SecEd Podcast
Education & Explainer
About
The SecEd Podcast is dedicated to supporting best practice in the secondary school – with practical advice, examples, discussion and tips for teachers, support staff and school leaders across the range of topics relevant to day-to-day secondary school life. A new episode every half-term
Episodes
- The SecEd Podcast: Teaching high-attaining students
This SecEd Podcast episode provides teachers with practical strategies for supporting high-attaining students in secondary schools. The discussion covers the language used for this group, classroom techniques, common errors, fostering scho…
- The SecEd Podcast: Communication needs in the year 7 classroom
This SecEd Podcast episode focuses on supporting Year 7 students with communication needs, covering oracy, vocabulary, and literacy. An experienced panel, including a speech and language therapist, offers practical tips, adaptive teaching…
- The SecEd Podcast: Supply teachers
This SecEd Podcast episode offers advice for schools on enabling supply teachers to excel, covering preparation, support, behaviour management, and resource sharing. It also provides tips for supply teachers on placement preparation, first…
- The SecEd Podcast: The perfect classroom environment
This episode of the SecEd Podcast explores how teachers can establish an ideal classroom environment. It covers the physical space, social dynamics, emotional well-being, and the structure of learning, offering practical advice for educato…
- The SecEd Podcast: Teaching Shakespeare Effectively: Practical tips and classroom ideas
This SecEd Podcast episode, produced with the Royal Shakespeare Company, offers practical teaching tips for engaging students with Shakespeare across the curriculum, covering vocabulary, oracy, and relevance.
- The SecEd Podcast: Preparing for the new Ofsted school inspection framework
This SecEd Podcast episode examines the revised Ofsted school inspection framework. It provides actions for school leaders, discusses key changes like new evaluation areas and grading, the "secure fit" model, and the focus on inclusion and…
- The SecEd Podcast: Do your students belong? Inclusion and participation in school life
This SecEd Podcast episode explores belonging and inclusion in secondary schools, with leaders defining belonging, discussing school culture, staff roles, behavior management, curriculum design, and family engagement strategies to foster p…
- The SecEd Podcast: The secrets to adaptive teaching
This episode of the SecEd Podcast explores the secrets to effective adaptive teaching in secondary classrooms. Experts define the approach, detailing when, how, and for whom to adapt teaching, while also discussing planning adaptations, re…
- The SecEd Podcast: Speech, language & communication needs in the secondary school
This SecEd Podcast episode features experts discussing the identification and support of students with speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN) in secondary schools. It covers issues like underdiagnosis, masking, and practical inte…
- The SecEd Podcast: Autism in the secondary school classroom
This episode of the SecEd Podcast discusses effective support for autistic students in secondary schools. It covers busting myths, creating autism-friendly environments, fostering social connections, adapting lessons, and the role of techn…
- The SecEd Podcast: A brilliant secondary school library
This episode of the SecEd Podcast discusses essential elements of secondary school library provision, focusing on literacy, curriculum support, and the value of qualified librarians. It includes advice from four experienced professionals o…
- The SecEd Podcast: Teacher training & induction: Navigating the ITT-ECF
The SecEd Podcast episode discusses the Department for Education's new Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITT-ECF) effective September 2025. It offers practical advice for trainee teachers and early career teachers (ECTs)…
- The SecEd Podcast: The Greatest Hits
The SecEd Podcast celebrates its 100th edition with a countdown of the top 10 most popular episodes. Hosted by Pete Henshaw and Matt Bromley, the episode includes clips and highlights covering topics such as oracy, leadership, teaching qua…
- The SecEd Podcast: Artificial intelligence in schools: Opportunities and risks
This episode of the SecEd Podcast examines the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in education. It features discussions with experts on whole-school strategy, policy, staff training, curriculum integration, and practical cl…
- The SecEd Podcast: Research-informed schools (and teaching)
This SecEd Podcast episode discusses the concept of research-informed schools, focusing on how research can improve teaching, learning, and student results. It includes advice from educators on choosing trustworthy research, integrating in…
- The SecEd Podcast: Protecting staff wellbeing in schools
This episode of the SecEd Podcast addresses protecting the wellbeing of teaching staff, drawing on findings from the Education Support UK's Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024. It features expert advice on creating healthy working cultures, preve…
- The SecEd Podcast: How to build school culture
This episode of the SecEd Podcast focuses on building positive and inspiring school culture. It features discussions with three school leaders on practical ideas, lessons learned, and strategies for creating, communicating, and sustaining…
- The SecEd Podcast: Ideas & examples for reducing workload in schools
This episode of the SecEd Podcast features school leaders discussing practical strategies to reduce workload and working hours for teachers and staff. They cover common challenges and share initiatives related to assessment, timetabling, m…
- The SecEd Podcast: Teaching exam classes
This episode features experienced teachers discussing the challenges of teaching examination classes in secondary schools, focusing on GCSE groups. The discussion covers strategies for preparing students for exams, including exam technique…
- The SecEd Podcast: Effective deployment of teaching assistants
This episode of the SecEd Podcast features three experienced educators discussing the effective deployment of teaching assistants (TAs) in secondary schools. They cover necessary skills and training for TAs, strategies for collaboration be…
- The SecEd Podcast: Classroom behaviour
This SecEd Podcast episode provides practical advice for secondary school teachers on managing classroom behaviour effectively. It covers the importance of school culture, in-the-moment strategies, the use of rewards and sanctions, consist…
- The SecEd Podcast: Preventing suspensions and exclusions
This episode explores school strategies to identify and support students at risk of suspension or exclusion, addressing factors like unmet needs and behavior. It features insights from headteachers on preventative actions, interventions, a…
