Teachers Talk Radio

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.

In this Tuesday twilight show, Timea was joined by Nadim Choudhury and Stuart Norton to discuss what employability means in today's higher education landscape and how we can help students have a successful career and future.

Manisha Parmar joins me from Gujarat, India to talk about the work she does with her schoolchildren around sustainable green education. Manisha leads impactful green initiatives, ranging from seed banks to bio-enzyme projects, while also researching how screen time influences children's emotional regulation, and says her mission is to combine education and sustainability to inspire the next generation of mindful, responsible global citizens.

Schoolsweek reports that teachers will use “deepfake” technology to create an AI avatar of themselves to deliver catch-up lessons for pupils who have missed school. Staff at the Great Schools Trust will create the avatars – which look and sound just like them – using an AI video generator. They will be used to set out content children have missed, for instance after being absent or suspended. Our panel discusses! Panel: Tom Rogers, Yasmin Omar, Carl Smith, Lucy Trimnell. 

Michael and Jenetta discuss Linda McAulay-Griffiths' recent comments on music education and explore the value and perceptions that education and the public have regarding Arts Education.

Tom Rogers is joined by Dr Suzy Peach and Dr Chris Peach to take a fresh look at RSHE and what student wellbeing really means in 2025. The conversation ranges from wellness trends, sleep, and resilience to some of the biggest challenges schools face today: mental health, misinformation on social media, addiction, substance misuse, and the pressures of health and fitness culture. Suzy and Chris share their thoughts on how we talk about emotions, why young people often ask “am I normal?”, and what teachers can do to cut through the noise and support students in practical, meaningful ways. If you're involved in RSHE delivery or care about student wellbeing, this is one you won't want to miss, with peachwellnessacademy.com

Khanh Duc and Jason Chan talk about what non-native English-speaking ELT professionals bring to the classroom, how they can professionalize their practice and discuss hiring practices in the ELT sector.

Darren discusses how society views teachers and what needs to be done in order to restore respect to the profession.

In this Teachers Talk Radio special, host Darren Lester is joined by Maud Waret, Silvia Bastow, and Joe Dale to explore the latest ideas in CPD for languages teachers. The conversation ranges from principled practice and the role of AI, to the new GCSE and its impact on both pupils and teachers. We explore insights from content developed by UCL's IOE Faculty of Education and Society, created in consultation with leading national and international experts, and tested in real schools, the discussion will focus on languages teachers to critically assess their existing strategies and make thoughtful, informed adjustments to their curriculum without overhauling their entire Scheme of Learning. Brought to you by the National Consortium for Languages Education, visit them here: https://ncle.ucl.ac.uk/language-educators-online/

It's October. The gloss of summer has worn off. The night's are closing in. The honeymoon period is over. Liz, Kate and Rachel have a tongue-in-cheek chat about common teacher gripes. Share yours with us and we can discuss them live!

Students want jobs and, for many, a degree feels like the ticket to landing one. But should getting career-ready really be the main purpose of university? What do we risk losing when degrees become too industry-focused? And what happens if we don't prepare students for work at all? Join Seema as she tackles these big questions with Dr. Paul Caplan, leader of MA Advertising at UAL.

Tom Rogers is joined by Gulcin Cesli, co CEO of Spring Partnership Trust, and Manny Botwe, Headteacher of Tytherington School and President of ASCL, to discuss the important issue of how schools should manage debates on immigration, race, and St George's flags.

What happens when algorithms meet acids and AI rubs shoulders with Bunsen burners? In this show, we're diving into the weird, wonderful world of teaching science with tech. in this show Matt is joined by the brilliant Alex Gray.

Teaching for Tomorrow: SDGs, Subject Links & Student Voice. In this thought-provoking show, host Famida Choudhary speaks with educator Sapna Raghava about transforming classrooms into purpose-driven spaces through the power of SDG-focused learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and student-led action. From climate projects and zero hunger campaigns to inclusive strategies for students of determination, the discussion unpacks how real-world learning, tech-enabled differentiation, and empathy can create deeper engagement for every child. Tune in for actionable ideas, classroom stories, and a fresh perspective on what it truly means to teach with care, curiosity, and global consciousness.

The education secretary has said that school leaders should have more training and support on how to communicate with parents effectively. Speaking at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool this week, Ms Phillipson said heads should not “drift into judgement” when interacting with parents. What do you think?  Jo Fox, Rae Whitehouse, Liz Webb, Michael Wright and Tom Rogers discuss. 

Through the lens of children's literature, Darren explores the sticky debate of self censorship in teaching.

In this episode, I explore one of the biggest challenges facing schools today; how short form content and constant notifications are reshaping the way young people focus, learn and interact in school. From the pressures on tutor time to the wider implications for teaching and learning, we'll consider what this means for educators, parents, and pupils alike. Share with colleagues, and join the debate.

Why and how should you build your personal brand as an academic? An exciting conversation at Tuesday Twilight Show with Timea Kadar, and her brilliant guests, Dr Sonal Jain and Rafael Dos Santos.

Join Chris as he unpacks the role of oracy in education, from equity and policy to the pandemic and the workplace of the future. In the age of AI, he argues oracy may be the most human skill we have left.

