Teachers Talk Radio

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.

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.

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!

In this week's show, Claudia Tumba and Martin Sketchley have a chat about teaching English in China, Japan and Korea.

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 Or is the education system itself failing children through outdated classrooms, oversized classes and unrealistic expectations?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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lee and his guest David Perkins discuss the events of 2025/26 and the additional pressures placed on schools!

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.

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.

Join Tom Rogers and Tim Smale for a special show with Charu Kashyap, Founder & CEO of The O Education Group, as they explore whether traditional models of schooling are keeping pace with the needs of modern learners. The discussion examines the thinking behind Ohana, a new relational online school, and looks at how flexibility, belonging, safeguarding, academic ambition and technology can work together to create different routes into learning. Is education ready to evolve, and what might the school of the future look like?

In this show, Darren reacts to the news of a New York school district planning to implement a robotic teacher from Autumn 2026and considers what teaching and learning looks like when the human teachers are removed.

In this episode, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Hatie Mapudzi to explore what it really means for students to feel that they belong in higher education. Together, they discuss inclusive teaching, student engagement, representation, and the everyday practices that help create learning environments where every student feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

In this show, Darren looks at how schools in Germany approach the issues of school violence and bullying, drawing on research conducted in 2020.

Teachers are getting a 3.5% pay rise. Academy trust CEOs could soon face government approval before taking jobs paying more than £174,000. The changes have sparked a fierce row across the education sector. Some say executive pay has become excessive while classroom staff struggle with workload and recruitment. Others argue that large academy trusts require exceptional leaders whose salaries should reflect the scale and complexity of their role. We will also look at the teacher pay rise in general and the claim that schools themselves will need to fund half of it. Is the government protecting taxpayers or interfering in independent organisations?