Teachers Talk Radio

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley talk about teaching English in South Korea and their thoughts and reflections for 2026.

AI is often criticised for killing critical thinking. Timea Kadar and her guests, Professor Xue Zhou and Med Kharbach, are looking at examples, research, and case studies in education on how it fosters it.

In this fifth episode, PSHE lead and educator Clare Price considers how to prepare parents, staff and learners to cover the updated need to consider strangulation and suffocation in the 2026 RSE Guidance. She also looks at how using the example of Alison Hammond having a panic attack live on air might support learners in how to manage this in their own lives. Please note this episode should be lis...

This week, the TES reported that the government has spent almost £5.8 billion clearing 90% of historic SEND deficits across 129 councils. Yet, despite this enormous financial intervention, the warning signs remain. Forecasts suggest that deficits could climb to £5.7 billion by 2027–28, with serious questions being raised about where the long-term funding will come from. But behind the billions, bu...

We talk the end of half-term with some very direct contributions. Mental health at its forefront as ever.

In this show, Darren considers schools as liminal spaces and explores some of the famous Japanese ghost stories set inside them.

'Socialist Students' is calling on pupils and students to walk out of lessons on 20 November, campaigning on war, education funding and their futures. Its campaign pack explains how to organise a walkout and advises those worried about being stopped from leaving to avoid going into school altogether.   Are young people exercising their political voice, or is a political organisation overstepping t...

With the government’s teacher retention programme delayed until autumn 2027, Points of View asks whether flexible working could help keep teachers in the classroom and how realistic it is in practice. From part-time roles and job shares to PPA at home and flexible start times, what could schools offer? Can flexibility benefit staff without compromising pupils’ learning or increasing colleagues’ wo...

Louise Marie is joined by oracy experts and authors, Amy Gaunt and Alice Stott, to discuss their wonderful new book 'Create an Oracy Curriculum' (Pub: Hachette Learning 30th Oct 2026). Together, Amy and Alice will explore why spoken language deserves a central place in education and how schools can embed oracy across subjects and beyond the classroom. This show will give you a real taste of what t...

For years, teachers have been highlighting the need for steps to be taken to reduce workload. Lip service has been paid to this concept, with promises and plans made to do so, but with little real impact.  This week, Lucy Powell has suggested a move to a four-day working week for teachers: a suggestion welcomed by many in education, but criticised by parents. While schools would remain open five d...

Join Michael Wright for a special episode as he sits down with Steve Willshaw to discuss his book, The Functionally Fluent Teacher. In this insightful conversation, Michael and Steve explore key ideas from the book, what it means to be a functionally fluent teacher, and how these principles can support effective teaching, positive relationships, and successful classroom outcomes. Whether you're a...

Chris is joined by guest James Nichols to explore the importance of political education in schools. How can we help young people understand democracy, engage with current affairs, question what they hear and form their own informed opinions? The discussion explores how schools can encourage political awareness and critical thinking while remaining impartial, and why equipping the next generation t...

We talk facing up to the facts and how acceptance could help you in the classroom and beyond.

In today's show, Darren looks at the leadership data to consider what type of headteachers teachers best respond to and why, ultimately, being a nice person is the most important thing of all.

Tim Smyth, US teacher and author, talks to Huma Mirza and Jon Biddle about using comics and graphic novels effectively in schools.

Two-week half-terms in the autumn term are becoming more commonplace in schools around the UK. While for students and teachers, this is welcome respite in the middle of a gruelling, dark and long term, the challenge arises for parents (and many parent-teachers with conflicting school schedules) in organising childcare. The benefits for wellbeing and workload are clearly reported by those schools t...

Should speaking and listening have equal status with reading and writing and what would that mean in the classroom? Tony Harwood, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell and Christopher Vowles join TTR Points of View to debate plans to put oracy at the heart of the curriculum. Could this help tackle disadvantage and equip pupils for a world shaped by AI? How should spoken language be taught and assessed and...

Carl explores why teachers are really leaving the profession and it might not be what you think.

We talk dealing with conflict at work alongside a host of other things to help you process stuff. That's if you need it. And if you're on half-term we'll talk what that means. And if you're not, we'll talk when you are.

Continuing the mini-series on teacher job satisfaction, Darren explores the literature about the satisfaction criteria for teachers and considers whether the length of time you've been in the job impacts how satisfied you feel.

Chatting, calling out, tapping and answering back: how much disruption has become accepted as part of everyday teaching? On Points of View, we debate the cumulative impact of so-called low-level disruption on teachers and pupils. Where is the line between ordinary classroom restlessness and behaviour that stops others learning? Are expectations clear and consistent and do teachers get the support...

Who keeps our schools running when the classroom doors close? This show shines a light on the often-overlooked support staff who keep education moving. From dealing with frustrated parents to supporting teachers and school leaders, their contribution is vital but often unrecognised. Featuring an interview with an 18-year-old school office apprentice, the show explores the realities behind the scen...

Tim Smale is joined by executive headteacher Adrian McLean to ask why school values so often go out of the window, and why schools might need virtues instead. They also get into teacher overload and the rise in AI-written complaints to schools. Adrian has taken one question to the TEDx stage and the House of Lords: what does character ask of a leader when holding the line is the lonely and expensi...

Know Your Worth, hosted by Mehmet Ali Zekay, explores confidence, professional value and having the courage to ask for more. In this episode, Mehmet speaks with Dr Rebecca Taylor, a Physics teacher, about recognising your worth, career progression and why teachers shouldn’t be afraid to have conversations about pay.

Headaches, migraines, nausea and high blood pressure: are we taking the health impact of poor pupil behaviour seriously enough? JP, Liz Webb and Maud Waret discuss a NASUWT survey linking severe pupil behaviour with higher rates of reported physical health problems. Of more than 10,000 respondents, 59% reported verbal abuse from pupils in the previous year and 17% reported physical assault. Should...