They Behave For Me

Follow They Behave For Me
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

Welcome to They Behave For Me, a podcast brought to you by Adam Boxer and Amy Forrester covering all things education: politics, curriculum, Teaching and Learning and much more. Join us for thought provoking ideas, concrete strategies and plenty of jokes. Press subscribe to get TBFM every Friday! TBFM is powered by Carousel Learning

Adam Boxer and Amy Forrester


    • May 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 61 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from They Behave For Me with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from They Behave For Me

    Should we ditch exam results day and what is dialogic teaching?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 52:22


    In this episode, Adam and Amy look at government plans to potentially scrap exam results day, how study leave varies across the sector and Robin Alexander's dialogic teaching.

    Why is CPD broken, and what can be done to fix it?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 60:30


    In this episode, Adam and Amy delve into the launch of Carousel's new CPD offering, Carousel Teaching. They also take another look at Adolescence and shared parental leave.

    What's in the curriculum review so far?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 53:52


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by Jonathan Simons from Public First to talk all things education policy, with a particular focus on the Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report.

    How does the teacher experience compare between the UK and US, and more with Grainne Hallahan from Teacher Tapp

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 51:16


    Adam and Amy are joined by Grainne to explore more data from Teacher Tapp. How do schools in the UK and US compare according to those who work there, how is shared parental leave used, and much more.They also pay tribute to the wonderful Dawn Cox who sadly passed away recently. Dawn was not only a lovely person, but was completely committed to education and her writings helped shift the dial on national education discourse, she is a great loss to the world.

    Should we show Adolescence in schools?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 51:28


    In this episode, Adam and Amy take questions from the listeners and discuss Keir Starmer's backing of Netflix's plans to have Adolescence screened in schools. Also on the menu is responding to feedback and clarifying some of our positions on private schools.

    How can lessons from the school system be helpful in prisons?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 69:08


    In this episode Adam and Amy are joined by Natasha Porter from UnlockedGrads. Loosely based on TeachFirst, Unlocked aims to break the cycle of prisoner re-offence and ex-teacher Natasha has some incredible insights into schools, the justice system and how wider society views crime and criminals

    What is evidence based practice? With special guest Alex Quigley

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 60:04


    In this episode, Alan and Amy are joined by one of the biggest names in evidence based education: Alex Quigley. Tune in for discussions about how teaching has improved in light of the evidence, and where we still have to grow.

    Mobile phones, private schools, and the need for long term memory strategies

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 56:09


    In this episode, Adam and Amy go over a couple of recent news stories about private schools and children's access to mobile phones and the internet. They also talk about long term memory strategies and the importance of thinking about learning over time rather than just in the moment.

    Are there too many education books, and should we dress up for world book day?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 57:55


    In this episode Adam and Amy breach the topic of World Book Day. Dreaded by some, celebrated by others, to what extent is it a force for good in promoting a love of books? Also, Adam and Amy discuss their favourite education books and wonder if there are too many education books.

    How do I ask for more pay, and what's the best way to run line management meetings?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 52:30


    In this episode of Question Time, Adam and Amy take questions from the listeners, covering behaviour, pay related progression, line management and long term memory strategies. Tune in and share!

    Why don't schools improve? With Dr James Mannion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 58:36


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by James Mannion in order to explore his new book and all things school improvement. Helping schools to get better seems to be an uphill task, so what tips does James have for us?

    Have Ofsted big listened to teachers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 43:30


    Gráinne's back! Here to unpack more great data from Teacher Tapp. We explore what teachers really think about what would make an adequate Ofsted inspection, and what challenges surprised people when starting the profession.

    Is bad behaviour my fault, and how to recruit and be recruited

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 54:20


    In this episode, Adam and Amy give TONS of awesome advice for teachers looking for new jobs and schools looking to recruit. Not to be missed, whatever side of the interview table you might, or might not, be sitting at.

    Everyone's Ill

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 1:24


    Due to illness They Behave For Me takes an unplanned break, back next week!

    What's Labour's massive education bill going to change?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 56:06


    In this episode, Adam and Amy sit down with John Dickens, editor of Schools Week, to discuss the potential ramifications of Labour's new education bill.

    What's your teaching new year's resolution and should your lessons be fun?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 51:40


    In this episode, Adam and Amy go over some potential resolutions that might supercharge your teaching this year. They also spend some time looking at the big education stories of the Christmas break like Martyn Oliver's answers to the Commons Education committee and whether or not lessons should be fun.

