Teachers Talk Radio

Join Tom Rogers and Tim Smale for a special show with Charu Kashyap, Founder & CEO of The O Education Group, as they explore whether traditional models of schooling are keeping pace with the needs of modern learners. The discussion examines the thinking behind Ohana, a new relational online school, and looks at how flexibility, belonging, safeguarding, academic ambition and technology can work together to create different routes into learning. Is education ready to evolve, and what might the school of the future look like?

In this show, Darren reacts to the news of a New York school district planning to implement a robotic teacher from Autumn 2026and considers what teaching and learning looks like when the human teachers are removed.

In this episode, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Hatie Mapudzi to explore what it really means for students to feel that they belong in higher education. Together, they discuss inclusive teaching, student engagement, representation, and the everyday practices that help create learning environments where every student feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

In this show, Darren looks at how schools in Germany approach the issues of school violence and bullying, drawing on research conducted in 2020.

Teachers are getting a 3.5% pay rise. Academy trust CEOs could soon face government approval before taking jobs paying more than £174,000. The changes have sparked a fierce row across the education sector. Some say executive pay has become excessive while classroom staff struggle with workload and recruitment. Others argue that large academy trusts require exceptional leaders whose salaries should reflect the scale and complexity of their role. We will also look at the teacher pay rise in general and the claim that schools themselves will need to fund half of it. Is the government protecting taxpayers or interfering in independent organisations?

For decades, we've asked whether young people are ready for the world of work. But perhaps we've been asking the wrong question. Is our education system still relevant to the lives young people are living today, and to the futures they're likely to face over the next thirty years? With the Curriculum and Assessment Review prompting a national conversation about the purpose of education, this show explores how we prepare young people for an increasingly complex world. From employer engagement to technical education and apprenticeships, what can schools do to broaden opportunity while maintaining high expectations and aspirations? Paula Delaney is joined by Kate Ambrosi (CEO) and Olivia Saunders (Project Manager - MBacc) from Baker Dearing Educational Trust to discuss curriculum reform, parity of esteem between academic and technical education, and what meaningful pathways to success could look like for young people. Together, we will explore what these national developments mean for teachers, school leaders and, most importantly, the pupils sitting in front of us on a Monday morning. If we were designing England's education system from scratch today, what would we keep, what would we change, and what opportunities would we want every young person to experience before they leave school?

Beejesh and a special guest discuss whether it is a wise idea to jump ship from your current school, explore teachers' expectations about what schools should be like, and consider the idea of "unicorn schools" and how attainable it is to get a job at one.

A BBC investigation has revealed that one pupil spent more than half an academic year in an isolation booth, with other students reporting being removed from lessons for issues such as uniform infringements, talking in class and lateness. Supporters argue that strict behaviour systems protect the education of the majority and create calm classrooms. Critics say prolonged isolation can damage children's wellbeing and may go far beyond what was originally intended. Join Tom Rogers, Yasmin Omar and JP as they discuss. 

Yannick and Tony talk about the more contentious issues that crop up in the summer term. Is gained time fairly used? Are Proms a rite of passage or a right waste of money? How should schools deal with heatwaves and unauthorised holidays? Is it right for schools to close when parents are fined for taking their children out of school? Join us for a frank discussion on these often controversial issues!

One in every ten children in England was referred to mental health services last year, with anxiety now the single biggest reason. Referrals have almost doubled since 2018, suspected autism referrals have risen by nearly 50% in just one year, and more than 60,000 children are waiting over two years for support. So what is driving this dramatic rise? Is there genuinely a growing mental health crisis among children and young people, or are we simply getting better at recognising conditions that have always existed? Are schools expected to fill the gaps left by overstretched health services? And what role do social media, smartphones, Covid, family life, poverty, SEND pressures and the education system itself play? Join the discussion as we explore one of the biggest challenges currently facing education, healthcare and families. What do you think? Is this a genuine mental health emergency or does the conversation need to change?

We talk the fine balancing act and how to come out ok, just ok. Not to be missed. A mental health hour that is needed more than ever.

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley have a chat about English Language Teaching in South Korea.

Is prom attendance an absolute rite of passage, or is it a privilege to be earned? On todays Points of View, we are looking into one of the most hotly contested debates in school communities. With many schools using "No-Go lists" linked to attendance and behavior to decide who gets a ticket, we ask: is this a fair accountability tool, or does it unfairly penalize our most vulnerable students? Join the conversation, share your staffroom experiences, and call in to tell us where you stand! On the panel: Lucy Trimnell, JP, Rae Whitehouse and Carl Smith.

