Teachers Talk Radio

Episoder

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  Dreading going back to school? What does that really mean?: Points of View 17.08.2026 1t 10min

  The summer holidays are coming to an end and for some teachers, the thought of going back to school brings more than just the usual end-of-holiday blues. So why do teachers dread going back? Is it simply a natural reaction after weeks away from work, or can that feeling tell us something important about workload, behaviour, school culture, leadership or even whether teaching is still the right career? In this Points of View, we discuss the reasons behind back-to-school dread, whether experienced teachers feel it too, what can be done to make the return easier, and when that feeling might be a sign that something needs to change. Are you looking forward to September or counting down the days with dread? On the panel: Liz Webb, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell
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  What Gamified Reading Does For Readers: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 15.08.2026 1t 34min

  Darren looks at research by Li and Chu (2021) which analysed a specific platform for gamifying reading. While many would argue that reading doesn't need to be gamified, motivation is as important in reading as in any other skill acquisition, so the question becomes: is this the best way to motivate?
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  Is 'disadvantaged' a useful label? Constructing an inclusive curriculum: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood 15.08.2026 1t 24min

  Meena Wood joins Tony to share her thoughts on inclusivity in education. Drawing on her wealth of experience as a former teacher, Principal, HMI and now author, Meena shares her passion and vision for a more inclusive curriculum. With her background in a range of settings in the UK and globally, expect some valuable insights and strong opinions on the current issues in education.
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  Should primary schools really be predicting which children will become NEET?: Points of View 14.08.2026 1t 20min

  Primary schools could be asked to identify children at risk of becoming NEET – not in education, employment or training – years before they actually leave school. Alan Milburn, who is leading a government review into Britain’s growing youth worklessness crisis, argues that the warning signs can appear from a very early age and that schools should play a bigger role in identifying pupils who may need additional support. But is this sensible early intervention – or another huge responsibility being placed on already overstretched schools? Can teachers really predict which primary-age children are at risk of unemployment years later? And could labelling children in this way create problems of its own? On Points of View, we debate how far schools should be responsible for a young person’s future employment prospects – and whether tackling the NEET crisis needs to start much earlier. On the panel - JP, Rae Whitehouse and Lucy Trimnell.
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  Are teachers entitled to a private life? : Points of View 11.08.2026 2t 3min

  Teachers are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, both inside and outside the classroom. But where should the line be drawn between personal freedom and professional responsibility? The expectations set out in the Teachers' Standards include the requirement to maintain public trust and demonstrate high standards of personal and professional conduct. To what extent is this at conflict with a teacher’s right to enjoy a private life? Social media has blurred the boundaries between work and home and the growing impact of students having constant access to smartphones and the ability to record, share and scrutinise teachers' lives has changed in ways that were unimaginable a generation ago. Can teachers ever truly switch off, or has the digital age fundamentally changed what it means to be a professional working in education?On the panel: Liz Webb, Rae Whitehouse and Maud Waret.
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  Do We Belong Here?: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 08.08.2026 1t 35min

  The concept of belonging to a group is a vital part of adolescent development. In this show, Darren looks at why young people are so desperate to belong somewhere, how this impacts behaviour and whether our efforts to create "school culture" to foster belonging actually work.
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  Toilet Rules, Silent Lessons & Reflection Rooms: Did Athena Academy Trust Actually Go Too Far? 06.08.2026 2t 57min

  A BBC Panorama investigation has put the spotlight on the Athena Learning Trust after parents, pupils and former teachers raised concerns about its behaviour policies. The programme features allegations including strict toilet rules, silent music lessons, extensive use of reflection rooms and claims that some neurodiverse pupils were disproportionately affected. Athena says its schools are built on high expectations, that behaviour policies are applied with professional judgement, and that calm, disruption-free classrooms help all pupils to learn. So, did Athena actually go too far? Were these policies a necessary response to poor behaviour, or did they become unnecessarily rigid and punitive? Where should schools draw the line between maintaining discipline and responding to individual pupils’ needs? Join Tom Rogers and the panel as they debate one of the biggest education stories of the week.
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  Does the summer holiday really need to be six weeks long? : Points of View 03.08.2026 1t 11min

  The summer is finally upon us! Teachers are decompressing. Students are celebrating. Holiday companies have tripled their prices. Childcare arrangements become complicated for many families. The summer holidays continue to be a contentious issue, with many differing views within education, let alone outside of it. Join Jo Fox, Maud Waret and Liz Webb to share your opinions on the summer break - or tell us how you’ll be spending it!
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  Teaching English in China, Japan and Korea: The Sunday Social 02.08.2026 1t 9min

  In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley have a chat about teaching English in China, Japan and Korea.
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  What's really behind the rise in school exclusions?: Points of View 02.08.2026 1t 21min

  Permanent exclusions continue to rise across England, but why? Are schools dealing with the consequences of increasingly difficult home lives, weaker parental support and wider social problems? Or is the education system itself failing children through outdated classrooms, oversized classes and unrealistic expectations? Should exclusions remain a necessary last resort to protect learning, or are they evidence that mainstream education needs fundamental reform? Also on the show, A major new NFER report suggests social media, online bullying and worsening wellbeing may all be fuelling England's attendance crisis. But are phones really to blame? Have attitudes towards school attendance fundamentally changed since the pandemic? And should the government rethink attendance fines, or double down on getting children back into the classroom?
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  The Alpha School Debate: Is AI about to reinvent education?: The Late Show with Tom Rogers 01.08.2026 1t 34min

