Teachers Talk Radio

In this show, Darren looks at research from India considering how we can use language to support literacy and oracy in both first and second languages. 

This week, reports emerged that the government is tightening the rules around mobile phones in schools even further, with students in England set to be banned from keeping phones in their bags or pockets during the school day from September 2027.
While this might be another step toward reducing digital dependence, what does this mean in practice for schools, teachers, and young people? Is this a step towards calmer classrooms, better concentration, and more meaningful social interactions, or does it add another layer of responsibility and expense for already stretched schools?
What does a fully phone-free school day actually entail? What challenges are raised around storage and safeguarding? And does this additional measure truly tackle the problems created by young people’s digital lives?
Join Tony Harwood, Rae Whitehouse, Emma Gallagher and Liz Webb on the Points of View panel.

With his special guest, Victoria Bagnall, Lee will discuss whether autonomy in the classroom is now a thing of the past. Have rigid principles of pedagogy consigned professional autonomy to the history books?

Are schools giving creativity enough space? As AI changes the world of work, how can teachers help young people develop creativity, confidence and problem-solving skills? Tom Rogers and Pat Link join Samsung’s Jessie Soohyun Park and the Design Council’s Rachel Bronstein to discuss the place of creativity in education. Why are fewer students choosing creative subjects? What stops young people considering careers in design and technology? And what can teachers do to help students develop their ideas? The guests share examples of students using technology to tackle problems they care about, alongside classroom suggestions and free resources available through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. This show is sponsored by Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

Should Year 9 be the start of GCSE preparation? Lucy Powell wants schools to stop routinely starting GCSE courses early, arguing that pupils are having their options narrowed and being rushed towards exams. Her proposed answer is to reduce GCSE content so courses fit comfortably into two years. T
he Points of View panel debates whether a three-year GCSE gives pupils valuable time to master demanding content or sacrifices the breadth and curiosity of Key Stage 3. Are schools starting early because of an overcrowded curriculum, pressure for results, or what works best for their pupils?
Would cutting content create better learning, or would it simply leave important knowledge out?
On the panel: Christopher Vowles, Maud Waret, Michael Wright and Ollie Bayliss.

In this episode, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Berfin Emre Cetin, Reader in Media and Conflict, from London College of Communication to explore the challenges of teaching in times of global uncertainty. Together, they discuss how can sensitive topics, political and cultural differences enrich classroom debates alongside managing disagreements, and how educators can encourage critical thinking, empathy and mutual understanding.

Are apps like TT Rockstars helping children master their times tables, or creating pressure to compete and spend more time on screens? Following concerns raised by an MP, Points of View debates gamification in education. Do virtual rewards and leaderboards motivate pupils, or distract from learning and cause conflict at home?
With TT Rockstars announcing default time limits and curfews, we ask whether these safeguards strike the right balance and whether criticism of educational technology overlooks its benefits.
On the panel: JP, Liz Webb and Maud Waret

Lucy Powell says the consequences of Ofsted inspections need to change. The education secretary argues that school context has become a penalty, with schools taking on more pupils with SEND being disadvantaged by the current system. She wants a more peer-led approach to school improvement, with Ofsted still providing an external judgement. But what would that mean for teachers and school leaders?
Our Points of View panel debates whether her proposals could deliver fairer accountability, her criticism of the “secure fit” approach to grading, and which inspection consequences should change. We also discuss her vision for alternative provision to focus more on outreach and short-term support, with SEND reform proposals due early in 2027.
Can mainstream schools provide the support this would require?

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show, where he and guest James Searjeant dive into the debate sparked by Dame Elaine Paige's recent comments in The Telegraph.
Amid concerns about a lack of discipline in schools, their conversation turns to the role of music—specifically, whether greater involvement in Western classical music is the solution. Is classical music the key to classroom discipline, or does this view overlook the value of other musical genres, or other subjects in education that equally demand commitment?
What do our students truly need for discipline, and how can educators best teach it? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion, insightful opinions, and your chance to weigh in on this debate.

In this show, we look at the role that values and ethics play in the creation of teacher persona and the conflicts that can occur therein.