Teachers Talk Radio

Juggling balls in teaching?: The Sunday Breakfast Show with Phin 05.07.2026 59min

We talk the fine balancing act and how to come out ok, just ok. Not to be missed. A mental health hour that is needed more than ever.

What Makes Teaching in Korea Rewarding: The Sunday Social 04.07.2026 1h 13min

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley have a chat about English Language Teaching in South Korea.

Is prom attendance a right of passage for all students?: Points of View 03.07.2026 1h 13min

Is prom attendance an absolute rite of passage, or is it a privilege to be earned? On todays Points of View, we are looking into one of the most hotly contested debates in school communities. With many schools using "No-Go lists" linked to attendance and behavior to decide who gets a ticket, we ask: is this a fair accountability tool, or does it unfairly penalize our most vulnerable students? Join the conversation, share your staffroom experiences, and call in to tell us where you stand! On the panel: Lucy Trimnell, JP, Rae Whitehouse and Carl Smith.

Left Behind in Plain Sight - Why White working Class pupils Are Falling Behind: The Morning Break with Carl Smith 03.07.2026 1h 10min

Carl takes us through the evidence for why white working class pupils are so behind other groups in society and what effect this is having on our society. He then explores the solutions and how we must take a more intelligent approach to supporting and holding schools to account in white working class communities so we can bring about real change.

Is it cooler: The Sunday Breakfast Show with Phin 28.06.2026 57min

Do outside variables make a difference inside? We talk stress and the regular features.

Too hot to Learn? Heatwave hits UK schools: Points of View 27.06.2026 2h 16min

As temperatures continue to soar across parts of the UK and Europe, schools are once again facing difficult decisions about how to respond to extreme heat. Should schools remain open regardless, adapting through shorter days, relaxed uniform rules and additional water breaks? Or are heatwave closures a sensible response to genuine health and safety concerns, particularly in older buildings not designed for sustained high temperatures? Listen back to this bumper two hour Points of View. On the panel: Tom Rogers, Liz Webb, Alun Ebenezer, Rich Walkden, Alistair Wood, Maud Waret, Kit Marie Rackley, JP.

When it's sunny is it better?: The Sunday Breakfast Show with Phin 27.06.2026 59min

We talk sun and mental health. Join in!

What do governments get wrong about young people and why?: The Friday late show with Dave Brown 26.06.2026 1h 1min

Dave chats with youth political activist Kole Gjikolaji on a range of topics concerning youth political voice including AI in schools, taxation of private schools, equality in education and the school curriculum could be adapted to get more young people politically engaged.

Starmer's Education Report Card - Pass or Fail?: Points of View 26.06.2026 1h 18min

Keir Starmer has resigned so for this edition of Points of View, we examine Labour's record on education after two years in government. When Labour came to power, it promised to recruit more teachers, tackle the SEND crisis, improve attendance, reform Ofsted, raise standards and restore confidence in the education system. But how much progress has actually been made? Have teachers noticed meaningful change in their classrooms? Are schools better funded? Has workload improved? What has happened to behaviour, attendance and recruitment? And have Labour's policies addressed the challenges facing pupils with special educational needs and disabilities? Join us as we assess the government's education record, explore the successes and failures of the past two years, and ask whether Labour has delivered on its promises to schools, teachers, parents and pupils. On the panel are four current UK teachers - Liz Webb, Rachel Gilyeat, Maud Waret and making his POV debut - Ollie Bayliss.

Pedagogy Before Technology?: The Twilight Show with Paula Delaney 26.06.2026 1h 9min

Join Paula Delaney and Charlotte Bleakley as they explore technology, learning and decision-making in schools. Their discussion will span personalised learning, developing teacher expertise, classroom practice and the role of digital technology in education. With new technologies continuing to shape education, how can we as a profession begin to make thoughtful decisions about their place within teaching and learning?

Have government expectations of school attendance become impossible?: Points of View 24.06.2026 1h 4min

Improving attendance has been the obsession of both the government and Ofsted since 2020, leading to pressure being heaped on schools - and subsequently children and families - to solve a growing crisis. A fixation on the data, however, is not solving the problem and, instead of looking at the “why”, a punitive approach has been the chosen method of the government - but enforced on the ground by schools. This has led to a breakdown in relationships between parents and schools, with increasing blame falling on Heads and teachers, for situations which are ultimately out of their hands. Equally, schools have little power to solve the real problems causing high levels of absence, but all the while being held to account on the numbers. Has the situation reached breaking point? Is the position of schools now impossible? Join Rae, Dave, Yasmin and Liz.

