Teachers Talk Radio

Does teaching have a drinking problem?: The Morning Break with Carl Smith

Carl and special guest Rebecca Thomson discuss alcohol and the teaching profession - Does teaching have a drinking problem? 

Unlocking Expression - Creative Writing & Vocabulary: The Saturday Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary

Join Famida Choudhary in conversation Ros Wilson as they explore how to embed creative writing and vocabulary development into the daily routine of ESL classrooms. In this show, Ros shares decades of insight on the power of talk, the importance of structured oracy, and how purposeful language exposure can transform writing outcomes for multilingual learners. From classroom routines to story-based vocabulary games and the role of family talk, discover how to build confident, expressive young writers—one sentence at a time.

Do We Fully Value The Arts?: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

Luke Attridge, Head of Drama and doctoral researcher, joins Darren to discuss the place of arts generally (and drama specifically) in both schools and society.

School culture and improvement - Are we missing the point?: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood

In this show, we dive deep into the complexities of school culture with headteacher and education researcher Dr John Morris. Drawing on his doctoral work and real-world leadership experience, John explores what “culture” really means in schools beyond slogans and quick fixes.
Together with host Tony Harwood, the discussion ranges from leadership blind spots and subcultures within staff teams to the unintended messages sent by architecture, uniforms, and even where the head parks their car. John also reflects on why staff rooms matter, the role of trust in behaviour, and how to avoid reducing culture to a single buzzword.

Teachers in the Wild!: The Morning Break with Liz Webb and Kate Tully

Joining Liz and Kate on the show is lecturer and director, Tim Seyfert, who eloquently shares his passion projects outside of the classroom, advocating the importance of a healthy work-life balance and how to achieve this alongside the everyday demands of teaching. Interweaved with the usual anecdotes, honesty and humour, enjoy “Teachers in the Wild”.

Planting the seeds - Embedding Sustainability in Primary Education: TTR Special with Kapow Primary

How can schools move beyond one-off eco-lessons and genuinely embed sustainability in the heart of their curriculum and culture?
In this episode, Caroline Hall and Adam Sumner join us to explore how primary schools can empower pupils to think critically about their role in the world—without overwhelming them. From tackling the common barriers to making sustainability part of everyday teaching, to building a meaningful journey through the curriculum, we discuss how schools can foster collective responsibility and pupil agency.
We cover questions such as:• Why is now the moment to prioritise sustainability in schools?• How can we make space for this in an already packed curriculum?• What does it look like to embed sustainability across all subjects—not just as a ‘bolt-on’?• How do we avoid fear-based approaches and instead inspire hope and action?
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, school leader or curriculum designer, this episode offers practical insights, reflective questions and plenty of inspiration for cultivating a culture of sustainability in your school.
Brought to you with Kapow Primary - Visit them at KapowPrimary.com

Victimhood culture in education?: TTR Special - Tom Rogers with Alun Francis

Social mobility commissioner Alun Francis OBE sits down with Tom Rogers to discuss disadvantage, poverty and the SEND crisis in the UK. In a far ranging interview, they discuss London vs the rest of the UK when it comes to achievement and the reasons for the differences as well as trauma informed practice in schools. 

The science of effective revision: The Friday late show with David Brown

Dave talks to William Wadsworth and Dale Banham about the research behind effective revision and how it can be best utilised to improve student attainment. 

The hidden value of Sociology - Skills, Society and the Future: TTR Special with OCR Sociology

With student numbers reportedly falling and concerns mounting over subject visibility, this Teachers Talk Radio show explores the current state of Sociology in secondary and post-16 education and it's incredible hidden value. Host Tom Rogers is joined by guests Sunny Gunessee and Tom Genillard to discuss the headline data on student uptake, the role of careers guidance in shaping perceptions, and how schools can reposition the subject for today’s learners.
Together, they explore how sixth forms, colleges, and universities can collaborate to close the gap, the steps OCR Exams are taking to make qualifications more inclusive, and the impact that declining school provision has on teacher recruitment and subject expertise.
We’ll also hear insights from the JCoSS Present…Sound Sociology podcast, including real-world case studies of students using sociology in diverse career paths—from education and healthcare to media and policy.
Finally, the show considers the value of sociology for meeting Ofsted expectations and Gatsby benchmarks, and offers practical advice for schools looking to boost engagement at open evenings.
Produced in partnership with OCR Sociology - Visit them at ocr.org.uk

AI in Schools - Hype, Help or Harm?: The Late Show with Ben White

Ben is joined by Professor Becky Allen to discuss all things AI in schools.