Teachers Talk Radio

Christopher talks with infant school headteacher Simon Sharp about the differences between English schools and international schools; the importance of outdoor learning for infants; and the government's latest proposals for inclusion.

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show with special guest Natasha Chalk, as they discuss the importance of building and maintaining relationships over systems, how to develop good relationships with staff and students and what to look out for if both relationships break down in school systems.

Louise Marie speaks to Patrick Cozier about effective leadership at all levels. What it looks and feels like, the research behind this, how this ties into culture and implications for CPD!

Darren looks at research into why children feel they benefit most from peer support during school transition.

Dave is joined by Dr Scott Swain to discuss his recently completed PhD on how dealing with student mental health and well being is affecting teachers' mental health, the problems this is presenting for the profession and what solutions his research points to in order to keep teachers from stress burn out.

Edmund Barnett-Ward was on the Points of View panel to discuss Ofsted’s conduct following the tragic death of headteacher Ruth Perry. Have lessons truly been learned?

Schools serving the most disadvantaged communities are significantly more likely to be marked down on achievement under the current inspection framework but is that a reflection of outcomes, or a flaw in the system? New analysis from TES suggests schools with higher proportions of pupils eligible for free school meals are far less likely to receive top grades for achievement. Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, has acknowledged concerns but insists inspectors cannot ignore “disappointing outcomes” for disadvantaged pupils. Meanwhile, headteachers in these communities describe the grading as demoralising, arguing that inspections are measuring raw attainment rather than true progress and achievement. Unions have also raised concerns about a “secure-fit” approach that leaves little room to account for context. Points of View panel discusses: JP, Liz Webb, Rae Whitehouse and Jo Fox.

Tim Smale speaks with men’s coach Ryan Parke about why male wellbeing often goes unspoken, the role of hormones like testosterone, and stark suicide and health statistics for men. They explore practical, evidence‑based strategies - diet, sleep, exercise, vitamin D, and reduced alcohol - that can improve mental and physical health, and discuss how teachers and schools can better support boys and male staff through conversations that preserve capability, teamwork and engagement.

Louise Marie meets with Mr Metacognition, Nathan Burns, to discuss what metacognition actually is, the research underpinning it, classroom strategies, curriculum design and CPD!

Parent Ellie Miles and SEND campaigner Paul Ridley join Tony for an honest discussion about the current issues in SEND and their opinions on the reforms recently announced by the government.

I really did have a shocker of a week. Let's talk it out. Join me.

Teacher wellbeing has fallen to its lowest level since 2019, according to the 2025 Teacher Wellbeing Index from Education Support. The findings paint a stark picture across the profession: 76% of education staff report feeling stressed, while 36% are at risk of probable clinical depression. Almost half (49%) say their working environment negatively affects their mental health, and 40% feel they need more support from their school. So, what role do school leaders play in improving staff wellbeing and what practical changes could make the biggest difference? In this live Points of View discussion on TTR, we’ll explore the latest data and debate what school leaders can realistically do to support their staff. On the panel: Rae Whitehouse, Gulcin Sesli, Rich Walkden, Tom Rogers and JP.

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley are joined with Maiah Hollander chat about life as an expat English language teacher with some tips for making it rewarding and successful.

There are lots of things about teaching that are challenging, its tiring and there things that don’t get acknowledged or talked about. But why do we still stay? Clearly there's some really good stuff is happening too. Let’s talk about that, because we love the optimism! In today's show, Seema will be joined by her colleague Chiara Minestrelli, breakdancer turned Senior Lecturer.

Join Chris as he explores the hidden side of teaching in his first of the Highlighting Vulnerabilities in Teaching series. In this episode, he reflects on the need to be liked in the classroom, sharing honest insights from his own experience and the balance between connection and authority.

Host Tom speaks with Nigel Miller, CEO of Active Learning Group, about how outdoor education ranging from forest school and bushcraft to coastal coasteering and mountain expeditions supports student wellbeing, resilience and personal growth. They discuss practical benefits for teachers and pupils, inclusive facilitation, residential experiences, cost-effective ways to get started, and where to find more information at activelearninggroup.co.uk.

Our guest, Associate Dean Sonal Jain, joins us to share her insights on institutional implementation and how faculty can thoughtfully incorporate AI into their existing curricula to increase student engagement

Michael Wright guides you through some of his highlights from Teachers Talk Connect 2026! He meets speakers, attendees and members of the TTR team to talk about their event takeaways and how they have found the day. Featuring TTR team including Rae Whitehouse, Louise Pickering and Amber Hardisty. Find out more about Connect and watch the mainstage talks in full here: https://www.ttradio.org/connect2026 2026 edition took place Saturday 14th March in Manchester. Come along in 2027? We would love to see you there! Register for our newsletter for all event updates or follow us on our various social channels.

Join Michael Wright and guest Katharine Kirk for the Sunday Lunch show which cover reflections on the recent TTR Connect event and to discuss the question: “If you had complete freedom to design your perfect school, what would it be like?” It’s set to be a fascinating conversation. He’ll also be sharing details of a special YouTube video filmed at TTR Connect that dives even deeper into this topic. Go to our Teachers Talk Radio Youtube channel for more details.

What a shocker of a week. How was yours? Let's talk it out