    Are we doing safeguarding training wrong?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 47:48


    In this episode, Adam and Amy go through questions from the listeners, and open with a corker about safeguarding. Our training always focuses on the legalities of identifying, recording, and communicating disclosures. But does it fail to teach us how to be human?

    Why have complaints and allegations against teachers increased? With special guest Alistair Wood, CEO of Edapt.

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 57:02


    In this episode, Adam and Amy welcome Alastair Wood , CEO of Edapt to the show. Alastair has a wealth of knowledge on all things employment, and walks us through the major issues facing teachers in terms of employment law, allegations and complaints. He also gives some tips on how to protect yourself in the workplace. Not to be missed!

    How are Ofsted managing to make things even worse?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 28:31


    With Ofsted leaking documents about their new report card proposals, Adam and Amy debate Ofsted, Progress 8, colour blindness, and discovery based learning.

    Why is everything broken, and how do we fix it? With special guest Sam Freedman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2024 53:18


    In this episode, Adam and Amy interview Sam Freedman, one of the finest political commentators around. Sam takes Adam and Amy on a journey through education policy in a bid to explain why everything is broken and how we might go about fixing it.

    I think my school is getting things wrong. What should I do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2024 31:48


    Join Adam and Amy as they dive into the most common question they get, which is around what to do if your school is trying to get you to so something that professionally you dont agree with. There are, unfortunately, no easy answers. :(

    Should we ditch Shakespeare?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2024 51:44


    In this episode, Adam and Amy delve into the English curriculum and look at whether the calls to ditch Shakespeare in favour of more modern texts are warranted or do violence to our cultural heritage.

    What does one of the country's leading CEOs have to say about curriculum, attendance, and more?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 57:18


    In this episode Adam and Amy interview Stuart Lock, CEO of Advantage Schools. Stuart discusses all things education and the conversation spans curriculum, behaviour, attendance, and more. Not to be missed!

    Exploring the Legacy of Tim Brighouse

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 56:54


    Amy is away so Adam is joined by Adam Robbins, David Cameron (not that one) and Professor Mick Waters to discuss their new book exploring the legacy of Tim Brighouse. They cover the current relevance of his work including a focus on the impact of the London Challenge and similar schemes elsewhere.

    Should it be illegal to use a phone on school grounds?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 47:32


    In this episode, Adam and Amy dive into a recent move by a Labour MP to toughen the rules around children accessing mobile phones and addictive content. They also discuss discover learning and 'what makes an outstanding lesson?' Tune in and share!

    Do teachers need to stop moaning?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 56:00


    Adam and Amy discuss whether or not teaching is still a good carrer and answer questions from the listeners, including ones about tracking knowledge over time and calling a class back to silence.

    What are Ofsted going to do next?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 57:36


    In this episode, Amy and Adam revisit Ofsted's Big Listen and explore their proposals. Are their suggestions and next steps corporate wool, or do they represent a concrete attempt to improve and rebuild trust?

    How do you narrow the disadvantaged gap, and where does job satisfaction come from?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 47:50


    Adam and Amy answer questions from the listeners, including questions about workplace motivation, and closing the pupil premium gap.

    Seven Fishes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 49:02


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined once again by TeacherTapp's Gráinne doyenne of data. To celebrate Tapp's seventh birthday, Gráinne will be sharing her seven favourite facts, that may or may not include fishes.

    What are Ofsted planning?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 60:14


    In this episode, Adam and Amy give a brief timeline of all the changes that have happened at Ofsted over the last five years or so. They explore Ofsted's Big Listen, and try and figure out their plans for the future. 

    Season 2 Episode 1: Back to school!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 56:20


    TBFM is back! Join Adam and Amy as they discuss the ever-widening disadvantaged gaps, lollies being on the curriculum, and how to deal with a colleague who bullies you.

    Episode 30: How should we reflect on the year, and improve for next year? 

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 48:40


    In the last episode of the year, Adam and Amy look back on the year that was - the things that have gone well and the things that haven't quite worked out. Onwards to next year, see you on the other side! 

    Episode 29: What are the biggest education myths and why are they so pervasive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 58:28


    In this episode, Adam and Amy discuss a number of education myths, ranging from learning styles to behaviour as a communication of unmet needs.

    Episode 28: I'm not getting better at teaching - what should I do?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 64:14


    In this episode, Adam and Amy take questions from the listeners about all things education, training, and whether we should "just give them a pen"...

    Episode 27: Should we be scared of Labour's education manifesto?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2024 63:56


    In this episode, Adam and Amy continue in their deep dive into the Labour manifesto on education. Tune in for discussions of child poverty, the benefit caps and assessment reform.

