Teachers Talk Radio

This week on my show, I talk about all the things that have kept me in the job for 21 years and why I still love teaching...and a few things that annoy me too.

An education without quality pastoral support is fragmented, so here's why it's so needed. An enticing discussion with Karen Foster, Inclusion Lead, where she shares her experiences and passion within her pastoral role.

I am joined by Sophie Bartlett, an experienced Y5/6 English lead who shares some fascinating thoughts on the impact of SATs and whether they have any relevance in 2024. Sophie also made some great suggestions for alternative means of assessment as well as how she would improve the curriculum if SATs no longer existed.

What are schools for? Join me and my guest Professor Karl Kitching as we attempt to get to the heart of education through his writing and research. Karl is a former primary teacher and now Professor of education at Birmingham University. Karl's research and teaching focuses on challenging multiple inequalities in education, in childhood, and in young people’s lives. Karl has published a range of internationally peer-reviewed articles on young people’s experiences of racism in school, race theory in education, the sexualisation of childhood, children’s religious identities at school, teacher motivation, and critical theory and pedagogy. His latest book is Childhood, Religion and School Injustice.

Join Paul as he talks to Professor Brianna L Kennedy and Professor Amy Murphy about their work on Frame Shifting, an approach to addressing persistent teaching dilemmas. The Frame Shifting approach involves interpreting dilemmas using the three domains of teaching.  This allows the teacher to explore new strategies for solutions.  

Joined by Jim Roebuck who after 13 years working as a Deputy Headteacher in London primary schools, moved into Initial Teacher Training in September 2023. An adoptive dad to two young children, Jim is acutely aware of the importance of work/life balance, and took 12 months of parental leave during 2020-21. He has a particular interest in creating cultures of professional development within schools. The show discusses wellbeing in and out of schools and tips to make sure you can be present at home and work throughout the teaching profession from trainee to SLT.

It’s a Valentine’s Day special! Join me, Emily Edwards, and my partner Andrew Rushton, to discuss the culture clash between teachers and non-teachers when it comes to dating.

Celebrating 2 years and 99 hours of TTR shows, Graham looks back on the guests and shows that featured or were dedicated to Artificial Intelligence. These range from a show in July 2022, pre-dating the explosion in generative AI, to guests such as Paul Raine in Japan, Kalyan Chattopadhyay from India, Joshua Underwood in Spain, and Chris Temple Murray from the UK. 

What are the principles of nurture? What are the benefits to young people? How can schools set up their own 'true' nurture groups? Host Rae is joined by Katie Murray, a secondary nurture teacher with over 15 years experience in both mainstream and special education settings and an MA in Special and Inclusive Education, to discuss why every school should have a nurture group. 

Tom Rogers is joined by BBC education editor Branwen Jeffreys for a discussion on her journalism during the Ruth Perry inquest, BBC impartiality, BBC education coverage and much more.