Teachers Talk Radio

In this show, Khanh-Duc Kuttig and Robert Stroud unpack the following questions on AI in the classroom: What can AI do for learning—and what it shouldn't replace, how to support thinking, not shortcut it. If you think you've already heard it all… think again. This isn't about tech trends—it's about pedagogical integrity in an age of automation.

Join Lucy Trimnell, Yasmin Omar and Carl Smith for this weeks points of view as they discuss the latest report via Schoolsweek that claims a Reform government would “root out” teachers who are “brainwashing” children, MP Lee Anderson told the party's annual conference. Speaking at a fringe event at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre on Friday night Anderson, MP for Ashfield and chief whip for Reform UK, said: “Whether you like it or not, there are some teachers in our schools [who] are brainwashing our kids into their way of thinking".

Darren opens the show talking about identity construction for new teachers but, through chatting with commenters, demonstrates how we use language specifically to construct a type of identity.

In this show, Famida Choudhary was joined by international educator Chandani Kinger to explore how teachers are stepping beyond the classroom to become mentors, innovators, and global leaders. From SDG-4 to cross-border collaboration, this conversation dives into the challenges and triumphs of educators shaping the future. Tune in for bold questions, heartfelt reflections, and a celebration of teacher agency in a rapidly changing world.

Carl chats to Assistant Principal, Abi Hibbins about why attendance is so bad in schools across the world and what needs to change if things are to improve. Abi gives us a sense of hope and realism forged out of working on the front line of education.

Join Chris as he explores how to reward learners fairly and creatively, with practical ideas to inspire and motivate every student (plus! a secret song he teases throughout the show for you to guess before the big reveal at the end).

What is the best way of teaching reading? 

Some people believe that repetition is absolutely critical to establishing the fundamentals. Others would say repetition creates an environment where students don't feel sufficiently challenged. Some will assert that repetition builds confidence. Others will argue that repetition takes away valuable time from the exploration of new material and topics. Where do you sit? Listen in, as Seema catches up with Claire Lambert (Senior Lecturer, ex-BBC/Ogilvy) to chat about this topic.

Join Matt for his debut show on TTR! He is joined by David Curran, a teacher in a specialist dyslexia school, as they discuss how to best utilise AI with SEND learners. 

Dave Brown, Lucy Trimnell and Rae Whitehouse debate the big stories from this week in education. They ask if generative AI is causing a need for exam reform and whether getting rid of resits is dumbing down? Has the need to pass maths and English GCSEs helped improve overall quality of students? Join us for this one where they discuss the details behind the headlines. 

Tony and Yannick discuss what to expect from the 2025-2026 academic year in UK schools. 

The end of the summer is upon us! Liz, Kate and Rachel discuss the inevitable feelings that descend upon the profession as the autumn term looms ahead and offer some thoughts about how we might all attempt to beat the ‘back to school blues.

Start the new school year off right by thinking deeply about who you are as a teacher and what you actually want your goals to be. In this show, Darren talks about the value of goal setting and guides you through the beginning stages of coming up with your goals for the 2025-2026 academic year.

We talk how to take care of your mental health as a teacher as many head back into schools for September. How are you feeling?

Louise Pickering hosts her debut show on Teachers Talk Radio and is joined by Shammi Rahman to discuss how schools can be truly inclusive for staff. 

Nick Gibb, former schools minister under numerous conservative governments, joins Tom and Dave to discuss all that happened in the years 2010-2024. They debate some of the biggest talking points of the period including OFSTED, Academies, PISA results and more. Was this a disaster period for education or a relative success? Nick defends the Conservative record on education. 

Martin is joined by fellow TTR hosts Graham Stanley and Tom Rogers as they pay tribute to Phil Longwell, ELT teacher, who sadly passed away recently after a battle with cancer. 

Yasmin Omar, Tarjinder Gill and Lucy Trimnell discuss the latest report highlighting the under performance of white disadvantaged students in exams.  Parts of the country where disadvantaged pupils perform worse at school are more likely to have large populations of poor white children, a new report suggests. The Institute for Government (IfG) think tank finds that disadvantaged white pupils in England have “particularly poor educational outcomes”. An analysis by the IfG looks at the “high impact” group of pupils - those for whom disadvantage disproportionately affects their performance - which it says is made up mostly of white British pupils.

Christopher talks with secondary principal Nathan Barrett and secondary deputy principal Delia Donohoe about the Irish education system, reforms to the Senior Cycle, and post-eighteen destinations in the Republic of Ireland.

Tom is joined by a panel of teacher-guests with plenty of international experience, especially in Europe. Simon Goodey (Spain), Jeff Pedley (Belguim) and Megan Goodes (Japan/Namibia) are on the panel. They discuss all things International teaching! 

Chris dives into the debate on music in the classroom: can background beats inspire focus, creativity, and joy, or are they just another distraction for students?

Today's show features Janet Ayoub talking about teacher education, exploring how she helps teachers bridge the gap between theory and practice.

