#3177
Wednesday · 1 hr 1 min
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
- TT#3176Wednesday · 1 hr 27 min
The 11+ Arms Race?: Points of View
The 11+ is supposed to identify academic potential. But what happens when success in the test increasingly depends on how much preparation a family can afford. Success based on parents ability to pay not the child’s abilities. A recent Schools Week investigation found families paying up to £600 for 11+ practice materials, highlighting a growing tutoring industry built around parents’ fear of their children missing out on limited Grammar School places (Schools Week) In this episode, TTR will bring together teachers some who have sat the 11+ themselves, to ask whether the 11+ is really a test of ability — or increasingly a test of preparation, opportunity and parental resources. We’ll explore the history and purpose of grammar schools, the explosion of the tutoring industry, the advantages available to affluent families and whether an apparently meritocratic system can actually reproduce social inequality. But we’ll go further. Why do we stream and select children at all? What does early academic sorting do to children’s expectations, confidence and future opportunities? And is there a contradiction between believing that every child can achieve while simultaneously creating systems that label some children as academically successful and others as less capable at just eleven years old? Is selection an efficient way of matching children to education or does it simply turn existing inequalities into apparently legitimate differences in ability? A conversation about the 11+ becomes a much bigger conversation about merit, privilege, social mobility and what we actually want our education system to achieve. On the panel: Tony Harwood, Emma Gallagher, Carl Smith and JP.
- TT#3175Tuesday · 1 hr 3 min
How Teachers Create Impact that Travels: The Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary
Famida Choudhary is in conversation with educator Crystal Frommert as we explore what it really means to be a teacher in an ever-changing educational landscape. From the unseen work of constantly learning and adapting to becoming connectors who bring authentic voices and real-world experiences into the classroom, we examine how teaching reaches far beyond curriculum and assessment. We reflect on the influence educators may never see, what students teach us in return, and how the teacher’s role is evolving in the age of AI. Because some of the most powerful outcomes of teaching cannot be measured and its impact may travel further than we ever know.
- TT#3174Sunday · 1 hr 1 min
Hopes For The New Year: The Sunday Late Show With Toby Doncaster
Join Toby and Piers Gledhill as they discuss their hopes and dreams for the new academic year. What changes do they expect and how can they make them happen?
- TT#3173Sunday · 1 hr 45 min
Autistic boy who brought replica knife to school has exclusion quashed by High Court: Points of View
A 10-year-old autistic boy who brought a replica butterfly knife into school has had his permanent exclusion quashed by the High Court. The object was passed to another pupil during a playground altercation but caused no significant injury. The judge questioned whether the school’s decision was proportionate and emphasised that permanent exclusion should be used only as a last resort. Was permanent exclusion justified in this case and what does “last resort” really mean? How should autism, SEND or unmet needs affect the consequences for serious behaviour? Should the response depend on the nature of the object, the child’s intentions or the potential risk? When inclusion conflicts with the safety and education of other pupils, whose rights should take priority? The Points of View panel debates whether the ruling provides essential protection for vulnerable children or risks school leaders being second-guessed when making difficult safeguarding decisions. Are mainstream schools properly equipped to support children with complex needs and could making permanent exclusion harder lead to more suspensions, managed moves or informal exclusions instead? On the panel: Tom Rogers, Rae Whitehouse, JP and guest Andrew Old.
- TT#3172Saturday · 2 hr
Are half of teachers really planning to quit?: Points of View
Almost half of teachers surveyed by the Liberal Democrats say they are considering leaving the profession within the next five years, while more than three quarters report feeling frequently or constantly burnt out. The party says schools are approaching an “existential crisis” and is calling for fully funded pay rises, limits on teacher overtime and greater access to flexible working. The government, however, says teacher departures are at one of their lowest levels since 2010 and that record numbers are returning to the classroom. So how serious is the retention crisis? Are workload and working conditions still driving teachers out or do the headline figures give a misleading picture? And what emergency measures, if any, would genuinely persuade teachers to stay? Ollie Bayliss, Tom Rogers and JP discuss on Teachers Talk Radio’s Points of View.
- TT#3171Saturday · 1 hr 33 min
Making the Most of ITT Lectures: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
In this show, Darren discusses how perfectionism can stand in the way of being a great teacher, and how we shouldn't prioritise lived experience of the classroom over academic research but ask more questions to ensure the two can live in harmony.
