Advertise on podcast: Teachers Talk Radio

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.

Two-week half-terms in the autumn term are becoming more commonplace in schools around the UK. While for students and teachers, this is welcome respite in the middle of a gruelling, dark and long term, the challenge arises for parents (and many parent-teachers with conflicting school schedules) in organising childcare. The benefits for wellbeing and workload are clearly reported by those schools that have already adopted this as the norm… but does it create more problems than it solves? Tonight, the panel will debate the pros and cons of a two-week October half-term. Is it necessary to improve staff and student wellbeing in schools? Should it be an “all schools or no schools” approach to prevent conflicting schedules and demands within families? Is this the start of a reform of the distribution of school holidays? Join Maud Waret, Michael Wright, Ollie Bayliss and Liz Webb on tonight’s panel, live at 8 pm, to share your thoughts.

Should speaking and listening have equal status with reading and writing and what would that mean in the classroom? Tony Harwood, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell and Christopher Vowles join TTR Points of View to debate plans to put oracy at the heart of the curriculum. Could this help tackle disadvantage and equip pupils for a world shaped by AI? How should spoken language be taught and assessed and will teachers get the time, training and resources to make it work? With reports of a wider shift towards practical assessment, we also ask whether these reforms offer a better balance or risk creating more uncertainty over knowledge, skills and academic standards.

Carl explores why teachers are really leaving the profession and it might not be what you think.

We talk dealing with conflict at work alongside a host of other things to help you process stuff. That's if you need it. And if you're on half-term we'll talk what that means. And if you're not, we'll talk when you are.

Continuing the mini-series on teacher job satisfaction, Darren explores the literature about the satisfaction criteria for teachers and considers whether the length of time you've been in the job impacts how satisfied you feel.

Chatting, calling out, tapping and answering back: how much disruption has become accepted as part of everyday teaching? On Points of View, we debate the cumulative impact of so-called low-level disruption on teachers and pupils. Where is the line between ordinary classroom restlessness and behaviour that stops others learning? Are expectations clear and consistent and do teachers get the support they need to uphold them? We reference a Teacher Tapp survey from this week. Plus, does describing disruption as “low-level” minimise the damage it can do? On the panel: Tom Rogers, Liz Webb, Beejesh Deva.

Who keeps our schools running when the classroom doors close? This show shines a light on the often-overlooked support staff who keep education moving. From dealing with frustrated parents to supporting teachers and school leaders, their contribution is vital but often unrecognised. Featuring an interview with an 18-year-old school office apprentice, the show explores the realities behind the scenes and asks a powerful question: Are the people schools rely on the most the ones they value the least?

Tim Smale is joined by executive headteacher Adrian McLean to ask why school values so often go out of the window, and why schools might need virtues instead. They also get into teacher overload and the rise in AI-written complaints to schools. Adrian has taken one question to the TEDx stage and the House of Lords: what does character ask of a leader when holding the line is the lonely and expensive option? Tim and Adrian take it on together.