    Episode 26: Have our schools improved in the last 14 years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2024 66:40


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by the astonishingly knowledgeable Sir Jon Coles, Chief Executive of United Learning. They dissect the last 14 years of English education, and look at the Conservatives' records and Labour's prospects. Will things get better in the future?

    How can you build a positive culture around observations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2024 61:22


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are once again joined by the fabulous Grainne from the TeacherTapp team. In the episode, they start by discussing observations, and how Adam's school has gone about creating a positive culture around peer-to-peer observations. They also discuss some exclusive data from TeacherTapp about detentions, and what students do - and should be doing - when they are in detention.

    Episode 24: Why does CPD suck, and who wants to do National Service?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 54:44


    In this episode, Adam and Amy explore CPD and why it's normally a bit rubbish. They also look at the Conservative plans to introduce National Service and look for the grain of truth at the bottom of a bonkers policy.

    Episode 23: The legendary Paul Kirschner is in the house!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024 58:02


    In this interview, Adam and Amy get to talk to one of their educational heroes: cognitive scientist Paul Kirschner. Join them as they discuss foundational principles from cognitive science, the difference between being evidence based and evidence informed, and the prevalence of educational myths.

    Episode 22: do we care too much about students' haircuts?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 42:42


    In this episode, Adam and Amy discuss our obsession with student presentation and if it's worth caring about. They also take questions from the audience about trainee-mentor relationships and the role of creative subjects within schools.

    Episode 21: What can we learn from the best schools in New York?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2024 58:20


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by the legend that is Jon Hutchinson. Join them to discuss Jon's recent trip to the land of the brave where he visited a number of remarkable schools in New York.

    Episode 20: What can schools to do combat societal disadvantage?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2024 45:14


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by Charley from Sutton Trust to look at an extremely serious issue: the under-representation of pupil premium students in great schools. Tune in to learn about what has caused this issue, how it varies across the country and what schools can do about it.

    Episode 19: What the hell is going on with behaviour?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 49:13


    In this episode, Adam and Amy are joined by Teacher Tapp superstar Grainne Hallahan to discuss all things tattoos, behaviour and more. Tune in and share our last episode before a short Easter break.

    Episode 18: Do children naturally want to learn?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2024 44:18


    In this episode, Adam and Amy dive into a mini-controversy surrounding some things that were or weren't said at a researchED conference last week. Tune in for all the behaviour nuance you need!

    Episode 17: Should I apply to be a head of department?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2024 45:18


    In this episode, Adam and Amy take questions from the listeners: should we use clipboards when teaching? Should I apply to be a head of department or am I too inexperienced? How should I seat my students and, most importantly, what's the deal with the intro music?

    Episode 16: What are parents saying about attendance?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 57:18


    In this episode, Adam and Amy start by discussing Martin Lewis and financial education, move on to looking at the national outlook for pay and finish by delving into the data on attendance and looking at testimony around absences. Music: Chicken Hut Bluegrass by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

    Episode 15: What should you do if your school sucks?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 61:44


    In this episode, Adam and Amy discuss dysfunctional schools and how teachers should respond to all the mad things they are supposed to do. They also look at tips for interviewing (both sides of the table) and briefly examine Labour's new anti-misogyny plans.

    Episode 14: Why you should ban phones in schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2024 63:19


    In this episode, Adam and Amy discuss mobile phone usage in teenagers and take a deep dive into the evidence around changing social norms and behaviours. Tune in, and remember to share!

    Ep 13: Top tips for job applications, and how to use YOUR VOICE

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 63:30


    In this episode, Adam and Amy give their top tips for writing covering statements, getting more experience in advance of applications and how to handle interviews and demonstration lessons. They also look at vocal coaching and the power of good vocal habits for general wellbeing and T&L. Finally, they deal with a thorny problem: you ask a student to leave and they refuse. What do you do next?

    Episode 12: What's going on with behaviour and how do you feel about brushing children's teeth?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 63:23


    In this episode, Adam and Amy start by looking at Labour's proposal to introduce teeth brushing to primary schools, and then move on to some very alarming statistics about behaviour. At the end they move on to a few tips and tricks for having a restorative chat with a difficult student.

    Episode 11: What's going on at Michaela Community School?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2024 62:51


    In this episode, Adam and Amy open with a discussion around behaviour policies and the importance of holding the line. They then spend some time discussing the recent events at Michaela Community School, dissecting the issues around their non-existent prayer room and the resulting legal and political fallout.

    Claim They Behave For Me

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel