Teachers Talk Radio

Parental Self Efficacy and Exam Stress: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

In this show, Darren explores the relationship between parental self-efficacy and student exam stress. How much does a parent's confidence in supporting their child's education influence how that child experiences assessment and exam pressure? Drawing on psychological and educational research, Darren examines the evidence linking parental beliefs, family support, academic resilience, and student wellbeing.

Where did our first jobs go? Friday Morning Break Show with Carl Smith

Carl asks why so many young people are economically inactive according to the Milburn report. He explores whether schools or teachers are to blame or whether it is in fact the system they operate in that has caused the problem. He also suggests what might be done to make things better.

Connected - Focusing on `Me` and `We`: TTR Special with Rachel Johnson

Tim Smale talks to Rachel Johnson, chief executive of PiXL and author of Connected: Focusing on `Me` and `We`. Her big idea is simple: to thrive, young people need to be connected both to themselves and to others, yet we rarely teach them how to do either. Tim and Rachel explore what connection really means in schools, why belonging matters more than we admit, and whether much of what we call a behaviour problem was a connection problem all along.
You can get the book here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/rachel-johnson-2/connected/9781036007294/

Why is prejudicial abuse rising in schools?: Points of View

Suspensions for racist, homophobic, transphobic and ableist abuse in schools have risen sharply but what’s really behind the trend? On this week’s Points of View, we explore the reasons behind rising reports, especially a new BBC one, of prejudicial abuse in schools.
Are social media, divisive politics and online influencers shaping attitudes among young people? Have funding cuts to pastoral and anti-bullying support left schools struggling to respond? Or are schools being expected to solve wider societal problems they cannot fix alone?
We’ll debate the role of parents, schools and government, ask whether suspensions are the right response, and discuss what practical solutions might actually make a difference.
Join us live to share your perspective: Why is prejudicial abuse rising in schools and what should happen next?

What’s Really Causing Teacher Burnout?: Points of View

Teachers are exhausted, overwhelmed and, in many cases, walking away from the profession. But what is really behind the rise in teacher burnout? Is it workload, poor behaviour, endless accountability and SEND pressures or something deeper in the culture of education itself? In this Points of View, we ask why so many teachers are struggling to sustain the job, whether school leaders and governments are doing enough, and what practical changes could actually make teaching manageable again. Has the profession reached a tipping point or can burnout be turned around?
With Dave Brown, Liz Webb, Lucy Trimnell and Maud Waret. 

Educational AI: Tool or Tyrant? The Late Show with Christopher Vowles

Christopher talks with computer science academic and university teacher Dr Jeremy Straub about the recent history of Artificial Intelligence; its impact on our educational institutions; and the ways in which it might reshape and redefine our notions of education, research and training in the near future.

How can you de-stress?: The Sunday Breakfast Show with Phin

We talk how to de-stress in the classroom. Join us!

Can Task Design Limit Cheating?: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester

Darren explores whether better task design can reduce cheating in schools and assessments. Drawing on the research of Wenzel and Reinhard (2020), he examines how the structure and design of tasks can influence student honesty, motivation, and decision-making during tests and classroom assessments. From authenticity and challenge to accountability and engagement, this show looks at the evidence behind why some assessment tasks may encourage academic integrity more effectively than others.

Is teaching getting harder?: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood and Yannick Berland

Yannick and Tony reflect on the changes in the profession with reference to 10 key areas, and give an opinion for each on whether they have got better or worse. At the end of the show, the hosts will compare notes and consider survey results across the UK in order to make a final conclusion: Is teaching getting harder?

Teach Like Your Heart Is On Fire: The Late Show with Tim Smale

What does it mean to teach with your heart truly in it? This week on The Late Show, Tim Smale and Khanh-Duc Kuttig are joined by the amazing Christian Mba, vice principal, middle leadership developer, and author of Teach Like Your Heart Is On Fire.
Together they explore the questions at the heart of Christian's book: why you became a teacher, whether knowing your purpose changes what happens in the classroom, and what it really takes to sustain genuine passion across a career.