  Alpha School has become one of the most talked-about education models in the world. Supporters say AI-powered learning can dramatically improve outcomes while reducing classroom teaching time. Critics question the evidence, the role of teachers, and whether the model can or should be replicated elsewhere. Joining Tom Rogers are Samantha DePalo (Alpha School), Neil Almond (teacher development lead and AI enthusiast) and Donald Clark (AI expert) for what promises to be an important and eye opening discussion on whether AI is genuinely transforming education or whether we're getting ahead of the evidence.
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  Exploring the Brat Aesthetic: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 01.08.2026 1t 30min

  The term "brat" has been reclaimed by a subset of young people and social media influers and turned into an aesthetic that some sociologists claim prioritises hedonism and superficiality. In this show, Darren explores the modern "brat" identity and wonders how this aesthetic might be impacting our young people.
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  Should the Education Secretary be a teacher? : Points of View 01.08.2026 1t 23min

  With a new Prime Minister comes a new cabinet, and this week we saw Lucy Powell replace Bridget Phillipson as Secretary of State for Education. As the 8th Education Secretary since 2020, the education sector is understandably wary about yet another appointment to the role. While Lucy Powell’s predecessor has not left the role with successful reviews, what can we expect with the change at the top? As ever, the question has bounded to the forefront: should secretaries of state have at least SOME experience in that sector before being placed in charge of the political journey of such an important area? So… who is Lucy Powell? What connections and experience does she have with schools? In which direction will she take education? What should be her first actions in office? What do those in education want to see prioritised? And what did Bridget Phillipson get so wrong? Join Matt Miles, Maud Waret and Liz Webb for Points of View live at 8pm and share your thoughts.
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  Belonging or Boundaries? The Behaviour Debate: The Late Show with Tim Smale 31.07.2026 1t 13min

  Tim Smale is joined by Jayne Lowe OBE, the DfE's Attendance and Behaviour Ambassador, for his final show of the year: Belonging or Boundaries? The Behaviour Debate. Connection, culture, discipline and exclusions, put to the person shaping national policy on all four. Live on Teachers Talk Radio.
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  AI, Engineering and Coding at 14 - Is Key Stage 4 about to change forever?: The Late Show with Tom Rogers 31.07.2026 1t 29min

  The government has announced plans to introduce new technical education pathways for Key Stage 4 from 2028, allowing pupils to study subjects such as AI, engineering, coding, manufacturing and mechanics alongside their core GCSEs. The reforms aim to give young people more choice, strengthen links with local employers and equip students with the skills needed for a rapidly changing economy. But could this represent one of the biggest shifts in secondary education for a generation? Is 14 the right age for pupils to begin specialising, or does it risk narrowing opportunities too early? How will schools find the funding, facilities and specialist teachers needed to make these pathways a success? And what impact could this have on traditional GCSE subjects, teacher recruitment and educational inequality? Join us for a live debate as we explore the opportunities, challenges and unintended consequences of a radical new vision for Key Stage 4! On the panel: Andrew Old, Josh Taylor and Carly Holness.
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  Schoolboy accused of stabbing teacher after asking her to check his work: Points of View 31.07.2026 1t 9min

  A teacher allegedly attacked in her own classroom. Increasing reports of abuse against school staff. Many teachers say the job has become more dangerous than ever before. This week we ask why. Is this simply a reflection of wider societal problems, or have schools become less able to enforce boundaries and protect staff? We also discuss whether young women teachers are particularly vulnerable and what schools should do differently.
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  Designing Effective A level English Literature NEA Work: The Sunday Late Show with Christopher Vowles 26.07.2026 1t 28min

  Christopher offers an insight into how he manages the teaching and supervision of A level English Literature NEA work in the department he leads; presents a walkthrough of how to apply critical theory to the Brothers Grimm story 'The Four Skilful Brothers'; and explains how to maintain academic integrity through careful departmental authentication strategies.
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  How much more can schools do?: The Late Late Show with Lee Pace 25.07.2026 59min

  Lee and his guest David Perkins discuss the events of 2025/26 and the additional pressures placed on schools!
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  Tsarturday Breakfast: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester 25.07.2026 1t 33min

  In this show, Darren looks at the role of ministers and tsars in education, considering what the roles involve and how the government can use them to work more effectively with teachers.
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  Listening beyond the answer - Creating space for children's authentic voices: The Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary 24.07.2026 1t 1min

  What happens when we stop listening for the "right" answer and start listening to truly understand? Join host Famida Choudhary as she welcomes educator and parent Saira Saleem for a heartfelt conversation on the power of authentic listening. Together, they explore how creating emotionally safe spaces allows children to express themselves honestly, strengthening trust, relationships, wellbeing, and learning. From student voice and emotional literacy to parenting, classroom culture, and meaningful communication, this episode offers practical insights for educators and parents seeking to help every child feel seen, heard, and valued. Because sometimes, the greatest gift we can give a child.