Education Matters

Paul Hazzard is joined by Lucy Neuburger andJohn Gibbs to explore why so many students drop out of A levels, how youngpeople imagine their futures and what the UK might learn from internationalapproaches to skills and education–industry alignment. Nigel Newton’s article in The Conversation ,highlights persistently high A-level dropout rates. John argues that the UK forcesstudents to narrow their c...

Paul talks with Claire Considine , Teaching Fellow in the School of Human Development, Dublin City University (DCU) and doctoral researcher, about the evolving role of guidance counsellors and what their experiences reveal about teacher wellbeing, professional identity and sustainability in education. What is a Guidance Counsellor? Claire clarifies the role of Guidance Counsellor, perhaps the equi...

In this episode of Theory Matters , Dr Pia O’Farrell , Dr Sabrina Fitzsimons and Professor Catherine Furlong of Dublin City University talk to Paul about their latest research Layers of strain: An ecological perspective on teacher burnout in Ireland - https://www.dcu.ie/sites/default/files/inline-files/dcu-create_teacher-burnout-think-tank_summary-report.pdf The research draws on survey data from...

Hannah and Lucy explore how aspiration develops, why it sometimes fades and what schools may be missing when disengagement is read as apathy. Rather than blaming young people, the conversation looks at the conditions shaping aspiration. Poverty, local opportunity, constant comparison and narrow definitions of success all play a role. For some students, ambition feels risky. When futures seem inacc...

In this end-of-year T eaching Matters , Paul is joined by Dr Shauna McGill , Shaniqua Edwards-Hayde , Lucy Neuberger and John Gibbs in conversation about anxiety in schools, creative approaches to learning and the deeper moral purpose of education. Drawing on The Times , the panel reflects Editor Nicola Woolcock ’s article highlighting research showing that 49.45% of secondary pupils avoided schoo...

Hannah and Lucy , joined by Daisy Turner , discuss various challenges faced by educators, including health issues in schools, attendance policies, the culture of teacher martyrdom, and the ongoing teacher shortages. They emphasise the importance of prioritising health and well-being for both teachers and students, while also addressing the pressures of teaching A-level classes and the need for bet...

In this end-of-year Teaching Matters , Paul is joined by Dr Shauna McGill , Shaniqua Edwards-Hayde , Lucy Neuberger and John Gibbs in conversation about anxiety in schools, creative approaches to learning and the deeper moral purpose of education. Drawing on The Times , the panel reflects Editor Nicola Woolcock’ s article highlighting research showing that 49.45% of secondary pupils avoided school...

John , Shane and Paul explore Ofsted’s annual report and focus on the “out of step” claim. And are there new thoughts on whether a four-day week can meaningfully address teacher wellbeing? And heroic headteacher does it help or hinder school development? 1 Ofsted, Attendance and the “Out of Step” Claim Martin Oliver’s observation that many pupils are “out of step with school life” gives focus to t...

Hannah & Lucy discuss the festive season and its impact on education. They share personal updates, explore the importance of bringing joy into the classroom and navigate the challenges of Christmas activities in schools. The conversation highlights the significance of community support and creating memorable experiences for students, emphasising that education should not only focus on results...

This week’s Teaching Matters, with Dr Shauna McGill and Shaniqua Edwards-Hayde, explores the rise in parental allegations against teachers, current debates in Religious Education (RE) and how schools can design CPD that genuinely improves practice. Parent allegations against teachers rise by a third Research reported by TES shows parental allegations against teachers have increased by a third in a...

Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuberger tackle a phenomenon increasingly felt across schools which is why are pupils placing more trust in TikTok “edu-influencers” than in the qualified teachers standing in front of them. With their trademark sharp humour and wit the conversation covers all aspects of this creeping phenomenon. 1. The TikTok Teacher Effect Hannah gives examples of pupils quoting TikTok cr...