Carl takes us through the evidence for why white working class pupils are so behind other groups in society and what effect this is having on our society. He then explores the solutions and how we must take a more intelligent approach to supporting and holding schools to account in white working class communities so we can bring about real change.

Do outside variables make a difference inside? We talk stress and the regular features.

As temperatures continue to soar across parts of the UK and Europe, schools are once again facing difficult decisions about how to respond to extreme heat. Should schools remain open regardless, adapting through shorter days, relaxed uniform rules and additional water breaks? Or are heatwave closures a sensible response to genuine health and safety concerns, particularly in older buildings not designed for sustained high temperatures? Listen back to this bumper two hour Points of View.  On the panel: Tom Rogers, Liz Webb, Alun Ebenezer, Rich Walkden, Alistair Wood, Maud Waret, Kit Marie Rackley, JP. 

We talk sun and mental health. Join in!

Dave chats with youth political activist Kole Gjikolaji on a range of topics concerning youth political voice including AI in schools, taxation of private schools, equality in education and the school curriculum could be adapted to get more young people politically engaged. 

Keir Starmer has resigned so for this edition of Points of View, we examine Labour's record on education after two years in government. When Labour came to power, it promised to recruit more teachers, tackle the SEND crisis, improve attendance, reform Ofsted, raise standards and restore confidence in the education system. But how much progress has actually been made? Have teachers noticed meaningful change in their classrooms? Are schools better funded? Has workload improved? What has happened to behaviour, attendance and recruitment? And have Labour's policies addressed the challenges facing pupils with special educational needs and disabilities? Join us as we assess the government's education record, explore the successes and failures of the past two years, and ask whether Labour has delivered on its promises to schools, teachers, parents and pupils. On the panel are four current UK teachers - Liz Webb, Rachel Gilyeat, Maud Waret and making his POV debut - Ollie Bayliss.

Join Paula Delaney and Charlotte Bleakley as they explore technology, learning and decision-making in schools. Their discussion will span personalised learning, developing teacher expertise, classroom practice and the role of digital technology in education. With new technologies continuing to shape education, how can we as a profession begin to make thoughtful decisions about their place within teaching and learning?

Improving attendance has been the obsession of both the government and Ofsted since 2020, leading to pressure being heaped on schools - and subsequently children and families - to solve a growing crisis. A fixation on the data, however, is not solving the problem and, instead of looking at the “why”, a punitive approach has been the chosen method of the government - but enforced on the ground by schools. This has led to a breakdown in relationships between parents and schools, with increasing blame falling on Heads and teachers, for situations which are ultimately out of their hands. Equally, schools have little power to solve the real problems causing high levels of absence, but all the while being held to account on the numbers. Has the situation reached breaking point? Is the position of schools now impossible? Join Rae, Dave, Yasmin and Liz.

The discussion revolves around high expectations not being seasonal. They don't end when exams finish or when the sun comes out. Every lesson, every day and every interaction matters.

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show with guest James Stevenson as they discuss what it is to be resilient in today's educational climate. With staff shortages, budget cuts, behavioural issues, school politics, strikes and closures, to name a few, how do new and experienced teachers and leaders traverse the rough terrain that is education? What lessons can be learned from using inner and outer motivation? What part can Finnish Sisu play in surviving the storm?  

In this show, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Frania Hall to discuss the value of teaching as scholarship in higher education. Together, they explore evaluation, pedagogic research, educational leadership, teaching-focused career pathways, and how universities can better recognise and celebrate teaching excellence. The conversation reflects on academic identity, innovation, professional recognition, and the vital contribution that teaching-focused academics make to the future of higher education.

Every educator has heard the phrase "outstanding lesson," but what does it actually mean? Is it about engagement, creativity, differentiation, technology, or something far deeper? In this solo episode of The Lunch Show, Famida Choudhary explores one of education's most debated questions: What truly makes a lesson outstanding? Drawing on over 15 years of classroom experience, assessment leadership, lesson observations, and educational research, Famida shares her personal recipe for success. From knowing your cohort through data and observation, to designing purposeful learning environments, selecting the right pedagogical approaches, fostering higher-order thinking, providing impactful feedback, and using AI responsibly, this show challenges the idea that outstanding teaching can be reduced to a checklist. Join us for a reflective and practical conversation that reminds us that outstanding lessons are not performances - they are carefully crafted learning experiences designed to help every child thrive.

