk about performance. How do we grab attention and keep it through a long lesson? How do we make dry concepts come alive? And is this approach really practical for teachers? Where's the line - and do we even need one? Let's talk about all of it.

TES reports parent allegations against teachers have risen by a third in just one year. Some 12.2 per cent of state school teachers were the subject of an allegation from a parent in 2024-25 - up from 9.1 per cent in 2023-24, the research suggests. The number of allegations against teachers made by students, while lower, has also increased, rising from 8.1 per cent to 9.5 per cent over the same time period. This survey was carried out by Edapt. The panel discusses this issue in schools - Featuring Yasmin Omar, Rae Whitehouse, Christopher Vowles.

Tom Rogers is joined by Matt Stone and Oliver Caviglioli to discuss coaching in schools, showcasing their new book Coaching WalkThru's, in partnership with Hachette Learning.

Dave is joined by Sam Gibbs to talk all things CPD, ECT and Didagogy and how you schools can give better agency to teachers in terms of their ongoing development. 

Timea and her guests, Associate Professor Dr Marcos E Barreto and Assistant Professor Dr Casey Kearney, discuss the latest research in AI in Education applied to curriculum design, learning and teaching, and policy making based on the research guests have been involved in.

Darren looks at the concept of psychological capital which suggests the better able you are to regulate your emotions, the higher the quality of your working life.

In this mental health hour, we are getting festive and talking it out!

Tom Bennett and Emma Clarke join Tom Rogers to discuss the latest debates around the use of 'isolation rooms' in schools. Tom Bennett OBE is the founder and director of ResearchED, author, consultant and DfE behaviour advisor. Emma Clarke is the Primary PGCE Programme Lead at University of York. Video version of this show is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxPwEnrn3Rk&t=4641s

Join Michelle Hinds and guest Michael Senior, experienced Head of English, as they explore how humour can elevate teaching, deepen connections, and energise the classroom. A quick, insightful dive into why a good laugh might just be a teacher's most powerful tool.

Tom Rogers is joined by Duncan Verry and Kate O'Neill from BETT Global to discuss what teachers can look forward to at BETT 2026 this January 21st-23rd in London. Teachers Talk Radio will be there - will you? Visit https://uk.bettshow.com/ to grab your free ticket today. 

In tonight's episode,Bob Craig and I discuss how to motivate, stimulate and promote deliberate practice in the classroom. Plus tips on how to change the classroom dynamic!

The panel (Liz Webb, Rae Whitehouse and Tom Rogers) discuss - Three-quarters of parents have allowed their child to stay at home and take a “duvet day” if they don't want to attend school, according to a new survey. Seventy-five per cent of 2,000 parents surveyed said they have allowed their child not to go to school if they feel tired, emotional or not able to attend. Forty per cent of those surveyed said they had allowed “duvet days” to happen more than once. On average, parents reported letting their children take six days off during the past school year for these reasons, while 75 per cent of parents said their child's behaviour improved after such absences. Ninety-seven per cent of surveyed parents said they believe their child's mental health is just as important as academic success.

Why are teachers leaving in record numbers? Why won't new graduates join the profession? And has public respect for teachers hit an all-time low? In this show, we explore the pressures, perceptions, and politics shaping modern teaching in the UK. From workload and behaviour to pay, status, and social expectations, we ask the big question: has Britain stopped valuing its teachers? Featuring real voices from classrooms this is a conversation about the future of education — and the people holding it together.

While we may mourn the decline of conferences in fancy hotels with post lunches, Darren looks at the importance of webinars and considers why they have remained the default form of CPD post-pandemic.

It's actually four weeks, not five, until the hols for most. How are you coping? We talk things to do to just keep going.

Carl chats with expert on managing school complaints, Rachael Smith about what practical strategies schools can use when they feel overwhelmed by parental complaints. This show contains a number of fantastic practical strategies to help teachers and school leaders everywhere.

Louise Marie speaks to Joanne Crofts about how to boost cross-subject exam confidence in students by teaching an understanding of command words.

Tom Rogers, Liz Webb and Lucy Trimnell discuss how the DfE is introducing enrichment benchmarks to push schools to deliver more extracurricular clubs – but research shows that teachers are already working unpaid and out of hours to deliver such activities.

In this show, Host Famida Choudhary speaks with Sam Burns about how purposeful, well-designed songs can transform English learning. Sam shares how authentic lyrics, rhythm, and repetition can double teaching impact, make grammar stick, and boost confidence for both children and adult learners. A practical, insightful conversation packed with classroom tips, song writing secrets, and strategies teachers can use immediately. Tune in to discover how music can truly teach.

I literally had to reset doing this show. We talk being at a crossroads in education, finding light and balance. This is your mental health hour.

In this Tuesday Twilight Show, Timea explores how business and academia can truly work together in higher education – not just in theory, but in day-to-day teaching and assessment. She's joined by Mohammed Al-Jobori, lecturer and module leader in Business & Management, and business coach Bayo Igoh, who share concrete case studies where students co-create real business plans, run simulations, and even design live websites for small and medium-sized enterprises. They dig into the benefits for students (employability, soft skills, real portfolios), the gains for businesses, and the very real challenges around communication, motivation and assessment. The panel also considers where AI fits into this picture, and why closer collaboration, incubators, networking and shared spaces might be the future of higher education. This show is brought to you in partnership with Hachette Learning and BETT Show 2026. 

Darren talks about TTLCs and how they can be used to embed teacher-centric wellbeing into your CPD provision.

Join Chris as he explores why teachers need meaningful breaks in their day. From quick resets to lasting habits, he shares research and practical tips to help educators recharge, refocus, and thrive