The School Podcast

What if the question we ask a young person could completely change the outcome? In this powerful throwback episode of The School Podcast, Sir David Carter joins Cameron Parker to explore one of the biggest challenges facing education today: school attendance. Drawing on decades of experience in education, Sir David shares practical insights into attendance, behaviour, vulnerable students, social m...

Lord Marvin Rees OBE joins Cameron Parker for one of the most honest and thought-provoking conversations ever recorded on The School Podcast. From growing up in Easton, Bristol, as a mixed-race child in a working-class family, to becoming the first elected Mayor of Bristol and later joining the House of Lords, Marvin shares the experiences, challenges and people that shaped his journey. The conver...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with headteacher Stuart Woodburn to explore one of the biggest questions in education today: are schools doing enough to prepare children for life beyond the classroom? From an unexpected journey into teaching in South Africa to leading a primary school in Wiltshire, Stuart shares how character development, resilience, leadership and...

What happens when a young person is struggling with behaviour, trauma and school? In this powerful conversation, Fay Greaves shares lessons from over 30 years working with some of the most challenging students in education. From dealing with racial abuse and restorative justice, to why consistency matters more than punishment, Fay explains how relationships, fairness and understanding can complete...

This episode is one of the hardest conversations we've ever had on The School Podcast. Michael shares the story no parent should ever have to tell. One moment he was at work living a normal day, the next he received a phone call that would change his life forever. In this raw and emotional conversation, Michael opens up about losing his son Josh to knife crime, the hours spent in hospital hop...

Strict behaviour policies are constantly criticised but why do some schools succeed while others struggle to maintain standards? In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and headteacher of Michaela Community School, to unpack what really creates strong school culture and consistent behaviour. Together they explore: 🎯 Why most behaviour po...

Why does representation matter? In this inspiring throwback episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Miriam Manderson to discuss leadership, representation and the power of helping young people believe what is possible for their future. Miriam reflects on breaking barriers throughout her career in education, the importance of visible role models, and why "you cannot be wha...

Why are two firefighters asking strangers to talk about mental health? In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with firefighters Ralphy and Warren for an honest conversation about mental health, masculinity, resilience and personal responsibility. Both guests share their own experiences with anxiety, depression, trauma and the challenges of working in high-pressure environm...

Adrian McLean joins Cameron Parker for one of the most honest and thought provoking conversations on The School Podcast. From growing up in Birmingham and the influence of his family history, to becoming a headteacher and educational leader, Adrian shares the experiences that shaped his values, leadership style and approach to education. The conversation explores race, identity, belonging, charact...

What happens when confidence becomes a mask for survival? In this powerful episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Wilfred Webster for one of the rawest conversations we’ve had yet. Wilfred opens up about growing up in hostels, hiding the reality of poverty during school, the embarrassment of free school meals, family struggles, and how trauma can shape behaviour, identity and...

In this throwback episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with education leader Sir Paul Tarn for a brutally honest conversation about teaching, workload, behaviour, school systems and why so many teachers are burning out. Sir Paul Tarn shares his controversial views on the education system, teacher workload, flexible working, behaviour in schools and why he believes teaching has b...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Aaron Forde from Foundations 4 the Future to talk honestly about mentoring, behaviour, exclusions and what support for young people in education really looks like. Aaron shares his journey from academy football into youth mentoring, and how his experiences shaped the way he now works with students across mainstream schools, PRUs,...

THROWBACK EPISODE 🎙️ In this throwback episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down for a powerful conversation around leadership, school culture, staff wellbeing and the realities of modern education with Mandy Coalter. This isn’t surface- evel education chat. It’s a real discussion about what happens when schools become “yes cultures”, why psychological safety matters and how leaders...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Director of Education Tom Hague for an honest conversation about school leadership, teaching, culture and what really drives improvement in education. Tom shares his journey from Teach First trainee and maths teacher to becoming a Vice Principal, Founding Headteacher and now Director of Education across multiple schools. Througho...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Mitch Goode and Rich Rubino for a powerful conversation around jiu-jitsu, mindset, motivation, ego, behaviour and what education can learn from martial arts. Mitch Goode is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, professional MMA athlete and coach who works closely with both adults and young people inside the gym environment. Rich Rubino is a...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with Chantel Brooks, former teacher of 24 years, author, education consultant and resilience advocate for a powerful and honest conversation about education, adversity and what young people really need to succeed in today’s world. After leaving school with just one GCSE, Chantel went on to graduate from university and build a 24-year...

IIn this episode of The School Podcast, Cameron Parker sits down with education leader Trystan Williams for a powerful conversation about education, leadership, special schools, alternative provision, behaviour, culture and what it really means to serve society’s most vulnerable young people. With over 30 years in education, Trystan shares his personal journey growing up on the site of a residenti...

In this episode of The School Podcast, the UK’s #1 motivational speaker for secondary schools Cameron Parker sits down with a world champion martial artist and professional boxer Nicola "Python" Barke. From starting in ballet to reaching world number one across multiple combat sports, she shares powerful insights on: Finding your path without external validation Building confidence throu...

In this episode of The School Podcast. The UK’s #1 motivational speaker for secondary schools Cameron Parker sits down with Martin Murphy, the CEO of Arden Multi Academy Trust. From starting as a geography teacher to leading a multi-academy trust, Martin shares powerful insights on: Why relationships matter more than results The biggest changes (and non-changes) in education The truth about leader...

In education, we talk a lot about teaching and learning… But what about everything else? In this episode, we sit down with Theresa Allotey to explore the often overlooked side of schools, the student experience. From the perception of support staff, to how schools can better utilise and repurpose resources, this conversation challenges the traditional view of what really drives impact in education...

The day before he retired, Sir Paul Tarn sat down for one final 90-minute conversation. He rarely does interviews. He never gives this long. And in what became a powerful and candid discussion, he didn’t hold back. In this final interview before stepping away from headship, Sir Paul reflects on his journey into education at 31, the lessons learned over decades of leadership, and what truly drives...

In this episode Amjad Ali joins the conversation with Cameron Parker on The School Podcast. At a time when education can feel increasingly complex and overloaded, Amjad argues for clarity, simplicity and intentional practice. Drawing on his experience working with teachers and schools across the world, he challenges common assumptions around standards, differentiation and research. This is a thoug...

In this powerful episode of The School Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Manderson to explore an extraordinary journey — from her upbringing and the devastating loss of her mum, to becoming a headteacher and leading school culture through some of the most challenging years education has ever faced. Miriam speaks openly about: Growing up and the experiences that shaped her mindset Losing her mum and...

In this episode of The School Podcast, Adrian Rogers, CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust, shares why great leadership is about people, not just systems. We explore how education has changed over the years, why building the right team matters more than ever, and how leaders can stay genuinely connected to what’s happening in their schools — not just what reports and data say. Adrian also reflects on th...

In this episode, Sam Sheedy shares what it’s really like to lead a school with extreme leadership turnover — and the lessons he learned about visibility, relationships, and sustainable leadership. A powerful conversation for headteachers, senior leaders, governors, and anyone working in education who wants to build trust, stability, and long-term impact. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of The School...