Louise Marie meets with Marie Zarro to discuss how to introduce non-fiction texts to the primary classroom!

Yannick and Tony talk about how they have been managed and how they have managed others throughout their 25-year careers. They reflect on how their experiences of leadership have impacted them. Which leadership behaviours have made them feel valued and empowered and which have made them feel exposed and demoralised? How have they as leaders looked to balance the need to have impact with the need to support their team? Has leadership changed? Are leaders becoming more effective? Do we have enough good leaders in education? Is the need to be corporate and show improvement at odds with the need to support and develop teachers holistically? The hosts tackle this and many other questions as they delve into the big issues of educational management.

As new summer exam entry data lands following the government's landmark curriculum and assessment review, we ask: are England's secondary schools on the brink of major change, or are old patterns proving hard to break? Despite plans to scrap the EBacc performance measure, GCSE choices remain largely unchanged with languages still struggling, history steady, geography slipping and business booming. Meanwhile, maths continues its dominance at both GCSE and A-level, economics surges into the top five A-levels, and political studies sees record growth. A new 'Natural History' GCSE is planned and A Level music looks like it could cease to exist in many schools. Join Rae Whitehouse, JP, Lucy Trimnell and Liz Webb as they discuss.

Join Beejesh and Claire to discuss if Gareth Southgate really does know best about how boys and girls learn.

This week on The Late Show with Tim Smale, Tim is joined by Darren Goode, Assistant Principal for Inclusion, for a conversation about belonging in schools. England now has one of the lowest rates of pupil belonging in the world, and the link between belonging and achievement is hard to ignore. Tim and Darren ask why it is still treated as the soft stuff when the evidence says it is anything but, taking in inclusion, SEND, the attendance crisis, representative education, masculinity, behaviour and the pull of social media.

We talk how to make meaning out of stress. Join me!

In this show, Darren explores the psychology of being observed as a teacher. Drawing on research by Ali et al., he examines why lesson observations can provoke stress and anxiety, how being watched changes classroom practice, and what the evidence tells us about the impact of observations on teacher performance and wellbeing.

Why do so many girls disengage from sport during their school years and what can schools do to change that? In this special Teachers Talk Radio show in partnership with the Football Association (FA), hosts Tom Rogers and Rae Whitehouse are joined by Stacey Mullock, Head of Development at The FA, and secondary teacher Helen Tonks to explore the barriers still holding girls back in sport and school life. Whether it be misogyny and exclusion to body confidence, periods, kit anxiety and the fear of judgement, this honest and practical conversation looks at the real experiences many girls face and why these issues extend far beyond the football pitch. Drawing on insights from the FA & Barclays Made for This Game: Breaking Barriers campaign, the panel discusses how schools can create environments where girls feel confident, included and able to belong. The conversation explores what misogyny looks like in schools today, how teachers can open difficult conversations with confidence, and the small cultural shifts that can make a big difference. With 90% of schools now offering girls equal access to football, progress is real but access alone isn't enough. This show looks at what comes next and how teachers can help girls build confidence, resilience and a lasting sense of self-worth.

Lee will be joined by Tom and Keiran, teachers in an SEMH school for boys. They will be considering behaviour policies in schools, how to find a sensible balance whilst keeping expectations high.

A teacher who “pulled a sickie” to attend a stag do in Portugal, lied about illness, and later ripped pages from his passport to cover his tracks has avoided a teaching ban - but should he have? This week on Points of View, we ask what this case says about trust, professionalism and pressure in teaching. We'll also debate flexible working in education. Should schools be more open to flexible leave and personal requests to help retain staff and improve wellbeing? Or are schools already under too much pressure, with staffing shortages making flexibility difficult and unfair on colleagues left to cover? On the panel: Dave Brown, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell.

In this thoughtful and practical discussion, Toby and Jo Hrabi will consider the pressures neurodiverse learners may face in busy educational environments, from sensory overload and anxiety to organisation, communication and confidence. They will also reflect on the wellbeing of teachers and support staff, asking how educators can create inclusive, calm and responsive classrooms while also protecting their own energy and mental health. Tune in for a supportive, human conversation about neurodiversity, inclusion and wellbeing in education.

We talk stress and self-esteem. Are the two linked? Can one get better without the other? Let's talk it out...

Yannick and Tony conclude their discussion on the perceived increase in demand of the profession on teachers . They draw on surveys of UK teachers as well as their combined 50+ years of experience, to make a final, balanced conclusion. Is teaching really getting harder?

