Teachers Talk Radio

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

On today's show, I talked to Iain Cook-Bonney from New Zealand about his innovative work with digital technologies in primary schools.  The interactive story (The Snark) Iain talked about is here and the penguin colony lesson plan is here.

In The Wednesday Twilight Show with Michelle Hinds,  she explores what schools could look like if teacher engagement were the starting point,  not the afterthought. From leadership habits that spark motivation to stories of schools transforming through trust and purpose, this episode dives into how energised teachers create inspired learners.    

Peter Cole, Simon Powell and Becky Allen join Tom Rogers to discuss all things teacher accountability in schools - Has it gone too far? Under discussion; Lesson observations, Learning Walks, Work Scrutiny, Data, Exam Results, Pupil Voice, Parent Voice, League tables and lots besides.

Rae Whitehouse, Carl Smith and Liz Webb discuss the release of the Curriculum and Assessment review and its contents.

Today's Friday Morning Break Show with Carl Smith: From Teacher to Principal: What they don't tell you on NPQH with guest Will Teece

Highly experienced ex primary headteacher and governor Kate Owbridge joins Tony to talk about the issues around the worrying decline in student mental health through primary and onto secondary school.

Darren discussed The University of Nottingham's announcement of closure of its language courses, before moving onto the topic at hand: how you can justify reading when you've so  many other things to do.

We talk the effect of gossip in school and how to manage your mental health through our three regular features!

Burdensome workload is the constant cry of teachers, and marking is so often front and centre of the tasks which weigh us down. Why are we still so obsessed with written feedback? Is it really for the students? Or is it about accountability and box ticking?

Teachers have a lot to manage; lessons, students, emotions. But here's the question: do those emotions slip into the way they speak? And could changing that change everything? In this show, Seema sits down with Silke Paulmann, Executive Dean at the University of Essex to unpack the powerful link between voice, communication, and emotion in the classroom.

In this month's show, Matt is joined by John Dolman. With over 25 years of experience teaching English and Media, John has been diving deep into how AI can be used thoughtfully in education. They explore what AI can actually do for English teachers, what it can't, and why it's not about replacing the teacher but supporting the craft. Expect honest chat, practical ideas, and some myth-busting along the way. If you've been curious, cautious or completely confused about AI in your classroom, this one's worth a listen.

In this reflective show, Famida Choudhary and Aaron Regan explore how metacognitive strategies and Thinking Routines can transform reading comprehension. Together, they discuss how students develop awareness of what strategies work best for them, how they can transfer these approaches across contexts, and how teachers can foster a culture of reflection and independent thinking in the classroom. Packed with real classroom insights, practical applications, and thoughtful anecdotes, this show shines a light on how “thinking about thinking” builds empowered, lifelong readers.

Another exciting one off special show for you! Nathan Gynn is joined by James Handscombe to explore all things curiosity in learning, the topic of his new book "Cabinet of Curiosity - Creating a Superpower". "Curiosity is a superpower: the more curious you are, the more questions you ask, the more answers you get, the more you know, and the more that further stimulates curiosity. The pay-off is both the knowledge that is acquired(and knowledge, of course, is power) - and that virtuous circle. Unfortunately, schools, qualifications and curricula are not always set up to encourage curiosity (and there are ways in which they actually discourage it). The book covers some of the challenges encountered in trying to teach curiosity together with outlining a course that the author has designed and used to kick start that cycle of questioning" Get your copy of the book here: https://www.hachettelearning.com/teaching-strategies/cabinet-of-curiosity

Join the panel of Lucy Trimnell, Rae Whitehouse, Yasmin Omar and Carl Smith as they discuss this weeks speech by MP Rupert Lowe where he suggested that parents should have the right to take their children out of school during term-time for a limited number of days.

Darren talks about the importance of festivals and teaching their origins before moving onto the main topic of his show - Why wellbeing isn't about removing the negative but is about amplifying the positive.

