Amanda and her guest, Tammie Rea, talk about Tammie's experiences in various educational settings from girls' grammar schools to a young offenders' unit and how these have shaped her as a teacher.

Famida Choudhary chats with accomplished educator and literacy expert Vridhi Sharma about nurturing reading competencies in students. They discuss the foundational skills needed for early years and how these evolve into advanced comprehension in middle school. Vridhi shares practical strategies for educators, including guided reading, vocabulary-building techniques, and differentiated instruction, while addressing challenges like digital distractions and lack of student interest. Together, they explore how embedding 21st-century skills into literacy can transform classrooms and inspire lifelong readers.

On The Weekly Review, panellists, Lucy Neuburger, Brent Poland and Christopher Vowles discuss hot topics in the week's news with host, Paul Hazzard.

Show production by Lianne Lax.

This week's stories:

Shows Reviewed:

Darren talks about using formative assessment data to encourage our young people's responsibility for their own learning. (Content warning: Brief mention of parent death. Please skip the first 15 minutes if this is triggering for you).

Have you ever heard people say their job does not feel like work because they enjoy it so much? This is often based on their personal values being aligned with those of their role and employer. Sophie W joins me as we discuss how values help us to connect and what better way to support our pupils, particularly those with SEMH needs than to give them a sense of belonging and connection.

Listen all the way through for a BIG idea from Sophie - she has some radical plans for what to do when you are struggling to find a school where your values match theirs!

Morgan and Tod dive deep into the essential components of curriculum design—exploring powerful knowledge, core values, progression, and the importance of diversity and representation. They unpack the why, how, and who behind crafting a curriculum with clear intent, and how intentional design shapes the learning journey. From understanding the goals of education to ensuring inclusivity, this conversation offers valuable insights for educators and curriculum designers looking to make a meaningful impact on their students. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on the power of purposeful curriculum!

Brent Poland (@BrentPoland1) and Adam Spence (@aspence81) engage in a debate about whether academies have reached their conclusion and what the future holds.

Joining in on the debate is Dr Pam Jarvis @Dr_Pam_Jarvis

A show not to be missed.

Join co-hosts, Tom Rogers @Rogershistory and Kathryn Clark @arithmaticks as they explores all things accessibility in maths with Caroline Hodgson and Neil Ogden from @OCR_Maths

Part 2 of Classroom Craze: Trends That Transformed or Tumbled? This week Dani dives into two of the most hotly debated educational trends of the past decade: Learning Styles and Growth Mindset. Are we truly wired to learn better as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners, or is this a myth that’s held classrooms back? And does fostering a growth mindset really unlock student potential, or has it been oversimplified into a buzzword? With insights from research and real classroom experiences, this episode explores the strengths, weaknesses, and impact of these ideas on education today.

In a fascinating show, Lucy Neuburger @LuEliz1989 and Hannah Wilson @ArtTeacherHWN remind teachers of the skills, capabilities and competencies that come as part of the job and make us highly employable.