Teachers Talk Radio

Tonight I talked through my school year, looking at what has gone well in Literacy and teaching and what has not. I also talked about the literacy initiatives that have succeeded and failed and also what has happened in teaching this year for me.

Emma Leigh-Currill joins me with some fabulous tips and practical strategies that we can use to support transition within the same school e.g. Y3-4, 7-8, 9-10 and so on. She talks passionately about supporting "the humans first" - parents and school staff are just as impacted by transition as students. Let's do more to support everyone at in-school transition points. There will be huge benefits ar...

Have I been wasting my time? Is asking what schools are for a distraction from the task of running schools well? My guest, David Thomas OBE, CEO of Axiom Maths, Co-Founder of Oak National Academy, and former head teacher, thinks so. Listen to our discussion as we debate this view.

Sabrina talks to Briana Fitzsimons about race representation across the education sector.

Morgan and Todd discuss the discussion based learning model (The Harkness Model) that is becoming increasingly popular with special guest Luzardi Fischer. 

There are many questions surrounding Gained Time: "Is it real or just a myth?" "What can I use my Gained Time For?" "What can I do to avoid my Gained Time going to waste?" If you've been asking yourself these same questions, listen in and join the discussion to see what solutions and ideas you can take into your own context.

Tom is joined by HOD for Science, Joel Kenyon, whose school (Dixons Academies) is due to introduce a 9 day a fortnight working pattern, providing teachers with a full extra day off every 2 week cycle. How will this work? How will this be timetabled? What other innovative strategies is the school introducing to retain staff? Find out in this incredibly interested and revealing conversation that has...

Host Rae is joined by guest Lauren Smith, a whole school Reading Co-ordinator, to discuss common barriers to reading and literacy and how secondary schools can support their most reluctant readers.

Chris discusses the merits of gaining extra teaching qualifications whilst teaching with special guest Paul Goldsmith.

Nazya and Krupa talk to Lizana Oberholzer about how research around mentoring and coaching can help teachers and leaders in this ever changing environment. 

In this episode, Dana Mezei shares with us her journey from Romania, where she initially qualified, to Germany, where she currently teaches English at a secondary school.

Hannah and guest Danielle Clark discuss the importance of always learning for teachers and leaders. 

Sarah discusses the potential stigma around staying in the classroom. Hear from outstanding classroom teacher Aoife Barry and Principal, Sarah Curtis as they discuss the profound impact and rewards of focusing on teaching. Discover why being 'just' a classroom teacher is a powerful and fulfilling career choice.

Samantha discusses teaching and learning abroad: both the teachers who move from the UK to countries overseas to work in the international sector, and the students who move from other countries to the UK to study.

Chris is joined by paramedic and university lecturer, Harry de Voil, discussing the inevitable rise of vaping in our schools and what must be done to stop it being used as an emotional crutch for our young people, sometimes sanctioned by the very people sworn to protect them. How can our school policies and systems prevent this surge in vape usage within our settings and what role do schools have...

On today's show we talked about literature for intercultural awareness and mediation. My guest, Dr. Claudia Ferradas is a teacher educator with NILE (Norwich Institute for Language Education). She has worked in more than twenty countries, encouraging the use of literature and the arts in language teaching. She has published poetry collections in English and Spanish, and she is also a podcaster and...

Becky Dawson talks to me about mental health in education and discusses the importance of a whole school approach to improving well-being alongside some small steps to make it better to be in education. 

Maxine is joined by Monique Berry to discuss her first year as a headteacher.

A frank and reflective discussion with Vice Principal Chris Simmons on the impact of leadership on staff motivation and pupil outcomes.

Gill Batsman shares her experiences and reflections about her science technician role in a secondary school as we discuss the joys,  the challenges and the graft of supporting practicals in science, and wider school life.

Join Adam in conversation with Swabra Lloyd as they discuss the joys and pitfalls of being a Headteacher and what moving from Deputy to Head really entails. From setting vision and ethos to balancing staff wellbeing with unapologetically high standards, the job of Headteacher is vast and challenging, but as Swabra explains, deeply rewarding and very much worth it!

Cold Calling - the TLAC questioning strategy that has got everyone talking this week. Tom explores what cold calling is and why it has stirred such strong reactions from across the education world. What questioning strategies do teachers use in the classroom and where does cold calling fit in? Is it really as problematic as it's critics suggest or are they right in their concerns that it is a whol...

Amanda talks to guests Sara Burns and Jess Hawthorne about their experiences during their teacher training year and the advice they would give those considering going into teaching as well as those who have been teaching for a while or are current school leaders. How can we collaborate and learn from each other most effectively?

Join Chris in conversation with Jo Tompkins as they talk about how crucial the arts are in education and its impact on our most vulnerable students. 

Liliya Morska talks about her use and research using MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses) in her teaching at university with students in Poland and Ukraine.