In this episode of Detention Diaries, I’m joined by Will Evans — my former PGCE mentor and now Music PGCE Lead at Manchester Metropolitan University. Will’s spent years helping new teachers survive (and sometimes even enjoy) their first year in the classroom, and in this episode, we lift the lid on what teacher training really looks like in 2025.

We chat about the changing face of education, why creative subjects like music are more vital than ever, and how to prepare new teachers for a profession that’s equal parts art, science, and chaos. Will shares his insights into training, resilience, burnout, and why so many of the best educators are also brilliant storytellers.

It’s funny, thoughtful, and just the right amount of nostalgic — two old colleagues swapping stories about lessons gone wrong, what’s changed since our training days, and what still needs to.

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Because teaching isn’t just a career — it’s a calling… with a lot of paperwork.

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Because education doesn’t end at the classroom door — and neither does the conversation.