Teachers Talk Radio

Darren talks about distributed leadership and asks the question: Do too many cooks spoil the broth?

Carl Smith chats to expert, Helen Atkins, on whether autism is a spectrum, how our understanding of autism has changed over the years and how schools can support young people with autism.

A must listen for anyone interested in the current debates about autism.

Lee is joined by Jonathan Keay, the Deputy CEO of the Creative Learning Partnership Trust. They will be 'looking in the rear view mirror' of their careers, reflecting on lessons learned in leadership. They will also consider how their experiences have shaped their current thinking. Check out their extra special guest for the last part of the show!

New research shows that 1 in 4 children start school without being toilet trained, meaning teachers spend an average of 2.5 hours a day dealing with the impact. The panel discuss this, followed by a look at Schools minister Georgia Goulds letter to Ofqual to say that "for the lifetime of the current GCSE specifications in these subjects, students should not be required to memorise formulae and equations for assessment purposes." On the panel: JP, Rae Whitehouse and Rachel Gilyeat.

Tom Rogers is joined by Alice Faulkner and Zoe Higgins to discuss why Parental engagement is a vital – and sometimes challenging – part of delivering effective RSE and PSHE in primary schools. In this live discussion brought to you with Kapow Primary, we explore how schools can build trust, communicate clearly with families, and ensure parents feel informed and involved in what their children are learning. We’ll discuss why parental engagement matters so much in RSE and PSHE, what meaningful communication with parents should look like, and how schools can respond to common misconceptions about the curriculum. The conversation will also look at the practical realities of the new statutory guidance, including how schools can share curriculum resources, consult parents effectively, and maintain transparency without overwhelming families. The discussion will also cover key topics such as puberty education, the distinction between relationships education and sex education, and parents’ withdrawal rights, as well as the growing importance of engaging parents around the online world and digital safety. Whether you’re a subject leader, classroom teacher, or school leader, this session will offer practical ideas for building a clear and confident RSHE communication strategy with parents. Join the live conversation and share your views in the chat.