On this show, host Famida Choudhary was joined by Komal Mule, an accomplished ICT educator with over 11 years of experience in computer science, robotics, and curriculum innovation. Together, they dived into how coding, robotics, and ICT integration can enhance collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. From cross-curricular projects to hands-on challenges, this conversation explores how technology not only boosts engagement but also prepares students with the confidence and skills needed for the future.

Huma Mirza and Tom Rogers co host a conversation with executive director of education and author, Shareen Wilkinson. They discuss her new book - Disciplinary Literacy in the Primary Classroom. What is disciplinary literacy? Why is it important? What does it mean for primary subject leads? How should schools be approaching it in 2025-2026? All these talking points and more in this special one off show. Order the book now from Hachette Learning here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/shareen-wilkinson/disciplinary-literacy-in-primary-schools-reading-writing-and-speaking-across-the-curriculum/9781036006303/

Joint current secondary HOD Beejesh and current primary Headteacher Claire as they consider what exactly schools are doing when it comes to assessment - where are they going right and wrong when formally and informally assessing students?

In this lively Teachers Talk Radio show, Tom Rogers is joined by teacher and writer Adam Boxer to explore the changing role of social media in the teaching profession. From the glory days of "EduTwitter" and infamous online debates to the decline in teacher engagement on X, they discuss how platforms like BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn, and TikTok are filling the gap. Along the way, Adam shares advice for teachers building a positive online presence, and candid reflections on the benefits and pitfalls of engaging in public education discourse. The conversation also touches on issues of teacher voice, inclusivity, and how to amplify perspectives from schools working in challenging contexts—plus a humorous quiz revisiting some of the most memorable Twitter controversies in education.

Most professionals will have aspects of their day-to-day job that go beyond their job description and that are sometimes not openly discussed or acknowledged. In this show, Seema discusses some of these areas for a teacher, with her colleague Lynsey Fox (Senior Lecturer in PR and Media Communications at London College of Communication). From the impact of performing, to connecting with students on social media, this is a discussion which tackles boundaries, intensity, guilt, pressure and being diplomatic.

What digital skills do teachers need? What about in the next five years?

On this summer edition of Points of View, our panel (Tarjinder Gill, Yasmin Omar, Rae Whitehouse and Lucy Trimnell) explore two big issues shaking the education world: the growing number of consultants and ex-teachers shaping school policy from the outside, and a controversial court case over the use of long-term isolation in schools. Is it possible to advise schools effectively without being in the classroom? What's the true cost of external expertise? And when does helpful CPD cross the line into 'snake oil'? Then, the discussion turns to a recent High Court ruling in favour of a Leeds school whose isolation policy was challenged by three pupils. The panel looks at the complex tensions between duty of care, student behaviour, teacher wellbeing, and the limits of the judicial system in shaping school policy.

As the school year kicks off, join host Famida Choudhary in conversation with Year 5 teacher Sharon—an inspiring educator who blends humour, heart, and high standards. Together, they explore how teachers can prepare meaningfully for a new class: from understanding student needs to setting up routines that stick. A practical and uplifting show to start the year strong.

Darren discusses the highs and lows of being a teacher in the middle of one's career.

Joining Liz today is former teacher, turned librarian, Sue Eastlake who, like many others before her, has left 30 years in the classroom behind, in the hope of reclaiming the holy grail of work-life balance. They discuss and debate the reasons behind the recruitment and retention crisis in education and weigh up the pros and cons of leaving the classroom behind. But is the grass greener on the other side?

Tom Rogers is joined by secondary HOD and oracy enthusiast Louise Pickering to explore how she is approaching Oracy development in her school. She shares her insights from leading an impactful oracy initiative at Weavers Academy. Louise discusses why oracy is a vital skill for students, especially in relation to equity, life chances, and long-term success, and how it can be a powerful lever for closing attainment gaps. We dive into the practical steps her team took to embed oracy across the school, the challenges they faced, and how staff CPD and modelling played a key role. Louise also shares how instructional coaching can be used to develop staff oracy and build a culture of effective communication throughout a school. If you're a leader looking to make oracy a priority in your setting, don't miss Louise's top three tips for getting started.

Darren talks about why it's important for teachers to feel truly included in their school communities.

In this reflective show, Famida Choudhary explores whether teaching has strayed too far from its core purpose. Joined by a listener mid-show, the discussion dives into how admin demands impact classroom creativity—and what it means to truly let teachers teach.

Ben White is joined by Katie Finlayson for a thoughtful conversation about home education. With 15 years of experience educating her own children—and supporting thousands of families across the UK—Katie shares what life as a home-educating parent really looks like, why more families are choosing this path, and what schools might learn from those doing things differently. She also discusses her own recent research, which gathered insights around why and when families chose to home educate.

In this Twilight Show, Timea is joined by Dr Gillian Stacey, Course Director at LCCA with a passion for purposeful pedagogy, and Inca Hide-Wright rising star Graduate Management Trainee at University of Warwick bringing sharp insights and the all-important student voice, to dive into the art (and science) of student engagement, both in the classroom and beyond.

