Teachers Talk Radio

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.

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?