We talk about if half-term is genuinely a reset. 

Join us for this one off special hosted by Huma Mirza and Khanh Duc Kuttig as they explore the new book - "Introduction to Teaching: Making Teacher Training Work" Barnaby Lenon and Tracey Smith have teamed up to give new teachers a great introduction into training for their career. Combining their expertise and years of experience, together they explore the basics of teacher training in England, how best to prep for training, assessment, behaviour management, subject knowledge and structuring lessons while also covering topics such as trends and measuring success.

How is generative AI changing what we think of as writing? It could be said that what is happening to writing right now due to AI is a fundamental shift in the definition of the writer and the process of writing. This is characterised by significant practical benefits and profound ethical and existential anxieties.

Ben White is joined by teacher and writer Martin Griffin for a role-reversal episode, with Martin leading the questions and Ben in the interviewee's chair. Together, they explore Ben's story, what drives his work in schools, and what he's learned over his career. The conversation turns to the rise of AI in education—why a large minority of students say they hate it, what lies behind their concerns—and then gets practical: responding to specific questions about which uses are condoned (for staff and/or students), what we should teach staff, students and parents about AI, and how teachers can handle the challenges it poses for genuine independent learning, especially around homework.

Christopher talks with global #MeToo advocate and Palo Alto School Board trustee Rowena Chiu about her experience as a Harvey Weinstein survivor, the politicisation of US education, and the work of US School Boards.

Darren talks about the phenomenon of teachers discussing their "quitting stories" on TikTok and asks where the line is between owning your personal story and creating a positive impresson of the profession.

In this special show, host Nathan Gynn speaks with Grant Hoyle, William Spencer and Rebecca Taylor about The Programme of Humanitarian Education - an inspiring initiative from the British Red Cross that helps young people understand the human stories behind global crises. From conflict and migration to climate adaptation and first aid, the conversation explores how schools can empower students to act with empathy, resilience, and confidence in an increasingly complex world. Nathan and his guests discuss how this long-standing humanitarian movement continues to stay relevant, how educators can embed these vital topics into their classrooms, and why developing future generations of humanitarians has never been more important.

Claire and Beejesh discuss whether being 'evidence informed' is possible when it comes to special educational needs. 

In this solo show , Famida Choudhary dives into how data-informed teaching can truly transform reading instruction. Through stories, reflection, and classroom anecdotes, she explores how numbers and narratives work hand in hand to build confident, curious readers. From listening to children read aloud to interpreting progress patterns, this episode highlights the human side of data — where every insight becomes a step toward literacy growth that counts.

The Points of View panel discuss a new Channel 4 report that claims Scotland has Britain's highest rate of violent injuries to school staff, based on reports to the safety watchdog. They include fractures, dislocations and even loss of consciousness, with the number of incidents logged at Scottish schools trebling in a decade. Teachers, many speaking for the first time, told Channel 4 News' FactCheck team how assaults had left them with bleeding legs or broken toes. Panel: Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell, Yasmin Omar, Liz Webb. 

Timea sat down with Faye Mitcham, Head of Accessibility Services at LCCA, and Emma Buhtina, head of Student Support at Regent College London to discuss the role, current state and future of student support in higher education, showcasing examples and practical tools.

MOOCs hit their stride with the Year of the MOOC in 2012 but seem to have fallen out of favour lately. Darren discusses why they should still be seen as a good resource for CPD.

The government's plan for a Year 8 reading test has sparked debate across schools - but what does it actually mean for us in the classroom? In this show we unpack the thinking behind the proposal, explore the implications for teaching and workload and ask whether testing actually tackles the literacy gap - or just measures it.  Hear from a current Head of English to discuss how to keep reading for pleasure and reading for progress at the heart of what we do.  Listen, reflect and join the conversation about the future of reading in our schools.

We talk honestly about the state of mental health in teaching. It's hard. It's real. It's personal.