Tonight's show explores the never-ending story of curriculum design in primary schools. Huma is joined by Marc Hayes, an experienced school leader and curriculum thinker, to discuss what curriculum design really means, why it matters, and how we can make it purposeful, inclusive and manageable. From storytelling in history to sequencing in geography, they unpack the practical challenges, explore the realities of implementation, and share reflections that matter to classroom teachers and curriculum leaders alike.

Tarjinder Gill, Tom Rogers and Lucy Trimnell discuss the huge controversy this week involving a school's culture day. A diversity day at a secondary school ended in upset and apologies after a 12-year-old girl wearing a union flag dress was prevented from delivering a speech she had written about British culture.

In this show from Teachers Talk Radio, hosts Tom Rogers and Darren Lester dive into the world of educational travel with two expert guests: Dr John Allan and Will Aitken, Head of Student Wellbeing at Accrington Academy. Together, they explore the profound impact that school trips can have on students' resilience, confidence, and long-term personal growth. From local excursions to life-changing international adventures, the panel shares heartfelt stories, practical advice, and the latest research on how learning outside the classroom can boost employability, wellbeing, and cultural capital. They also tackle the barriers like cost, logistics, workload and how schools and providers like NST are helping to overcome them. Check out the NST Travel offer here: www.nstgroup.co.uk

Darren has a newfound interest in the history of British education and uses John Milton's treatise 'Of Education' to ask the question: Do things ever change?

What is authentic inclusion? What does it mean? What does it look like in schools? Carl's guest, Marie Neave, is head of a special school working on a DfE project on inclusion in Lewisham. We discussed whether there is a clear definition of inclusion and what good inclusivity might look like e.g for Ofsted.

Joining Liz and Kate this week is the wonderfully eloquent Rachel Gilyeat, a specialist in Relationships and Sex Education for students in years 7 through to 13. Rachel shares wise and candid advice on the importance of RSE, especially for young people in a modern world where they are exposed to information from a variety of sources, helping them to embark safely and healthily on their first relationships. Let's talk about sex education…

In this lively and thought-provoking show, host Tom Rogers chats with two experts on dyslexia—Dr. Helen Ross, a specialist assessor and SEN consultant, and Lucy Pelling, head of Moon Hall Assessment Centre. Together, they delve into what dyslexia really looks like at different stages of a child's education—and how schools can better support those who have it. From practical classroom tips and assistive tech to the bigger picture around diagnosis, access arrangements and EHCPs, this show covers a huge amount of ground. Expect honest insights and plenty of actionable advice for teachers, SENCOs, and school leaders.

Our panellists discuss the biggest stories from the week gone by in education; Schools managing huge numbers of AI generated complaints from parents, school suspensions reach nearly 1 million in 2023/2024 and one academy trust decides to ban skirts. Join Tarjinder Gill, Carl Smith, Lucy Trimnell and Rae Whitehouse for this one. 

Darren explores the concept of teacher identity and politics through the lens of liberationalism.

Timea discussed AI in learning and teaching with her guests Dr Noman Mahtab, Subject Lead at LCCA, and Dr Med Kharbach, the founder of Educators Technology. Based on Noman's research 32% of higher education lecturers use AI in teaching, but 77% have never received formal training on it. The guests shared examples of ethical use of AI in teaching, tools they use, how AI can encourage creativity, and the importance of institutional policy-making. It was a lively discussion from academics who successfully use AI in learning and teaching on a daily basis.    

Claire Bills and Beejesh Deva dive into the big question: should schools ever do things just for Ofsted? They unpack the new framework, challenge the idea of inspection vs. support, and explore what really drives meaningful change in schools. Beejesh puts Claire on the spot with some tough scenarios about what she'd do as a head! Thought provoking and  refreshingly honest.

In this special one-off Teachers Talk Radio show, Kathryn Clark is joined by a brilliant panel of guests to explore the future of GCSE Maths. With curriculum reform and assessment reviews on the horizon, what should GCSE Maths look like by 2030? Kathryn is joined by Neil Ogden and Amy Jones, Maths Subject Advisors from OCR, and James Butterworth, Head of Maths at Truro School. Together, they explore the key questions: What maths should students be learning? How do we balance relevance with rigour? Is it time to rethink content like constructions, memorised formulae, and even the exam structure itself? The conversation covers everything from AI's role in the subject to financial literacy, real-life application, student voice, and how to best serve the full range of learners – not just those going on to study maths post-16. Visit OCR Maths: https://www.ocr.org.uk/subjects/mathematics/ 

Following part 1, where Tom sat down with AI and assessment expert Daisy Christodoulou, Tom is joined this time by History education trust lead Ben Walsh to discuss his take on developments in this area. 

Seema discusses this contended topic with Kent Valentine (Director & London Office Leader at Oliver Wyman) and Adrian Sledmere (Lecturer, ex-Kings College London and UAL). Using academic sources is an expectation in UK higher education; this conversation will explore how important the integration of academic sources are in teaching, whether academic sources are outdated, the risk of not using them and what constitutes credible teaching.