High Expectations: The Late Show with Sarah Wilkinson-Crute 24.06.2026 1h 2min

The discussion revolves around high expectations not being seasonal. They don't end when exams finish or when the sun comes out. Every lesson, every day and every interaction matters.

Suck It Up, Buttercup: The Sunday Lunch Show with Michael Wright 22.06.2026 1h 1min

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show with guest James Stevenson as they discuss what it is to be resilient in today's educational climate. With staff shortages, budget cuts, behavioural issues, school politics, strikes and closures, to name a few, how do new and experienced teachers and leaders traverse the rough terrain that is education? What lessons can be learned from using inner and outer motivation?What part can Finnish Sisu play in surviving the storm?

Teaching as scholarship: The Late Show with Konstantinos Pappas 21.06.2026 56min

In this show, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Frania Hall to discuss the value of teaching as scholarship in higher education. Together, they explore evaluation, pedagogic research, educational leadership, teaching-focused career pathways, and how universities can better recognise and celebrate teaching excellence. The conversation reflects on academic identity, innovation, professional recognition, and the vital contribution that teaching-focused academics make to the future of higher education.

Is there really a recipe for an Outstanding Lesson?: The Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary 21.06.2026 50min

Every educator has heard the phrase "outstanding lesson," but what does it actually mean? Is it about engagement, creativity, differentiation, technology, or something far deeper? In this solo episode of The Lunch Show, Famida Choudhary explores one of education's most debated questions: What truly makes a lesson outstanding? Drawing on over 15 years of classroom experience, assessment leadership, lesson observations, and educational research, Famida shares her personal recipe for success. From knowing your cohort through data and observation, to designing purposeful learning environments, selecting the right pedagogical approaches, fostering higher-order thinking, providing impactful feedback, and using AI responsibly, this show challenges the idea that outstanding teaching can be reduced to a checklist. Join us for a reflective and practical conversation that reminds us that outstanding lessons are not performances - they are carefully crafted learning experiences designed to help every child thrive.

Fact to the Future! Powering Up Primary Non‑Fiction: The Twilight Show with Louise Marie 21.06.2026 1h 7min

Louise Marie meets with Marie Zarro to discuss how to introduce non-fiction texts to the primary classroom!

Inspiring or demoralising? Our thoughts on effective leadership: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood and Yannick Berland 20.06.2026 1h 7min

Yannick and Tony talk about how they have been managed and how they have managed others throughout their 25-year careers. They reflect on how their experiences of leadership have impacted them. Which leadership behaviours have made them feel valued and empowered and which have made them feel exposed and demoralised? How have they as leaders looked to balance the need to have impact with the need to support their team? Has leadership changed? Are leaders becoming more effective? Do we have enough good leaders in education? Is the need to be corporate and show improvement at odds with the need to support and develop teachers holistically? The hosts tackle this and many other questions as they delve into the big issues of educational management.

What are the most popular GCSE and A-level subjects in 2026?: Points of View 18.06.2026 1h 35min

As new summer exam entry data lands following the government’s landmark curriculum and assessment review, we ask: are England’s secondary schools on the brink of major change, or are old patterns proving hard to break? Despite plans to scrap the EBacc performance measure, GCSE choices remain largely unchanged with languages still struggling, history steady, geography slipping and business booming. Meanwhile, maths continues its dominance at both GCSE and A-level, economics surges into the top five A-levels, and political studies sees record growth. A new 'Natural History' GCSE is planned and A Level music looks like it could cease to exist in many schools. Join Rae Whitehouse, JP, Lucy Trimnell and Liz Webb as they discuss.

Do boys really learn differently?: The Late Show with Beejesh Deva and Claire Bills 16.06.2026 1h 5min

Join Beejesh and Claire to discuss if Gareth Southgate really does know best about how boys and girls learn.

Belonging in Schools - England's Hidden Crisis?: The Late Show with Tim Smale 15.06.2026 1h 17min

This week on The Late Show with Tim Smale, Tim is joined by Darren Goode, Assistant Principal for Inclusion, for a conversation about belonging in schools. England now has one of the lowest rates of pupil belonging in the world, and the link between belonging and achievement is hard to ignore. Tim and Darren ask why it is still treated as the soft stuff when the evidence says it is anything but, taking in inclusion, SEND, the attendance crisis, representative education, masculinity, behaviour and the pull of social media.