In this show, Darren explores the relationship between parental self-efficacy and student exam stress. How much does a parent's confidence in supporting their child's education influence how that child experiences assessment and exam pressure? Drawing on psychological and educational research, Darren examines the evidence linking parental beliefs, family support, academic resilience, and student wellbeing.

Carl asks why so many young people are economically inactive according to the Milburn report. He explores whether schools or teachers are to blame or whether it is in fact the system they operate in that has caused the problem. He also suggests what might be done to make things better.

Tim Smale talks to Rachel Johnson, chief executive of PiXL and author of Connected: Focusing on `Me` and `We`. Her big idea is simple: to thrive, young people need to be connected both to themselves and to others, yet we rarely teach them how to do either. Tim and Rachel explore what connection really means in schools, why belonging matters more than we admit, and whether much of what we call a behaviour problem was a connection problem all along. You can get the book here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/rachel-johnson-2/connected/9781036007294/

Suspensions for racist, homophobic, transphobic and ableist abuse in schools have risen sharply but what's really behind the trend? On this week's Points of View, we explore the reasons behind rising reports, especially a new BBC one, of prejudicial abuse in schools. Are social media, divisive politics and online influencers shaping attitudes among young people? Have funding cuts to pastoral and anti-bullying support left schools struggling to respond? Or are schools being expected to solve wider societal problems they cannot fix alone? We'll debate the role of parents, schools and government, ask whether suspensions are the right response, and discuss what practical solutions might actually make a difference. Join us live to share your perspective: Why is prejudicial abuse rising in schools and what should happen next?

Teachers are exhausted, overwhelmed and, in many cases, walking away from the profession. But what is really behind the rise in teacher burnout? Is it workload, poor behaviour, endless accountability and SEND pressures or something deeper in the culture of education itself? In this Points of View, we ask why so many teachers are struggling to sustain the job, whether school leaders and governments are doing enough, and what practical changes could actually make teaching manageable again. Has the profession reached a tipping point or can burnout be turned around? With Dave Brown, Liz Webb, Lucy Trimnell and Maud Waret. 

Christopher talks with computer science academic and university teacher Dr Jeremy Straub about the recent history of Artificial Intelligence; its impact on our educational institutions; and the ways in which it might reshape and redefine our notions of education, research and training in the near future.

We talk how to de-stress in the classroom. Join us!

Darren explores whether better task design can reduce cheating in schools and assessments. Drawing on the research of Wenzel and Reinhard (2020), he examines how the structure and design of tasks can influence student honesty, motivation, and decision-making during tests and classroom assessments. From authenticity and challenge to accountability and engagement, this show looks at the evidence behind why some assessment tasks may encourage academic integrity more effectively than others.

Yannick and Tony reflect on the changes in the profession with reference to 10 key areas, and give an opinion for each on whether they have got better or worse. At the end of the show, the hosts will compare notes and consider survey results across the UK in order to make a final conclusion: Is teaching getting harder?

What does it mean to teach with your heart truly in it? This week on The Late Show, Tim Smale and Khanh-Duc Kuttig are joined by the amazing Christian Mba, vice principal, middle leadership developer, and author of Teach Like Your Heart Is On Fire. Together they explore the questions at the heart of Christian's book: why you became a teacher, whether knowing your purpose changes what happens in the classroom, and what it really takes to sustain genuine passion across a career.

Nearly one million young people in the UK are currently out of education and work. Alan Milburn's explosive new report warns of an "economic catastrophe" driven by lockdown scars, social media rewiring, and a broken welfare system. In this show, join JP, Rae, Carl and Jo as they ask the tough questions. Are schools doing enough to build resilience? Has technology created an anxious generation that the system is simply giving up on?

Darren explores the relationship between test anxiety and school avoidance, examining how anxiety around exams and assessment can contribute to absenteeism, emotionally based school avoidance, and disengagement from learning. Drawing on current educational and psychological research, he discusses the warning signs teachers and parents should recognise, the impact of exam stress on student wellbeing, and the practical strategies schools can use to support anxious pupils before attendance becomes a wider concern.

In March, Index on Censorship reported on a school in Greater Manchester that had pulled 200 books from the school library shelves after the Head raised an issue with one book. With huge parental pressure in the US to censor young people's access to certain literature, particularly that relating to race, gender and sexuality, is the UK following suit in this worrying trend? In a world where our young people carry access to a whole world of unrestricted material in their pockets, why has the war been waged on literature rather than smartphones and social media?