Teachers Talk Radio

Epizódok

• 
  Who`s Watching the Classroom? Smart Glasses, Phones and Protecting Children: The Late Show with Tim Smale 08.10.2026 1ó 27p

  Tim Smale is joined by Guy Holder, Head of PSHE for a frank conversation about the technology arriving in children's lives faster than schools can keep up. Camera-equipped smart glasses are on sale on the high street, and Guy is campaigning to have them banned. Tim and Guy ask what these glasses mean for consent, for safeguarding and for anyone who could be filmed in a classroom without knowing it. They also get into phone pouches versus brick-phone-only schools, whether 16 should be the minimum age for smartphones, social media and AI, and what teachers can do when Big Tech feels too big to challenge.
• 
  Starting New Courses: The Sunday Social 07.10.2026 1ó 8p

  In this week's show, Claudia and Martin talk about how to approach the teaching of new courses.
• 
  Why are so many teachers leaving the classroom? Part 2: Points of View 07.10.2026 1ó 30p

  It will come as little surprise to most that work in education to hear that teachers are leaving the classroom in their droves. This is a pattern being repeated around the world, but in England the statistics are above the OECD average, with 7.2% of fully qualified teachers resigning in comparison to a 4.2% average. 91% of these are resignations in England, in comparison to an average of 55% across OECD countries. Membership of Facebook groups which support and promote life beyond the classroom run into the tens of thousands… but why are teachers in England resigning at a higher rate than our international colleagues? Is it workload? Unsustainable expectations? Behaviour? Ofsted? Working conditions? What do you think is driving teachers to leave? What would solve the increasing retention crisis in education? Should the government be holding exit interviews to try and get to the heart of the problem? Join Rae Whitehouse, Carl Smith and Liz Webb live at 10am on the Points of View panel to share your views in part 2 of the debate.
• 
  Why are so many teachers leaving England’s classrooms? Part 1: Points of View 06.10.2026 1ó 20p

  Why are teachers in England resigning at a much higher rate than the international average and what would persuade them to stay? According to the OECD figures reported by Tes, 7.2% of fully qualified teachers in England resigned from the profession in 2024–25, compared with an OECD average of 4.2%. Teachers in England also reported longer working weeks than similarly qualified workers in other occupations. JP, Ollie Bayliss and Tony Harwood join the Points of View panel to debate what is driving teachers to leave. Is workload the biggest problem, or do pupil behaviour, pay, leadership and accountability play an equally important role? We’ll explore what these international comparisons reveal, whether England’s expectations of teachers are sustainable, and what schools and government could do to keep experienced staff in classrooms.
• 
  The Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary| Finding Your Voice: How Public Speaking Transforms English Learning 06.10.2026 1ó 13p

  Join Famida Choudhary on The Lunch Show with English educator and trainer Divya Joyce J as they explore how public speaking can transform English learning. From building confidence and vocabulary to supporting quieter learners, strengthening oracy and finding an authentic voice in the age of AI, discover practical ways to create classrooms where every child feels they have something worth saying.    
• 
  Bedfordshire PCC John Tizard says “School Exclusions Are Failures”: TTR Special Interview 06.10.2026 37p

  Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard recently declared: “School exclusions are failures.” He argues that minimising exclusions could reduce crime and help young people build positive futures. Join Tom Rogers live on Teachers Talk Radio as he asks John what prompted the statement.
• 
  Is it time to scrap or save homework?: Points of View 05.10.2026 1ó 36p

  Homework has long been a bone of contention between home and school. A report in the TES this week reports that “Homework is Vanishing” as teachers set less and family lives make its completion increasingly difficult. And this is before debates over content, time taken, level of challenge, too much vs too little and access to resources are considered. Times have changed. More young people are living in homes where both parents need to work and time together is built around after-school care and clubs. Should small windows of family time be spent in a battleground on homework? Teachers’ workloads have exploded; setting, marking and chasing homework is yet another administrative task which absorbs time but is the value added worth it? Would teachers be better spending this time adding value to face-to-face teaching? However, with curriculum time increasingly stretched, is homework the only time for certain tasks to be completed? Is homework an important opportunity to consolidate learning? And with revision the ultimate goal, do we need to lay the groundwork for this from early on? Has the time come to evaluate who and what homework is really for? Join Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell, Maud Waret and Liz Webb on the panel live at 10am to add your views to the debate..
• 
  Creating the Dynamite Lesson: The Sunday Late Show with Toby Doncaster 04.10.2026 1ó 1p

  In this episode, Toby talks to Hayley Carlyon about creating lessons which engage, entice and motivate learning. We go from the importance of building relationships to discussing activities and strategies that work in the classroom.
• 
  U-turns and times of change?: The Saturday Social 04.10.2026 54p

  We talk how to cope when things change in and outside the classroom.
• 
  What Motivates the Teacher?: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 03.10.2026 1ó 31p

  In this show, Darren looks at a UK Teacher forum and discusses what the participants say keeps them in the profession. 
• 
  How Universal Design could change assessment: TTR Special 01.10.2026 1ó 2p

