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.

Authenticity is a series of choices.

One of the main causes of emotional rest deficit is wearing a "mask", acting how we think we need to in order to fit in/be successful/be liked.

This is a major issue for teachers and school leaders.

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:

• The Power of Relationships and Values (and a BIG idea)! The Friday Twilight Show with Claire Cannon
• Classroom Crazes Part 2: The late late show with Dani Walley
• Accessibility in Maths with OCR Maths: The Late Show with Tom Rogers and Kathryn Clark
• The Holiday Dilemma: To Work or Not to Work? The Late Late Show with Rae and Lianne

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.