On tonight's Late Late show, I was joined by Noha Omaya in Cairo, Egypt for a conversation about how research meets the classroom: what students really learn, and we talked about the hidden curriculum, storytelling & critical thinking. 

Join John Dolman and Mike Driver as we interview Matthew Weymss about all things AI.

What does belonging really look like for teachers? In this episode, Michelle is joined by guest Sarah Wilkinson-Crute to explore why feeling respected, valued, and truly part of a school community is essential for teacher wellbeing and success. Together, they unpack what it means to belong in education and how schools can create environments where teachers don't just work, but genuinely thrive.

The panel - Lucy Trimnell, Tarjinder Gill and Carl Smith discuss the big breaking story from this week around a new statutory test for Year 8 students in schools in England. Pupils at state schools in England will face new reading tests in an attempt to tackle under-achievement by white working-class children. The government's forthcoming white paper on schools is to include a new test of reading ability for pupils in year 8, when they are aged 12 or 13, in an effort to encourage secondary schools to improve their teaching. The last Labour government scrapped national tests for year 9 pupils in 2008. If the new reading test is adopted it would mean England's state school pupils taking a compulsory national test in seven out of their 14 school years.

Experienced middle leader and MFL teacher Yannick Berland and consultant and former OFSTED inspector John Bald discuss their feelings and experiences of OFSTED inspections through the years. With Yannick's 25 years in the profession and John's 175 involvements in past inspections, get ready for some no holds barred opinions regarding the impact of OFSTED on the teaching profession, both good and bad.

In tonight's show, Piers Gledhill, a highly experienced FE lecturer and I suggest strategies to ensure a great start to the new year in FE. We examine fear of learning, poor learning experiences and disengaged learners and put forward the strategies we use to enable motivated, engaged learning on a personal level. We also discuss how to manage teacher burnout and positive, transformative change. Listen to find out more!

In a wide ranging interview David chats with Russell Hall about his 40 years in teaching and how he keeps his passion for teaching alive and what it means to have effective self efficacy both for teachers and students. 

Last week, the NEU proposed that a four day week for teachers should become the standard in schools, allowing teachers to work one day per week from home to help combat workload demands. Is this the solution to the recruitment and retention crisis we've been waiting for? Join Liz, Kate and Rachel as they discuss the positives and pitfalls.

Darren looks at how we apply Bandura's self efficacy theory to teachers to consider whether our practice impoves as we get older.

We talk a strategy of how to detach from the same old patterns in schools that just repeat and repeat.

Louise Marie talks to Rachel Bowers about what kind leadership looks like, the importance of striking the empathy balance and what could go wrong if kindness is not explicitly embedded into staff culture.

We taught. We left. What's next? Why the mass exodus of teachers from the profession? Michelle is joined by special guests to talk about why teachers are leaving.

Khanh Duc Kuttig interviews Jim Heal and Rebekah Berlin about their brand new book. "Mental Models: How understanding the mind can transform the way you work" - This is a Hachette book by Jim Heal and Rebekah Berlin that provides a framework for improving work and learning by understanding how the mind works. It draws on cognitive science to offer practical strategies for enhancing thinking, communication, and decision-making by refining your mental frameworks and managing cognitive load. The book explores key concepts in memory, learning processes, and human interaction to help you become more effective in various professional and personal situations.

In this episode, Khanh Duc and Bruno unpack the elephant in the room - ELT as gig economy. Teachers living in precarity, worried about speaking up for fear of losing work (and income), the challenges associated with freelance work and its impact on teacher wellbeing.

Darren looks at research from South Africa about the benefits of using group chats for professional development.

What do young people in 2025 say they want to be when they grow up? How do careers leads shape their ambitions and aspirations. Find out in this engaging podcast.

There are few more important things we do in schools than shape the aspirations of the next generation. This engaging podcast explores what's it's like to do that job and what young people in 2025 say they'd like to be when they grow up.

Chris is joined by Primary School teacher Paul Foster to discuss the similarities and differences between rewarding learners in primary school and post-16 education.

Tom Rogers is first joined by Dr Nicola Crossley, to explore SEND policy and approach in the UK vs Germany/other countries and how they deliver it as well as looking at some of the big issues in this area of late. In the second half of the show, Tom is joined by Carly Holness to look at personal development in schools and how they can best deliver this for all students.

A bumper panel of Yasmin Omar, Carl Smith, Lucy Trimnell, Tom Rogers and Tarjinder Gill discuss the words of actor Anna Maxwell Martin this week who voiced her dislike for schools 'punitive' behaviour policies and said that schools should look to 'meet the needs of all students' to ensure they want to attend school.

Michael and guest Jenetta Hurst delve into the government's commitment to funding Extracurricular Activities. They explore its implications for the Arts, address related challenges, and share insights on fostering a culture of Extracurricular within educational institutions.

Tom Rogers is joined by special guest Thomas Keegan (senior leader) to discuss the issue of imposter syndrome in the teaching profession. What is it? How can it be managed? Is it worse in teaching and why? How can leaders help teachers who suffer from it? What is the answer? All these points and more in this show. 

Now back in the swing of term, Liz and Kate debate the lack of diversity in the English Literature curriculum, citing research that reveals a startling bias, particularly at GCSE, to the “male, pale and stale”.