  What does it really mean to make an assessment fair and accessible to every learner without compromising academic rigour? Hosted by Tom Rogers and Christopher Vowles, we explore Universal Design in assessment and AQA's work to identify and remove unnecessary barriers that prevent students from demonstrating what they truly know and can do. The special guest is Louise Badham. We’ll look at what Universal Design means in practice, the barriers that can exist within exams and assessments, and how research, teacher feedback and learners’ lived experiences are helping to shape AQA’s approach. We’ll also tackle the question: does making an assessment more accessible risk making it easier? And what is the difference between removing an unnecessary barrier and changing what is actually being assessed? Plus, we go behind the scenes of assessment design to discover the thought, evidence and expertise involved in creating assessments that are accessible, rigorous and fair.
• 
  A Level Music - A Subject in Decline?: The Sunday Lunch Show with Michael Wright 29.09.2026 1ó 8p

  Join Michael Wright for his Sunday Lunch Show with guest Ed Watkins as they discuss the continued decline of A-Level music in education and why it's happening. Ed will also share his insights into his research on how music students have been graded compared with other subjects.
• 
  The Golden Window - Why Primary School is the best time to learn a Foreign Language: TTR Special 28.09.2026 1ó 27p

  Is primary school the ideal time to begin learning another language? Darren Lester and Tom Rogers are joined by Language Angels founders Francesca and Paolo to explore why children aged 5–11 may have a unique advantage when learning languages. They discuss brain development, pronunciation, confidence and the wider benefits for memory, problem-solving and cultural awareness. Drawing on Francesca’s 27 years in the classroom, the conversation also examines how primary teachers can deliver engaging language lessons, even when they are not language specialists themselves, and how schools can build a curriculum that develops pupils’ knowledge progressively. Plus, Francesca and Paolo share the story behind Language Angels, its journey from a classroom idea to a nationwide teaching platform, and what the future holds for language learning in primary schools. Check out Language Angels here: https://languageangels.com/eng
• 
  Breast Cancer in men, boys and muscles and resources for teaching about AI: The PSHE Update Episode 3 28.09.2026 9p

  In this third episode of the PSHE Update, PSHE Educator Clare Price considers the importance of teaching about breast cancer in men, supporting staff when planning lessons about the danger of boys obsessing about muscles and how we can update our lessons on online safety to include AI.  Articles referenced:  Campaigner praises Coronation Street male breast cancer storyline - BBC News https://breastcancernow.org/  Boys and men are obsessing over muscle. Doctors are worried - BBC Reel Experience AI    
• 
  Every child can! Closing the adventure gap: TTR Special 28.09.2026 1ó 13p

  Too many children are missing out on the experiences beyond the classroom that build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging. Can the new Every Child Can programme help close that participation gap and bring an end to the enrichment “postcode lottery”? Tom Rogers is joined by Nigel Miller from Active Learning Group to explore the value of residential trips, outdoor learning and screen-free adventure. They discuss the barriers preventing schools from offering these opportunities, how the government’s new enrichment benchmarks could influence provision, and whether greater Ofsted scrutiny will drive meaningful change or simply encourage a tick-box approach. With young people increasingly digitally connected but socially isolated, the conversation asks what outdoor experiences can offer that classroom-based enrichment cannot and what needs to change so that every child, regardless of background, can take part.Find out more here: https://activelearninggroup.co.uk/
• 
  What is a Montessori Education? The Sunday Late Show with Christopher Vowles 27.09.2026 1ó 33p

  Christopher talks with Montessori parent, Steve Lawrence, and Montessori teacher, Rhianna Hayllor, about the philosophy and practice of Montessori education in the UK and beyond.
• 
  Is September Done?: The Sunday Social with Phin 27.09.2026 54p

  We talk getting to the end of September and how you can help yourself feel better, if you need to.
• 
  Is there a future for A Level Music?: The Late Show with Dave Brown 27.09.2026 1ó 3p

  Dave talks with Music Curriculum Head Stuart McSweeney about the serious issues facing A Level Music in the state education sector; what is causing its decline and what can be done to change the current trajectory. 
• 
  Teaching - The professions where nothing is ever good enough?: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood and Yannick Berland 27.09.2026 1ó 7p

  Teachers would agree that it is important to develop their practise. But is this sometimes going too far? Are you a teacher working very hard for significant extra hours beyond your contract, pushing yourself to be better, only to be told in observations and appraisals that it's not good enough? In this show, Yannick and Tony reflect on the line between accountability and the need to improve and the feeling that no matter what you do, it won't be seen as sufficient . Teachers have high expectations placed upon them by wider society, by leaders and trusts, and by external agencies like Ofsted and the DFE. Its right that we are accountable. But have the expectations started to get out of control?
• 
  Satisfied Teachers Are Better Teachers: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 26.09.2026 1ó 31p

  In this show, Darren continues to look at how teacher wellbeing can lead to better job performance as he explores the literature which links job satisfaction to teaching outcomes.