Teachers Talk Radio

With the government’s teacher retention programme delayed until autumn 2027, Points of View asks whether flexible working could help keep teachers in the classroom and how realistic it is in practice. From part-time roles and job shares to PPA at home and flexible start times, what could schools offer? Can flexibility benefit staff without compromising pupils’ learning or increasing colleagues’ workloads? And is the biggest obstacle funding, timetabling or school culture? Join us for a live debate on what flexibility in teaching could and should look like. On the Panel: Tony Harwood, Emma Gallagher and Ollie Bayliss.

Louise Marie is joined by oracy experts and authors, Amy Gaunt and Alice Stott, to discuss their wonderful new book 'Create an Oracy Curriculum' (Pub: Hachette Learning 30th Oct 2026). Together, Amy and Alice will explore why spoken language deserves a central place in education and how schools can embed oracy across subjects and beyond the classroom. This show will give you a real taste of what this book has in store for us. Take it from me when I tell you that this will be, undoubtedly, one of the biggest educational bestsellers of 2026, and for very good reason...  Get your copy ordered today here: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/amy-gaunt/create-an-oracy-curriculum/9781915261960/

For years, teachers have been highlighting the need for steps to be taken to reduce workload. Lip service has been paid to this concept, with promises and plans made to do so, but with little real impact.  This week, Lucy Powell has suggested a move to a four-day working week for teachers: a suggestion welcomed by many in education, but criticised by parents. While schools would remain open five days a week, teachers would work a compressed week, with alternative arrangements made for the fifth day. But what would this look like in practice? Could greater flexibility help tackle teacher burnout, improve recruitment and keep experienced staff in the classroom? Or would it create fresh challenges for school leaders, timetabling and pupils’ learning? Join David Brown, Carl Smith, Lucy Trimnell and Liz Webb on the panel.

Join Michael Wright for a special episode as he sits down with Steve Willshaw to discuss his book, The Functionally Fluent Teacher. In this insightful conversation, Michael and Steve explore key ideas from the book, what it means to be a functionally fluent teacher, and how these principles can support effective teaching, positive relationships, and successful classroom outcomes. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, trainee educator, or simply interested in educational practice, this discussion offers valuable reflections and practical insights drawn from Steve’s work.

Chris is joined by guest James Nichols to explore the importance of political education in schools. How can we help young people understand democracy, engage with current affairs, question what they hear and form their own informed opinions? The discussion explores how schools can encourage political awareness and critical thinking while remaining impartial, and why equipping the next generation to understand the world around them matters more than ever.

We talk facing up to the facts and how acceptance could help you in the classroom and beyond.

In today's show, Darren looks at the leadership data to consider what type of headteachers teachers best respond to and why, ultimately, being a nice person is the most important thing of all.

Tim Smyth, US teacher and author, talks to Huma Mirza and Jon Biddle about using comics and graphic novels effectively in schools.

Ollie Bayliss, a teacher and education commentator, joins Michael Wright, a teacher with music and PE experience, and Maud Waret, a teacher focused on schools and family life. They debate two-week autumn half-terms, childcare, regional calendars, workload and wellbeing. The conversation expands to flexible working, four-day weeks, teacher retention and whether Ofsted ratings truly reflect school culture.

Lucy Trimnell, a mathematics educator and commentator; Tony Harwood, a science teacher; and Christopher Vowles, an English teacher, debate whether speaking and listening deserve equal status with reading and writing. They explore presentation assessment, confidence, inclusion, AI, class size and the workload of moderation. The discussion also examines how talk can deepen learning and why oracy should begin early and span every subject.