Teachers Talk Radio

This week my guests are Cassie Edmiston and Paul Grady. We discuss the work of the Prison Education Trust and Paul's journey from prison to being a successful artist.

For one night only, Education Tonight features the dazzling dynamic duo, Lucy & Hannah, as they cast an eye over what we can learn from the Paris Olympics.

Can you teach critical thinking? Should you? What is fake news? How should we instruct students to handle online information? Should we? This is a far ranging debate featuring Claire Fox (Director of the Institute of Ideas), Dan Sohege (Director of Stand for All), Kirsty, Paul and Alistair (all classroom teachers) + some callers too.

Hannah Wilson, Lucy Neuburger, Kathryn Taylor and Brent Poland dissect the week's important news stories. Special educational needs system in England in ‘utter disarray’, says ombudsman After the riots: The role of schools in healing our communities How quality CPD could help solve the teacher recruitment crisis Shows of the week include: Education Tonight' interviews with Daniel Kebede and Matt P...

Xander talks to Mark Ravenwood about teacher recruitment and retention under Labour’s educational initiatives, and why record numbers are both leaving the profession and failing to qualify. To what extent will the 20% VAT levied on independent schools affect the state sector? Will students with SEND be particularly vulnerable? And how can teachers best support students with additional requirements...

Amarbeer Singh Gill joins Jamie Clark for a conversation around strengthening the student toolbox as they explore the power of research based learning practices. 

Darren returns after a summer break with a dazzling show focused on feedback. Why do we give feedback? What are its uses? What are the best ways to give feedback?

Brent Poland and Paul Hazzard talk to Daniel Kebede General Secretary, National Education Union NEU about the government's 5.5% pay award. Daniel Kebede - @DanielKebedeNEU   In the second half of the show Matt Pinkett tells the duo what he can do to help schools manage toxic masculinity and perhaps formulate a response to the present unrest across the UK. Daniel Pinkett (Mr Pink) - @Positivteacha...

Tom Rogers discusses the recent protests and riots that have taken place across the UK. What should schools do? How should schools react? Tom is joined by headteacher Laura Parker who shares her plans for September in light of recent events, including her schools focus on character education. Yasmin Omer, a Science teacher in London, shares her take on how teachers and schools should handle the af...

Beejesh talks with Kalil Rouse on how great pastoral systems bring joy to schools.  They unpack the underpinning values and principles behind great systems, how great schools use both restorative and punitive measures, how to have a great restorative conversation and much more.

Three top stories from this week's news are discussed in the Weekly Review with John Gibbs, Claire Cannon and host Paul Hazzard. Teacher misconduct cases ‘driven up’ by parent complaints I quit teaching for my side hustle Teacher mums who leave profession fuelling shortages Shows reviewed this week are: Nurturing Belonging and Self-Expression in Primary School Children: The Late Late Show with Sop...

Do you make your students laugh? Is this something that helps or hinders? When are the jokes not funny? My guest, Hannah Robinson, is asking these questions in her research for a PhD. After teaching year 7 and 8 Maths, Hannah realised that humour was part of her teaching persona and wanted to learn more. Listen to how her research is going in a fascinating discussion.

Sarah Desilva is a Primary School Teacher and Equalities Lead in a North London primary school. Sarah and Sophie discuss how educators might nurture belonging and self-expression in primary school settings and beyond.

Hannah is joined by her sister Vikki Rolls to discuss what it's like being a teacher and maintaining a family life - how to balance it all amidst the highs and lows.

Tom is joined by Sara Shabir who this week ' went viral ' around the world following her gifting of a set of personalised crochet dolls to her Primary school class at the end of the school year. We find out why she did it, how long it took her and reaction of students and colleagues alike.  In Part 2 of the show, Charlotte, Vicky, both SEN/Intervention teachers, discuss how they think schools shou...

On today's show, I talked to Tamires Gama from Brazil about her experience of online learning and teaching.

Jamie is joined by Science teacher and homework enthusiast Jo Castelino to talk about how to ensure students gain the most they can from completing homework. The discussion includes interesting insights into the pros and cons of homework in general; how long should students spend on homework? What should they do? What happens when students don't complete it? Is it worth it? Join the conversation. 

Tom discusses the alternative pension plan being pitched by the largest academy chain in the UK. The scheme, proposed by CEO of UL Jon Coles, means lower employer and employee contributions in exchange for higher starting salaries and has proven very controversial, especially with the teaching unions. Tom is joined by CEO of United Learning Jon Coles, Non executive director of Advantage Schools Ma...

In this episode, Adam is joined by Danni Sands to discuss a mechanisms based approach to professional development. Danni shares her recent experience of building a sequence of PD with mechanisms driving her design and implementation decisions. A must listen for anyone interested in or leading PD. 

Amanda talks to Cathy McAllister about the merits and challenges of staying in the classroom throughout your career, rather than climbing the management ladder.

Your wellbeing is crucial and we've made it to the summer break. This gives you 6 weeks in which you do not have to be "switched on" constantly.  It's a time when we can hopefully focus much more on our own wellbeing. In this show, I take you through a few alternatives to the commonly talked about wellbeing ideas. Did you know there are 7 types of rest? Listen to the podcast to find out more!

What does the research say about good teaching and being a great teacher? I look at the evidence and what has been said about this topic, and then towards the end of the show, Kate joins me to talk about homeschooling her sons and what teaching means for her.

Join Alex for his debut show on TTR as he talks to special guest Thabo Miles-Matli about the current teacher recruitment crisis and how it might be resolved. Thabo is a Senior Lecturer of Computer Science Education at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Social Professions, London Metropolitan University.

Valuable insights into what it means to lead in a school abroad. Tune in to hear an authentic voice, Nick Hart, on the challenges and opportunities as a leader in Dubai. 

This week my guest Jacqui Cornish describes how her daughter Phoebe went from loving going to school to hating school and refusing to attend. After changing schools and trying to make school work, Jacqui chose to home-school. This interview makes anyone connected with education consider some important questions about the design and ethos of many of our schools.