Teachers Talk Radio

Teachers are getting a 3.5% pay rise. Academy trust CEOs could soon face government approval before taking jobs paying more than £174,000. The changes have sparked a fierce row across the education sector.

Some say executive pay has become excessive while classroom staff struggle with workload and recruitment. Others argue that large academy trusts require exceptional leaders whose salaries should reflect the scale and complexity of their role.

We will also look at the teacher pay rise in general and the claim that schools themselves will need to fund half of it. Is the government protecting taxpayers or interfering in independent organisations?

For decades, we’ve asked whether young people are ready for the world of work. But perhaps we’ve been asking the wrong question. Is our education system still relevant to the lives young people are living today, and to the futures they’re likely to face over the next thirty years? With the Curriculum and Assessment Review prompting a national conversation about the purpose of education, this show explores how we prepare young people for an increasingly complex world. From employer engagement to technical education and apprenticeships, what can schools do to broaden opportunity while maintaining high expectations and aspirations? Paula Delaney is joined by Kate Ambrosi (CEO) and Olivia Saunders (Project Manager - MBacc) from Baker Dearing Educational Trust to discuss curriculum reform, parity of esteem between academic and technical education, and what meaningful pathways to success could look like for young people. Together, we will explore what these national developments mean for teachers, school leaders and, most importantly, the pupils sitting in front of us on a Monday morning. If we were designing England’s education system from scratch today, what would we keep, what would we change, and what opportunities would we want every young person to experience before they leave school?

Beejesh and a special guest discuss whether it is a wise idea to jump ship from your current school, explore teachers' expectations about what schools should be like, and consider the idea of "unicorn schools" and how attainable it is to get a job at one.

A BBC investigation has revealed that one pupil spent more than half an academic year in an isolation booth, with other students reporting being removed from lessons for issues such as uniform infringements, talking in class and lateness. Supporters argue that strict behaviour systems protect the education of the majority and create calm classrooms. Critics say prolonged isolation can damage children's wellbeing and may go far beyond what was originally intended. Join Tom Rogers, Yasmin Omar and JP as they discuss.

Yannick and Tony talk about the more contentious issues that crop up in the summer term. Is gained time fairly used? Are Proms a rite of passage or a right waste of money? How should schools deal with heatwaves and unauthorised holidays? Is it right for schools to close when parents are fined for taking their children out of school? Join us for a frank discussion on these often controversial issues!