On this week's popular panel show, Teaching Matters , Shanqua Edwards-Hayde , Shane Leaning (https://www.shaneleaning.com/) and John Gibbs offer valuable insights into three connected themes: the role of artificial intelligence in schools, the strain on teacher wellbeing and the changing nature of attention in an age of constant digital interruption. “ Are you ashamed to admit you use AI? ” as...

Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuburger speak with mindset coach and teacher Hannah YouBYou about how to genuinely empower young people. They explore collapsing confidence, the rise in anxiety, the role of coaching, the decline in oracy and expressive skills and why schools must prioritise self-belief, emotional literacy and relational safety. A practical conversation for teachers, leaders and anyone sup...

📕 AI Attendance Targets 📘 Teacher Interviews 📗 That Tate Assembly

Paul Hazzard explores leadership, curriculum, behaviour and the values that shape school culture with Duston headteacher, Sam Strickland . The conversation begins with leadership in practice. Drawing on extensive experience, Sam describes how leadership develops through consistency, calmness and credibility rather than authority or personality. They discuss how effective leaders model the behaviou...

This week Lucy Neuburger , Shauna McGill and John Gibbs join host, Paul Hazzard , to take a close look at curriculum reform, leadership in practice, and innovation across education. The discussion considers how schools can remain creative and purposeful when systems become rigid or risk-averse. We focus on the principles that make curriculum design effective, leadership responsive, and innovation...

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Paul sits down with the thoughtful and widely respected John Tomsett, teacher, author and headteacher. Together they cover a wide range of topics including, vulnerability in leadership, learning, the art of listening, what truly matters in schools and how trust and relationships underpin every aspect of education. Leading with Vulnerability John explains his belief that strong leadership isn’t abo...

Leading educational thinkers Professor Noel Purdy OBE and Dr Emilia Symington , from Stranmillis University College , Belfast , talk to Education Matters about their new study, Effective School Leadership in Disadvantaged Communities . Their research, funded by the James Kane and Mary Ann McCracken Foundations , explores how leadership contributes to schools thriving against the odds. 🔹 Effective...

Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuburger turn the spotlight on “the quiet ones” - introverted pupils and teachers who often go unnoticed in noisy classrooms and louder staffrooms. With their usual warmth and wit, the duo explore why quietness is misunderstood, how schools can nurture introverted learners and what silence can teach us about connection, creativity and care. 🤫 The Power of Quiet Hannah reca...

John sits down with Caroline Derbyshire , one of the most respected figures in UK education, for a conversation that explores her thirty-six years in teaching and leadership. Caroline offers open and deeply thoughtful reflections on what it means to lead, teach and care in a profession that’s often stretched to its limits. Caroline’s insights draw on a lifetime of experience in classrooms and staf...

Hannah and Lucy explore various global education systems, focusing on Finland, South Korea, Singapore and Estonia. They discuss the importance of wellbeing in education, the pressures of academic excellence and the need for creativity and digital literacy in modern curricula. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by the UK education system and emphasises the necessity for reform that pr...

This week, Hannah Wilson and Lucy Neuberger tackle one of the biggest issues in education, the myth of teacher wellbeing. In classic fashion they ask why wellbeing in schools so often misses the mark and what real care for staff should look like. 🌟 Lighting Up & Lifting Off Hannah has a new ring light. Lucy gets a “Croydon facelift”. Then there’s tales of CrossFit mishaps. Yet amid the laughs...

John Gibbs, Lucy Newburger and Paul Hazzard consider how education can reconnect those who have switched off, what learning means in closed settings such as prisons and how artificial intelligence is reshaping professional judgement in schools. Many teachers describe a growing sense that some pupils no longer see the point of learning. John talks about the loss of motivation he sees among students...

𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁: 📕 How earlier puberty is affecting pupils 📗 17 thinking routines to guide learning 📘 What if detentions became walks? Takeaways 📕 Early onset puberty is affecting pupil behaviour significantly. 📕 Teachers often feel unprepared to address the challenges posed by early puberty. 📕 Societal views on childhood can impact children's emotional and academi...