Join Michael Wright for his Sunday Lunch Show with guest Ed Watkins as they discuss the continued decline of A-Level music in education and why it's happening. Ed will also share his insights into his research on how music students have been graded compared with other subjects.

Is primary school the ideal time to begin learning another language? Darren Lester and Tom Rogers are joined by Language Angels founders Francesca and Paolo to explore why children aged 5–11 may have a unique advantage when learning languages. They discuss brain development, pronunciation, confidence and the wider benefits for memory, problem-solving and cultural awareness. Drawing on Francesca’s 27 years in the classroom, the conversation also examines how primary teachers can deliver engaging language lessons, even when they are not language specialists themselves, and how schools can build a curriculum that develops pupils’ knowledge progressively. Plus, Francesca and Paolo share the story behind Language Angels, its journey from a classroom idea to a nationwide teaching platform, and what the future holds for language learning in primary schools. Check out Language Angels here: https://languageangels.com/eng

In this third episode of the PSHE Update, PSHE Educator Clare Price considers the importance of teaching about breast cancer in men, supporting staff when planning lessons about the danger of boys obsessing about muscles and how we can update our lessons on online safety to include AI. 

Articles referenced: 

Campaigner praises Coronation Street male breast cancer storyline - BBC News

https://breastcancernow.org/ 

Boys and men are obsessing over muscle. Doctors are worried - BBC Reel

Experience AI

Too many children are missing out on the experiences beyond the classroom that build confidence, independence and a sense of belonging. Can the new Every Child Can programme help close that participation gap and bring an end to the enrichment “postcode lottery”? Tom Rogers is joined by Nigel Miller from Active Learning Group to explore the value of residential trips, outdoor learning and screen-free adventure. They discuss the barriers preventing schools from offering these opportunities, how the government’s new enrichment benchmarks could influence provision, and whether greater Ofsted scrutiny will drive meaningful change or simply encourage a tick-box approach. With young people increasingly digitally connected but socially isolated, the conversation asks what outdoor experiences can offer that classroom-based enrichment cannot and what needs to change so that every child, regardless of background, can take part.

Christopher talks with Montessori parent, Steve Lawrence, and Montessori teacher, Rhianna Hayllor, about the philosophy and practice of Montessori education in the UK and beyond.

We talk getting to the end of September and how you can help yourself feel better, if you need to.

Dave talks with Music Curriculum Head Stuart McSweeney about the serious issues facing A Level Music in the state education sector; what is causing its decline and what can be done to change the current trajectory. 

Teachers would agree that it is important to develop their practise. But is this sometimes going too far? Are you a teacher working very hard for significant extra hours beyond your contract, pushing yourself to be better, only to be told in observations and appraisals that it's not good enough? In this show, Yannick and Tony reflect on the line between accountability and the need to improve and the feeling that no matter what you do, it won't be seen as sufficient . Teachers have high expectations placed upon them by wider society, by leaders and trusts, and by external agencies like Ofsted and the DFE. Its right that we are accountable. But have the expectations started to get out of control?

In this show, Darren continues to look at how teacher wellbeing can lead to better job performance as he explores the literature which links job satisfaction to teaching outcomes.

AI is becoming increasingly embedded in education, but the pace of change can make it difficult to separate genuine opportunity from hype, risk and pressure to keep up. In this show, Paula is joined by Nicole O’Connor and Louise Kerr to explore what AI and digital literacy could look like in practice. We’ll consider how AI is already being used by pupils, teachers and schools, what young people might need to understand about it, how schools can approach technological change thoughtfully, and whether AI is really delivering on its promises around workload and efficiency. We’ll also consider the importance of critical thinking, professional judgement, data privacy and long-term implementation and ask what we might actually want the future of AI and technology in education to look like.