Teachers Talk Radio

Darren looks at some research conducted between 2021 and 2024 which examines what pupils, teachers and parents think about the state of toilets in school.

In this show, host Christopher Vowles digs into Secondary Geography in Action with its author, David Preece. Published in October 2025, this practical new guide helps geography teachers make sense of subject-specific educational research and put it into action in real secondary classrooms. The conversation explores how evidence-informed practice can support better outcomes for learners while staying grounded in the realities of school life. Whether you’re an experienced geography teacher, a trainee, or a school leader interested in bridging the gap between research and classroom practice, this show offers thoughtful insight, practical ideas, and inspiring discussion on putting research into geography in action. Get the book here: https://www.hachettelearning.com/geography/secondary-geography-in-action

Listen to Lee, Graham and David as they delve into The School To Prison Pipeline, considering what it is, how schools can support young people and how the system might need to change.

The panel discuss the evidence suggesting that the number of EHCPs continue to rise in schools - what is the reason for this? What are the solutions? What’s going on?

Schools often treat subjects as separate, but learning doesn't work that way. In this show, Tim talks with Barry Cooper, Founding Principal of The Global College in Madrid, about student agency, transfer, and why the gaps between lessons, subjects, and experiences might be where real learning lives.

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley are joined by Kristine to chat about how we teaching one-to-one lessons should be approached differently compared to group lessons.

We dive into what it really means to develop an AI-literate faculty not just in terms of tools and skills, but mindset, pedagogic judgement, and institutional strategy. Join us as we unpack how higher education leaders can equip educators to engage with AI confidently, ethically, and creatively. We’re joined by two exceptional voices in the field:

This conversation is really about the evolving role of teachers in the classroom. Last time, we talked about teachers as entertainers; this time we’re asking whether teachers should also be coaches. Are we placing too much pressure on teachers to take on yet another role - one that complicates an already demanding profession? Or does coaching have the power to deepen student learning, shifting teachers from delivering answers to guiding students as they discover their own?

In this show we explored the space between education and industry - from teaching practice and real-world readiness to confidence, resilience, and mindset in creative careers. A heartfelt thank you to Valentina Mariani, Associate Lecturer in Communications and Media at UAL, LCC and dynamic professional in the fashion and art industries as art curator and PR consultant- for sharing her experience, honesty, and generous insights on how university education can provide students with the soft skills needed for developping a successful career, especially within the communications and media creative industries.

Join host Famida Choudhary as she explores the evolving expectations placed on teachers today and the often unseen cognitive and emotional load they carry. Drawing on research, real classroom stories, and practical strategies, the show reflects on how educators can respond sustainably—by simplifying practice, protecting professional wellbeing, and focusing on what truly matters for learning. A thoughtful and supportive conversation for teachers navigating the realities of modern education.

Darren is joined by maths teacher and Director of Learning Neil Barton to discuss why Darren is so vehemently anti-AI and what the research has to say about AI tools in the classroom.

What happens when AI isn’t a pilot or a policy, but something thousands of teachers and students are expected to use well? Matt is joined by Richard Human, Head of AI for a global network of schools, to talk about AI in the global classroom. We’ll look at what it really takes to support and upskill thousands of staff and students in AI across different countries and school systems. What scales, what quickly falls apart, and what schools learn when AI becomes part of everyday classroom practice rather than a strategic ambition.

Carl chats to experienced school governor, Professor David Price, about why school governance matters and what constitutes good governance and bad governance is our schools today.

Are rewards and sanctions helping young people thrive, or holding them back? In this episode, Tim is joined by behaviour specialist Andy Baker to challenge how we think about discipline in schools. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience across education, care, and foster settings, Andy unpacks why behaviour is communication, what empathetic approaches look like in practice, and how a shift in mindset can transform outcomes for students and teachers alike.

This show explores how inclusive pedagogy, curriculum design, digital accessibility, and institutional culture can create more equitable learning environments across higher education. We move beyond compliance to discuss practical strategies for embedding accessibility into everyday teaching and learning, informed by lived experience and sector-wide insight. Our guests are Dr Sambhavi Chandrashekar, Chair of the Global Leadership Council at the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, and an internationally recognised advocate for inclusive learning technologies.

The global teacher shortage. Why is it happening? What are the consequences? What keeps teachers in the profession? With input from guests Shrouk Anany, Alicia Lara, Alejandra Lucía, and Ashish Sharma.

On the Twilight Show, host Tony and guests Yannick Berland and Zoe Enser discuss current issues facing schools: the new Ofsted framework and how it accounts for context, the debate over a social media ban for under-16s, and the role of Ofsted-style consultants. They examine the balance between relationships and classroom management, trust intervention, and the high-stakes nature of inspections, sharing practical reflections from inside schools. The conversation highlights tensions between accountability and context, concerns about student wellbeing and technology, and the challenges leaders face when choosing external advice. The episode invites teachers to contribute their experiences and join future discussions.

In this show, Tom Rogers is joined by practising headteacher Rich Warkden for a wide-ranging and honest discussion about some of the most contentious issues facing schools right now. They unpack the government’s proposals around suspensions and internal exclusions, questioning whether keeping pupils on site during suspensions is realistic, properly funded, or blurs the line between education and childcare. The conversation explores parental responsibility, behaviour policy, staffing pressures, and whether schools are increasingly being asked to fix problems rooted in wider society. The discussion then turns to school holiday fines, with a clear-eyed look at whether fines actually change behaviour. Drawing on real school attendance data, Rich argues that rising fines have failed to deter term-time holidays, highlights the cost-of-living pressures facing families, and questions whether holiday companies should be part of the conversation. Mobile phones, social media, and their impact on behaviour and wellbeing also feature heavily, including reflections on school phone bans, Monday morning fallout from online activity, and whether schools have become the “fourth emergency service”.

The panel (JP, Carl and Lucy) discuss the big news this week - More pupils suspended for bad behaviour will have to stay in school under supervision, rather than being sent home, in a bid to curb learning loss and reduce exposure to phones and social media. Ministers say the changes are designed to strengthen discipline while ensuring pupils continue learning during short-term suspensions, particularly for non-violent behaviour.

Join Michael Wright for his Sunday Lunch Show with guest David Mastrocola as they discuss the value of vocational education and how we can integrate it in industry and the workforce.