TTS Talking: The Teachers' Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, Lee Parkinson, also known as Mr. P, is joined by Professor Julia Waters – Professor of French at the University of Reading, with over 30 years of teaching experience in Higher Education.

Julia spoke to TTS, however, as the sister of Ruth Perry, the headteacher who took her own life in January 2023 as a result of a ‘rude and intimidating’ Ofsted inspection that the coroner described as ‘lacking fairness, respect and sensitivity’.

Together, they discuss teacher mental health with regards to school inspections, as well as shine a light on Ruth Perry’s legacy. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of TTS.

Please be warned that this episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health. If you need to seek support, please visit the NHS website to find help.

Lee Parkinson, also known as Mr. P, is joined by another exciting and insightful guest, Dr Martin Brunet. Martin is a GP and Medical Educator, who has combined his passion for teaching with an interest in mental health. Throughout this episode, Lee and Martin continue the discussion around the theme of mental health in teaching.

They start by looking at burnout, the concept of moral distress and the steps teachers can take to set effective boundaries in their day-to-day lives.  

They then dive into how the teaching calendar means that unlike many professions, teachers are all running a joint long-distance sprint as opposed to a relay race with their colleagues. They also explore other common teaching mental health concerns including anxiety and imposter syndrome, and how to manage these difficult feelings.  

Hosting a new segment on classroom management, Steven Bollar joins the TTS Talking Teachers’ podcast alongside educational consultant, Iantha Ussin. 

In this episode, Steven and Iantha discuss the importance of rituals and routines in the classroom, including using the EDGE technique, setting and practicing expected behaviours, and more. 

With the mantra “we have all year to teach, we don’t have all year to set order”, Iantha walks through her guidance for those crucial first days of a new school year. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

 Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In episode 12, Mark Steed and Chris Birch, the Head of Key Stage 2 at Citizens School in Dubai, conclude the STEAM topic with a deep dive into the F1 in schools challenge. 

Leaning on his experiences as a F1 in schools co-ordinator, Chris shares what the challenge involves and why he’s so passionate about the initiative. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this episode, Mark Steed and Chris Birch, the Head of Key Stage 2 at Citizens School in Dubai, reconvene to look back at STEM at the foundation stage. 

Chris discusses the importance of STEAM from an early age, encouraging children to be curious, creative and fostering hands-on opportunities. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In episode 10 of the TTS Talking Teachers’ podcast, Mark Steed is joined again by Chris Birch, Head of Key Stage 2 at Citizens School in Dubai, to discuss AI (Artificial Intelligence) in education. 

Dispelling the myth that it is cheating to use artificial intelligence; Chris shares the impact that it’s making in his classroom, from lesson plan ideas to student agency. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this TTS Talking podcast episode, Mark Steed is joined by Chris Birch, the Head of Key Stage 2 at Citizens School in Dubai. Chris brings 11 years of experience in teaching at various international schools in the UAE. 

Sharing his passion for multi-disciplinary learning, Chris discusses why he believes schools still need STEAM and why art is so important for instilling creativity and inclusion. 

Embedding a STEAM programme 

Chris shares his considerations when embedding a STEAM programme into a school: 

• What you want to achieve 
• What skills you want to develop 
• Get input from students from the start 
• Reflect and review 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.)  

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In episode 8 of the TTS Talking Teachers' podcast, Mark Steed and Noha Gaafar from the British International School in Cairo reconvene to explore how schools can provide support for children facing mental health challenges. 

Prioritizing mental health 

Mental health has emerged as a crucial topic in education, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. Mark and Noha delve into the strategies implemented at their schools, such as annual staff training, mental health first aiders, and peer-to-peer support. Noha also offers valuable insights on identifying students who may be struggling and shares effective approaches employed by staff and parents to aid them. 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In this TTS Talking podcast episode, Mark Steed is joined by Noha Gaafar, Assistant Director of Sixth Form at the British International School in Cairo. 

Drawing on her experience in both pastoral care and academic progress, Noha shares her insights into the profound and inherent connection between wellbeing and academic performance. 

Supporting learners at all levels 

Mark and Noha delve into the various support systems implemented in their schools to alleviate academic pressures. These include: 

• Intervention programmes 
• Staggering and effectively communicating deadlines 
• Mindfulness lessons 
• Wellbeing toolkits 
• And more! 

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited. 

In episode 6 of the TTS Talking Teachers’ podcast, Mark Steed and Bobby Wilson, Head of House at Harrow International School, return to discuss the importance of teacher wellbeing. 

Bobby and Mark take a closer look at the challenges to wellbeing teachers face when working abroad before covering practical advice for looking after your mental health and being an advocate for your wellbeing.  

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(The views expressed throughout this podcast are the speakers' own, and TTS does not take responsibility for the views and guidance highlighted as part of this recording.) 

Please note: When referencing the speakers views, theory and work for development of your own materials, please ensure academic reference of the speaker is cited.