Teachers Talk Radio

In this show, Darren looks at how schools in Germany approach the issues of school violence and bullying, drawing on research conducted in 2020.

Teachers are getting a 3.5% pay rise. Academy trust CEOs could soon face government approval before taking jobs paying more than £174,000. The changes have sparked a fierce row across the education sector. Some say executive pay has become excessive while classroom staff struggle with workload and recruitment. Others argue that large academy trusts require exceptional leaders whose salaries should...

For decades, we’ve asked whether young people are ready for the world of work. But perhaps we’ve been asking the wrong question. Is our education system still relevant to the lives young people are living today, and to the futures they’re likely to face over the next thirty years? With the Curriculum and Assessment Review prompting a national conversation about the purpose of education, this show...

Beejesh and a special guest discuss whether it is a wise idea to jump ship from your current school, explore teachers' expectations about what schools should be like, and consider the idea of "unicorn schools" and how attainable it is to get a job at one.

A BBC investigation has revealed that one pupil spent more than half an academic year in an isolation booth, with other students reporting being removed from lessons for issues such as uniform infringements, talking in class and lateness. Supporters argue that strict behaviour systems protect the education of the majority and create calm classrooms. Critics say prolonged isolation can damage child...

Yannick and Tony talk about the more contentious issues that crop up in the summer term. Is gained time fairly used? Are Proms a rite of passage or a right waste of money? How should schools deal with heatwaves and unauthorised holidays? Is it right for schools to close when parents are fined for taking their children out of school? Join us for a frank discussion on these often controversial issue...

One in every ten children in England was referred to mental health services last year, with anxiety now the single biggest reason. Referrals have almost doubled since 2018, suspected autism referrals have risen by nearly 50% in just one year, and more than 60,000 children are waiting over two years for support. So what is driving this dramatic rise? Is there genuinely a growing mental health crisi...

We talk the fine balancing act and how to come out ok, just ok. Not to be missed. A mental health hour that is needed more than ever.

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley have a chat about English Language Teaching in South Korea.

Is prom attendance an absolute rite of passage, or is it a privilege to be earned? On todays Points of View, we are looking into one of the most hotly contested debates in school communities. With many schools using "No-Go lists" linked to attendance and behavior to decide who gets a ticket, we ask: is this a fair accountability tool, or does it unfairly penalize our most vulnerable students? Join...

Carl takes us through the evidence for why white working class pupils are so behind other groups in society and what effect this is having on our society. He then explores the solutions and how we must take a more intelligent approach to supporting and holding schools to account in white working class communities so we can bring about real change.

Do outside variables make a difference inside? We talk stress and the regular features.

As temperatures continue to soar across parts of the UK and Europe, schools are once again facing difficult decisions about how to respond to extreme heat. Should schools remain open regardless, adapting through shorter days, relaxed uniform rules and additional water breaks? Or are heatwave closures a sensible response to genuine health and safety concerns, particularly in older buildings not des...

We talk sun and mental health. Join in!

Dave chats with youth political activist Kole Gjikolaji on a range of topics concerning youth political voice including AI in schools, taxation of private schools, equality in education and the school curriculum could be adapted to get more young people politically engaged. 

Keir Starmer has resigned so for this edition of Points of View, we examine Labour's record on education after two years in government. When Labour came to power, it promised to recruit more teachers, tackle the SEND crisis, improve attendance, reform Ofsted, raise standards and restore confidence in the education system. But how much progress has actually been made? Have teachers noticed meaningf...

Join Paula Delaney and Charlotte Bleakley as they explore technology, learning and decision-making in schools. Their discussion will span personalised learning, developing teacher expertise, classroom practice and the role of digital technology in education. With new technologies continuing to shape education, how can we as a profession begin to make thoughtful decisions about their place within t...

Improving attendance has been the obsession of both the government and Ofsted since 2020, leading to pressure being heaped on schools - and subsequently children and families - to solve a growing crisis. A fixation on the data, however, is not solving the problem and, instead of looking at the “why”, a punitive approach has been the chosen method of the government - but enforced on the ground by s...

The discussion revolves around high expectations not being seasonal. They don't end when exams finish or when the sun comes out. Every lesson, every day and every interaction matters.

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show with guest James Stevenson as they discuss what it is to be resilient in today's educational climate. With staff shortages, budget cuts, behavioural issues, school politics, strikes and closures, to name a few, how do new and experienced teachers and leaders traverse the rough terrain that is education? What lessons can be learned from using inner and...

In this show, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Frania Hall to discuss the value of teaching as scholarship in higher education. Together, they explore evaluation, pedagogic research, educational leadership, teaching-focused career pathways, and how universities can better recognise and celebrate teaching excellence. The conversation reflects on academic identity, innovation, professional recognition,...

Every educator has heard the phrase "outstanding lesson," but what does it actually mean? Is it about engagement, creativity, differentiation, technology, or something far deeper? In this solo episode of The Lunch Show, Famida Choudhary explores one of education's most debated questions: What truly makes a lesson outstanding? Drawing on over 15 years of classroom experience, assessment leadership,...

Louise Marie meets with Marie Zarro to discuss how to introduce non-fiction texts to the primary classroom!

Yannick and Tony talk about how they have been managed and how they have managed others throughout their 25-year careers. They reflect on how their experiences of leadership have impacted them. Which leadership behaviours have made them feel valued and empowered and which have made them feel exposed and demoralised? How have they as leaders looked to balance the need to have impact with the need t...

As new summer exam entry data lands following the government’s landmark curriculum and assessment review, we ask: are England’s secondary schools on the brink of major change, or are old patterns proving hard to break? Despite plans to scrap the EBacc performance measure, GCSE choices remain largely unchanged with languages still struggling, history steady, geography slipping and business booming....