- TT#3170September 2 · 1 hr 23 min
Policing Packed Lunches: Points of View
In the week where the saga of “Oreogate” hit our social media feeds, former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith has entered the debate, calling for more “draconian” rules regarding packed lunches to ensure children are eating healthily. From September, stricter rules are coming into force regarding healthier food standards in schools, and Benedict’s Law mandates that all school staff are trained in allergies and anaphylaxis. But Dame Leith suggests that the only way to entirely ensure healthy food options is to ban packed lunches. But is this a reasonable proposition? What are the cost implications of such a measure? And is this an inclusive approach? To what extent has policing packed lunches gone too far? And… as new terms start across the UK, how important is the language that we use inside our classrooms in terms of setting expectations? An article in the TES specifies five phrases to ban from the classroom… are there any we can add?
- TT#3169September 1 · 55 min
What skills make an effective school leader? Exploring empathetic leadership: The Twilight Show with Tony Harwood
Primary school teacher and senior leader Oliver Hembrough joins the Twilight Show to give his thoughts on what effective school leadership looks like. Where is the line between supporting and holding to account? Is training for school leaders sufficient? Are leadership vacancies attracting the best candidates? All this and more!
- TT#3168August 31 · 1 hr 1 min
Sabbatical Story - Lessons Learned From the Sidelines: The Sunday Lunch Show with Michael Wright
Join Michael Wright for his first show of the academic year, where he discusses his experiences from a recent sabbatical. He also shares lessons learned from his time away from the full-time grind, along with observations about his career thus far and the current state of education.
- TT#3164August 31 · 12 min
Meta Glasses and Consent: The PSHE Update Episode 1
In this first episode, PSHE lead and educator Clare Price discusses the use of Meta Glasses and considers how this can be used to cover consent, disability, misogyny, marketing and influencers in the PSHE classroom. She considers the 2026 RSHE Statutory Guidance and tips on how this could be taught to young people. Articles referenced are: Culture Debrief: Even Kylie Jenner Can't Get Me Onboard With 'Pervert' Glasses Restaurants, pubs and theatres ban Meta’s ‘spy glasses’ over privacy fears | Meta | The Guardian Smart glasses controversy sidelines the benefits for disabled people | Meta | The Guardian Smart glasses: 'I was secretly filmed and trolled online' - BBC News
- TT#3167August 29 · 1 hr 32 min
Back to Work We Go: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
On this week's show, Darren explores the lliterature behind holiday rest and considers what we can do to protect our wellbeing in the first few weeks back to school. This is a companion show to "It's Like We Were Never Away" from January.
- TT#3166August 27 · 1 hr 24 min
Is climate change going to alter the school year? : Points of View
2026 has seen a summer of consecutively record-breaking temperatures in the UK, leading experts, school leaders and parents to reflect on the possible changes necessary for schools and the school calendar, as reported by the BBC. In June, more than a thousand schools had to close schools or send students home earlier due to the lack of ventilation and air-conditioning in classrooms, leading to stifling and unsafe conditions, and impeding learning. It is clear that this is not a one off: since the 1960s, the hotter weather has been moving earlier in the year with 30C temperatures now being recorded in mid-June rather than mid-July. With a peak of 38C recorded in Norfolk at the end of June, and temperatures exceeding 35C in four consecutive months, is a precedent being set for summers to come? Do we need to start long-term planning now rather than knee-jerk reactions when it arrives? As climate change brings hotter, earlier and longer summers, do we need to revisit the school calendar? Or should funding be provided to ensure our schools are built to deal with extremes? Should exam season sit right in the centre of a period where climate conditions can unfairly affect outcomes? On the panel: Tom Rogers, Kit Marie Rackley, Alun Ebenezer and Maud Waret.
- TT#3165August 25 · 1 hr 25 min
GCSE Results - Proof of Higher Standards or a System Failing Too Many?: Points of View
Sir Nick Gibb says this year’s GCSE results prove that the education reforms introduced under Michael Gove are working. He points to stronger mathematical performance and the exceptional results achieved by knowledge-rich free schools. But with around one in three young people failing to achieve a grade 4 in both English and maths, post-16 resit success remaining extremely low and stark regional and socioeconomic divides persisting, critics see evidence of a system failing too many children. Have more rigorous GCSEs genuinely raised educational standards or created an unforgiving system that repeatedly labels a substantial minority of young people as failures? The Points of View panel debate whether the Gove-era exam reforms have succeeded, failed or done both at once. On the panel: JP, Maud Waret and Chris Vowles.
