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Live talk radio for teachers. Breaking news and analysis.
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On this show, Tony and Yannick discuss whether teachers should model the same rules they set for students. They cover dress code and uniform expectations, gender differences in standards, homework and workload, classroom behaviour, recruitment and the challenge of maintaining positivity in the profession.
The conversation combines practical examples, listener comments and reflections on balancing high standards with common sense, teacher wellbeing and the role of student voice in shaping school rules.
Beejesh Deva, Nathan Gynn and Claire Bills explore the growing world of consultants, edugurus and social‑media influencers in education. They explore how these figures interact with schools, the costs and opportunity costs involved, and the tension between useful, research‑based support and one‑off or misapplied advice.
The conversation covers the shift from local authority provision to academies, the benefits of shared CPD and coaching, concerns about contextual fit and incoherence, and the need for discernment and quality assurance when schools buy external expertise.
In this show, Tim sits down with Simon Lightman, teacher, philosopher, researcher, and the driving force behind a cross-sector open letter to Parliament calling for curriculum renewal. Together, they ask one of the most pressing questions facing schools today: can education really afford to keep treating sustainability as an optional extra?
Industrial action at Llantwit Major High School has brought issues of workload, behaviour and funding into sharp focus. The NASUWT has raised concerns about staff safety, excessive workload and working conditions, while school leaders and the local authority point to financial pressures, falling pupil numbers and ongoing negotiations. In this show, we speak to a NASUWT representative Sharron Daly to explore the claims behind the dispute, the response from leadership, and what this situation tells us about wider pressures across the profession.
In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley chat about what job English teachers should consider when applying to work in South Korea.
The panel (JP, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell, Yasmin Omar and Tom Rogers) explore various stories emerging from the upcoming NASUWT annual conference. Reports of rising violence in schools – and claims that incidents are being under-reported or even discouraged – have sparked serious concern across the profession. The NASUWT warns that some teachers face regular physical injury, while inconsistent behaviour policies and leadership responses may be compounding the problem. But it’s not just behaviour in classrooms under scrutiny. New data suggests nearly one in five teachers now faces an “unmanageable” volume of parent contact, with growing expectations to call home for behaviour and attendance issues. Some schools reportedly require calls for every sanction, raising questions about workload, boundaries, and whether teachers are being turned into “call centres.” At the same time, a new threat is emerging: AI-driven digital harassment, with fears that manipulated videos and recordings could damage teachers’ reputations and safety. In this week’s Points of View, we ask: How widespread is violence in schools? Are reporting systems failing staff? Is parental contact becoming excessive? And are schools prepared for the risks of AI misuse?
On 13th March, Sir Martyn Oliver defended robust criticism from many in the profession that the new OFSTED framework unfairly penalises schools in disadvantaged areas. He says context should not trump outcomes. Tony talks to his guests about their opinions on the comments and the framework.
Join Chris as he explores the vulnerability of putting yourself out there in teaching, from applying for promotions to stepping into leadership roles. This episode reflects on the discomfort, self-doubt, and awkwardness that can come with being seen differently by colleagues, and why these moments often matter more than we realise.
From a young age, we are constantly exposed to depictions of teachers in books, films and TV series: the nurturing Miss Honey, the chaotic maverick Dewey Finn, the firm-but-wise Mr Feeny… but how accurate - or constructive - are these depictions when it comes to understanding the real people inside the profession? The Morning Break team are back to talk shop - join the conversation!
What can Zelda teach us about learning? Listen in for more about gamification and teaching and learning.
Who really decides what our students learn and why?
In this episode, I’m joined by Stephanie Martin to unpack one of the most pressing questions in international education: Whose curriculum is it anyway? Together, we explore the global dominance of Western education models and what this means for identity, culture, and power in schools around the world.
Are these curricula a gateway to opportunity and global mobility or do they quietly sideline local knowledge and perspectives? And as international schools continue to grow, who benefits most from the systems we’ve inherited?
This is a thought-provoking conversation for educators, leaders, and anyone interested in the future of global education.
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!
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