Teachers Talk Radio

In this episode, Konstantinos is joined by Dr Berfin Emre Cetin, Reader in Media and Conflict, from London College of Communication to explore the challenges of teaching in times of global uncertainty. Together, they discuss how can sensitive topics, political and cultural differences enrich classroom debates alongside managing disagreements, and how educators can encourage critical thinking, empathy and mutual understanding.

Are apps like TT Rockstars helping children master their times tables, or creating pressure to compete and spend more time on screens? Following concerns raised by an MP, Points of View debates gamification in education. Do virtual rewards and leaderboards motivate pupils, or distract from learning and cause conflict at home?

With TT Rockstars announcing default time limits and curfews, we ask whether these safeguards strike the right balance and whether criticism of educational technology overlooks its benefits.

On the panel: JP, Liz Webb and Maud Waret

Lucy Powell says the consequences of Ofsted inspections need to change. The education secretary argues that school context has become a penalty, with schools taking on more pupils with SEND being disadvantaged by the current system. She wants a more peer-led approach to school improvement, with Ofsted still providing an external judgement. But what would that mean for teachers and school leaders?

Our Points of View panel debates whether her proposals could deliver fairer accountability, her criticism of the “secure fit” approach to grading, and which inspection consequences should change. We also discuss her vision for alternative provision to focus more on outreach and short-term support, with SEND reform proposals due early in 2027.

Can mainstream schools provide the support this would require?

Join Michael Wright for the Sunday Lunch Show, where he and guest James Searjeant dive into the debate sparked by Dame Elaine Paige's recent comments in The Telegraph.

Amid concerns about a lack of discipline in schools, their conversation turns to the role of music—specifically, whether greater involvement in Western classical music is the solution. Is classical music the key to classroom discipline, or does this view overlook the value of other musical genres, or other subjects in education that equally demand commitment?

What do our students truly need for discipline, and how can educators best teach it? Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion, insightful opinions, and your chance to weigh in on this debate.

In this show, we look at the role that values and ethics play in the creation of teacher persona and the conflicts that can occur therein.