- TT#3163August 24 · 1 hr 12 min
Differentiation Made Doable: Practical Strategies for Every Classroom | The Lunch Show with Famida Choudhary
Differentiation doesn’t have to mean creating a different lesson for every learner. In this conversation, Famida Choudhary is joined by educator and district leader Lauren Kaufman to unpack practical ways teachers can make differentiation manageable and meaningful. Exploring content, process, and product, they discuss scaffolding, student choice, flexible grouping, formative assessment, productive struggle, and different ways for learners to demonstrate understanding. The conversation also considers how teachers can maintain high expectations while providing different pathways to success. A practical discussion for educators looking to move beyond differentiation as additional workload and embrace it as responsive teaching.
- TT#3162August 24 · 1 hr 30 min
Channel 4's ‘The Great ADHD Myth?’ – The Experts Respond: TTR Special with Tom Rogers
Following the broadcast of Channel 4’s controversial documentary The Great ADHD Myth?, Tom Rogers is joined by Naomi Fisher, Joanna Moncrieff, Lucy Johnstone and Philip Asherson to examine some of the programme’s biggest claims. Is ADHD best understood as a neurodevelopmental disorder? What does the evidence really tell us about differences in the brain? Are diagnoses rising because ADHD has historically been missed, or are ordinary behaviours increasingly being medicalised? And what should we make of the debate around medication, dopamine and the way ADHD is explained to children and adults? With guests bringing markedly different perspectives to the discussion, TTR again goes beyond the headlines to ask what the documentary got right, what it got wrong, and where the evidence on ADHD really stands.
- TT#3161August 24 · 1 hr 55 min
GCSE Results Day Teachers Reactions: Points of View
Across the UK, after an anxious wait, thousands of students have flocked back to school to receive their GCSE results. Results days are full of emotions: elation, pride, disappointment, relief, confusion... for all involved in the process. As ever, the news has been full of statistics: the data which tells us that the pass rate has marginally fallen this year, the graphs which show resit numbers have risen but pass rates are lagging behind, the percentage which shows a narrowing between boys' and girls' results, regional divisions. Schools will now examine the data, patterns will be identified and conversations will follow. But how much of the story does the data tell? What about the bell-curve which changes the landscape of the grade boundaries each year? Is it fair to compare: students, subjects, teachers, schools, cohorts? And what about the human stories linked to those grades? Join the panel JP, Rae Whitehouse, Ollie Bayliss and Liz Webb live at 8pm to share your thoughts and stories.
- TT#3160August 23 · 1 hr 7 min
How to get the new school year off to a good start: Points of View
A new academic year offers the chance for a fresh start - whether you're joining a completely new school or returning to one you already know. Tonight on Points of View, we discuss how teachers can get the year off to the best possible start. From building relationships with new classes and colleagues to setting boundaries, establishing routines and navigating the pressures of the first few weeks, what actually makes a difference? What should you prioritise in September? What mistakes are worth avoiding? And for experienced teachers, is there such a thing as starting again with a clean slate? Join us for practical tips, different perspectives and plenty of discussion about making the new school year a positive one. On the panel: Maud Waret, Ollie Bayliss, Tom Rogers and guest panelist Freya Odell.
- TT#3159August 22 · 1 hr 33 min
Do Teachers Make Good Learners?: The Saturday Breakfast Show with Darren Lester
As teachers, we should have all the tips and tricks to be ideal learners. But is that the case? In this show, Darren explores the research into teachers-as-learners and thinks about how we can best approach CPD to really make the most of it.
- TT#3158August 17 · 1 hr 10 min
Dreading going back to school? What does that really mean?: Points of View
The summer holidays are coming to an end and for some teachers, the thought of going back to school brings more than just the usual end-of-holiday blues. So why do teachers dread going back? Is it simply a natural reaction after weeks away from work, or can that feeling tell us something important about workload, behaviour, school culture, leadership or even whether teaching is still the right career? In this Points of View, we discuss the reasons behind back-to-school dread, whether experienced teachers feel it too, what can be done to make the return easier, and when that feeling might be a sign that something needs to change. Are you looking forward to September or counting down the days with dread? On the panel: Liz Webb, Rae Whitehouse, Lucy Trimnell