Teachers Talk Radio

Disciplinary Literacy in the Primary Classroom: TTR Special with Shareen Wilkinson

Huma Mirza and Tom Rogers co host a conversation with executive director of education and author, Shareen Wilkinson. They discuss her new book - Disciplinary Literacy in the Primary Classroom. What is disciplinary literacy? Why is it important? What does it mean for primary subject leads? How should schools be approaching it in 2025-2026? All these talking points and more in this special one off show. Order the book now from Hachette Learning here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/shareen-wilkinson/disciplinary-literacy-in-primary-schools-reading-writing-and-speaking-across-the-curriculum/9781036006303/

Assessment - Are we weighing the pig or just fattening it?: The Late Show with Claire Bills and Beejesh Deva

Joint current secondary HOD Beejesh and current primary Headteacher Claire as they consider what exactly schools are doing when it comes to assessment - where are they going right and wrong when formally and informally assessing students?

Social Media for Teachers: The Late Show with Tom Rogers

In this lively Teachers Talk Radio show, Tom Rogers is joined by teacher and writer Adam Boxer to explore the changing role of social media in the teaching profession. From the glory days of "EduTwitter" and infamous online debates to the decline in teacher engagement on X, they discuss how platforms like BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn, and TikTok are filling the gap. Along the way, Adam shares advice for teachers building a positive online presence, and candid reflections on the benefits and pitfalls of engaging in public education discourse. The conversation also touches on issues of teacher voice, inclusivity, and how to amplify perspectives from schools working in challenging contexts—plus a humorous quiz revisiting some of the most memorable Twitter controversies in education.

What are some of the unaddressed situations we navigate and what is their impact?: The Late Late Show with Seema Aggarwal

Most professionals will have aspects of their day-to-day job that go beyond their job description and that are sometimes not openly discussed or acknowledged. In this show, Seema discusses some of these areas for a teacher, with her colleague Lynsey Fox (Senior Lecturer in PR and Media Communications at London College of Communication). From the impact of performing, to connecting with students on social media, this is a discussion which tackles boundaries, intensity, guilt, pressure and being diplomatic.

Digital Skills: The Twilight Show with Graham Stanley

What digital skills do teachers need? What about in the next five years?

Teacher voice debate, isolation rooms controversy: Points of View

On this summer edition of Points of View, our panel (Tarjinder Gill, Yasmin Omar, Rae Whitehouse and Lucy Trimnell) explore two big issues shaking the education world: the growing number of consultants and ex-teachers shaping school policy from the outside, and a controversial court case over the use of long-term isolation in schools.
Is it possible to advise schools effectively without being in the classroom? What’s the true cost of external expertise? And when does helpful CPD cross the line into 'snake oil'?
Then, the discussion turns to a recent High Court ruling in favour of a Leeds school whose isolation policy was challenged by three pupils. The panel looks at the complex tensions between duty of care, student behaviour, teacher wellbeing, and the limits of the judicial system in shaping school policy.
📚 Brought to you in partnership with John Catt Educational – publishers of professional development books and resources for teachers and leaders.

Back to School, Forward with Purpose - Smart Prep for a New Cohort: The Saturday Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary

As the school year kicks off, join host Famida Choudhary in conversation with Year 5 teacher Sharon—an inspiring educator who blends humour, heart, and high standards. Together, they explore how teachers can prepare meaningfully for a new class: from understanding student needs to setting up routines that stick. A practical and uplifting show to start the year strong.

Mid-Career Teachers: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

Darren discusses the highs and lows of being a teacher in the middle of one's career.

Life after Teaching - Is the grass greener?: The Morning Break with Liz Webb

Joining Liz today is former teacher, turned librarian, Sue Eastlake who, like many others before her, has left 30 years in the classroom behind, in the hope of reclaiming the holy grail of work-life balance. They discuss and debate the reasons behind the recruitment and retention crisis in education and weigh up the pros and cons of leaving the classroom behind. But is the grass greener on the other side?

All things Oracy: The Twilight Show with Tom Rogers

Tom Rogers is joined by secondary HOD and oracy enthusiast Louise Pickering to explore how she is approaching Oracy development in her school.
She shares her insights from leading an impactful oracy initiative at Weavers Academy. Louise discusses why oracy is a vital skill for students, especially in relation to equity, life chances, and long-term success, and how it can be a powerful lever for closing attainment gaps.
We dive into the practical steps her team took to embed oracy across the school, the challenges they faced, and how staff CPD and modelling played a key role. Louise also shares how instructional coaching can be used to develop staff oracy and build a culture of effective communication throughout a school. If you're a leader looking to make oracy a priority in your setting, don’t miss Louise’s top three tips for getting started.