Teachers Talk Radio

Join us for a Late Show special in which Tim sits down with Peter Hyman: former Downing Street speechwriter, co-founder of School 21, and one of the most persistent voices in England for genuine curriculum reform. Together they`ll tackle oracy, the growing crisis around boys in education, whether teachers are part of the problem, and the almost one million young people currently classified as NEET...

On today's show, I look back at last week's IATEFL conference and discuss some practical tips for teacher professional development.

Hosts Tony and Yannick chat with headteacher Jonathan Sands about his people-centred approach to behaviour management, explaining a ‘reward over sanction’ house-points system that dramatically reduced suspensions and improved attendance and engagement. The show explores tensions between restorative and punitive approaches, centralised behaviour systems, teacher trust and autonomy, and the debate b...

We talk if the sun is actually shining and do things get better? Let's talk it out..

It’s nearly exam season and the countdown, post-Easter, has truly begun. The pressure is on. Revision classes are running before school, after school, lunchtimes. Material is being revisited, practice papers are being circulated, students are requesting psychic predictions of paper content. The holy grail of the fabled study leave experienced by their predecessors is within touching distance and y...

Darren looks into the research behind availability and access to information and considers what this means for student research projects.

Dave Brown speaks to Mehal Shah about the Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper on education. What does the future of SEND provision look like, how will teaching potentially change in the next 10 years and what are the major barriers to achieving the vision set out by the white paper? 

In this show, Famida is joined by De'Shawn Washington to explore “Literacy: Liberating Lives.” Moving beyond phonics and technical skills, the conversation examines how reading can shift from obligation to genuine engagement. Drawing on research, classroom practice, and real-world challenges, the show highlights the growing literacy and communication gap, the importance of fluency and comprehensio...

Mehmet speaks with Eve, an English leader passionate about creating truly inclusive classrooms where every student feels seen, heard and valued. Known for her willingness to address challenging topics-from identity and culture to LGBT+ issues and misogyny-Eve shares how she creates safe, honest spaces or meaningful dialogue.

In this week's show, Martin Sketchley has a chat with Joseph Steven Van Dorn about what university teachers should consider when working in South Korea.

This show responds to a Telegraph exclusive claiming progressive policies of managed moves, pressure not to exclude and inclusion practices may keep violent pupils in mainstream schools. The hosts discuss media bias, teacher safety, the limits of inclusion, and how managed moves and alternative provision actually work. They explore possible fixes including clearer boundaries, better funding and su...

Deputy head Rachel, working in a primary school in Newham, discusses how schools are responding to needs beyond education, including poverty, food insecurity, toileting and family instability. She outlines practical approaches - home visits, strong induction, clear behaviour policies that involve parents, pastoral teams, wellbeing programmes and community partnerships - and argues that building re...

We talk mental health (of course) and how we can be more compassionate in the classroom, alongside all those regular features you know and love.

In this show, Timea talks with lecturer Rafael Dos Santos about the role of humour in higher education: why it works (neuroscience, dopamine, belonging and retention), how to use it intentionally (timing, storytelling, affiliate/self‑deprecating humour, props, games and icebreakers), and how to avoid pitfalls (sarcasm, cultural sensitivity and targeting humour). They share practical tips for start...

In this show, Sarah speaks with Head of Year Jack Macey about transforming the dreaded phone call home into a tool for building relationships and improving student outcomes. They discuss practical tips for teachers - especially early career teachers - including making positive calls, keeping conversations factual and brief, scripting key phrases, using colleagues for support, and handling defensiv...

Darren looks into recent research published by Liang et al into the role that personality plays in online language learning and considers how we can apply the concept of "personality types" to our own teaching and learning. 

Carl chats to experienced Head of Year, Adam Perry about what they job is really like. A really interesting insight for anyone who is or has been head of year, is thinking they might like to be a year head or is in need of appointing one.  Is it the toughest job in the school? Why do people still do it?

Lee Pace and guest Andy Chell explore modern school governance: what governing bodies actually do, how to distinguish strategic oversight from day-to-day operations, and why effective challenge and triangulation matter. They discuss the roles of chairs, clerks, link governors and parent trustees, recruitment by skills, learning walks, horizon scanning for future policy changes, and practical tips...

Stricter home schooling rules are on the way but are councils anywhere near ready? This week on Points of View, we unpack the government’s plans to introduce a national register of home-educated children and tighter oversight of families. Supporters say it’s about safeguarding vulnerable children and preventing tragedies. Critics warn it risks intrusive state overreach and puts impossible pressure...

Join Michael Wright on The Sunday Lunch Show has he discusses applying for teaching jobs, green and red flags when getting a feel for a school, interview technique and how to make sure you are applying for schools that fit your own values and ethics. A must listen for those, ECT's in particular, who are job hunting!

We talk blues and how it may be the search for perfection behind it, alongside your regular features to set you up with returning to the classroom tomorrow *if you are*

Some days, teachers walk into the classroom carrying more than just their teaching materials. This show explores what it means to teach on an “off” day; the quiet challenge of showing up with energy, focus, and presence when you don’t quite feel like yourself. We’ll look at the pressure that comes with that reality, but also the unexpected upside: how the act of stepping into the role can sometime...

Darren looks at why it's so important for teachers to tell their stories od why we chose to enter the profession.

On this show, Tony and Yannick discuss whether teachers should model the same rules they set for students. They cover dress code and uniform expectations, gender differences in standards, homework and workload, classroom behaviour, recruitment and the challenge of maintaining positivity in the profession. The conversation combines practical examples, listener comments and reflections on balancing...

Beejesh Deva, Nathan Gynn and Claire Bills explore the growing world of consultants, edugurus and social‑media influencers in education. They explore how these figures interact with schools, the costs and opportunity costs involved, and the tension between useful, research‑based support and one‑off or misapplied advice. The conversation covers the shift from local authority provision to academies,...