Teachers Talk Radio

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/

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?

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. 

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

Nearly one million young people in the UK are currently out of education and work. Alan Milburn’s explosive new report warns of an "economic catastrophe" driven by lockdown scars, social media rewiring, and a broken welfare system. In this show, join JP, Rae, Carl and Jo as they ask the tough questions. Are schools doing enough to build resilience? Has technology created an anxious generation that the system is simply giving up on?

Darren explores the relationship between test anxiety and school avoidance, examining how anxiety around exams and assessment can contribute to absenteeism, emotionally based school avoidance, and disengagement from learning. Drawing on current educational and psychological research, he discusses the warning signs teachers and parents should recognise, the impact of exam stress on student wellbeing, and the practical strategies schools can use to support anxious pupils before attendance becomes a wider concern.