- The SecEd Podcast: Delivering the Pupil Premium in secondary schools
This SecEd Podcast episode focuses on best practices for delivering the Pupil Premium in secondary schools. It covers strategies for supporting disadvantaged pupils, addressing the attainment gap, improving attendance and language skills,…
- The SecEd Podcast: Effective line management in schools
This episode of the SecEd Podcast offers practical guidance for secondary school leaders on effective line management. It covers key skills, challenges, appraisal practices, supporting professional development, managing difficult conversat…
- The SecEd Podcast: A school leadership survival guide
This episode of the SecEd Podcast offers a survival guide for school leaders, covering wellbeing, leadership strategies, and advice for new leaders. It includes insights from experienced leaders on managing challenges, maintaining work-lif…
- The SecEd Podcast: The first & last 10 minutes of your lessons
This episode features three teachers discussing practical methods for starting and ending secondary school lessons effectively. They cover behaviour management, smooth transitions into learning, student engagement, lesson recaps, and techn…
- The SecEd Podcast: Great teacher questioning
This episode of the SecEd Podcast features two experienced teachers discussing effective questioning strategies for the classroom. They cover planning questions, different questioning purposes, techniques like hot-seating and think-pair-sh…
- The SecEd Podcast: Teaching neurodiverse students
This episode discusses how teachers can support neurodiverse students, covering definitions, wellbeing, teaching approaches like adaptive teaching, and classroom environment adjustments. It includes practical tips, examples of best practic…
- The SecEd Podcast: Safeguarding in schools: Advice and tips for teachers
This SecEd Podcast episode features experts discussing safeguarding practice for teachers. It covers identifying at-risk students, responding to concerns and disclosures, understanding safeguarding duties and documentation, and promoting a…
- The SecEd Podcast: Subject reviews & deep dives
This episode of the SecEd Podcast examines subject reviews or "deep dives" in secondary schools, covering their purpose, effective implementation, and potential impact on staff workload. It also touches on the information that can be relia…
- The SecEd Podcast: Curiosity and motivation in the classroom
Experienced teachers discuss fostering student curiosity and motivation in secondary classrooms. They cover environmental factors, teaching strategies, creating a culture of curiosity, supporting students with personal challenges, and plan…
- The SecEd Podcast: Flexible working in the secondary school
This SecEd Podcast episode examines flexible working in secondary schools, focusing on strategies for teacher recruitment and retention. Experts discuss the impact, benefits for staff and students, and practical ways to implement flexible…
- The SecEd Podcast: How to be a calm school leader
Patrick Cozier shares insights on calm leadership in schools, discussing its practical application, the elements involved like empathy and trust, and strategies for managing leadership challenges.
- The SecEd Podcast: Building connection and strong relationships with your students
This episode explores strategies for building strong connections and relationships with students, particularly vulnerable learners. Experienced colleagues share principles for fostering trust, respect, and positive interactions in the clas…
- The SecEd Podcast: Safeguarding & disclosure: A survivor's story
An abuse survivor recounts disclosing abuse experienced at age 14, sharing valuable insights for school staff on safeguarding practices, recognizing signs of abuse, and responding effectively to disclosures or suspicions of harm.
- The SecEd Podcast: How to teach oracy skills
This episode of the SecEd Podcast explores teaching oracy and speaking skills in secondary schools. It covers the definition and importance of oracy, curriculum requirements, practical teaching strategies, whole-school approaches, and asse…
- The SecEd Podcast: Managing EHCPs & SEND in schools
This episode of the SecEd Podcast discusses best practices for managing Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) and supporting students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in mainstream secondary schools. It covers adv…
- The SecEd Podcast: Developing students' literacy skills
This SecEd Podcast episode examines developing student literacy, defined as speaking, reading, writing, and effective language use. Guests from four schools share approaches, interventions, and the importance of literacy, addressing topics…
- The SecEd Podcast: How to be an effective form tutor
This episode of The SecEd Podcast explores the role of the secondary school form tutor, discussing daily management, safeguarding, attendance, and pastoral support. Experienced leaders provide insights on expectations, legal duties, and bu…
- The SecEd Podcast: Career progression options for teachers
The SecEd Podcast discusses career progression options for secondary school teachers, including developing specialisms and experience. It covers planning, skill development, choosing specialisms, seeking advice and mentoring, and available…
- The SecEd Podcast: Aspiring to school leadership
This SecEd Podcast episode provides guidance for teachers interested in school leadership, covering career pathways, necessary skills, and how to gain experience. Experts discuss overcoming barriers and making leadership roles more attract…
- The SecEd Podcast: High-impact classroom routines
This SecEd Podcast episode examines embedding high-impact classroom routines to improve teaching and learning efficiency. Experts address why routines are crucial, how to establish them, and which specific habits matter most for an effecti…
- The SecEd Podcast: How to plan great lessons
This SecEd Podcast episode provides practical advice for secondary school teachers and leaders on effective lesson planning. It covers essential elements like key knowledge, skills, curriculum links, differentiation, and teacher autonomy,…
- The SecEd Podcast: School inspection & Ofsted
This episode of the SecEd Podcast discusses Ofsted school inspections, providing practical advice for secondary schools. It covers preparation, handling the inspection process, staff wellbeing, workload, recent trends, and challenging insp…
- The SecEd Podcast: Mental health in schools
This episode of the SecEd Podcast provides practical strategies for secondary schools to support student mental health. Experts discuss creating a positive school culture, whole-school approaches, the role of mental health leads, building…
- The SecEd Podcast: Effective school governance
This episode discusses effective secondary school governance, detailing the roles of leaders and governors. Experts cover strategic versus operational duties, supporting inexperienced governors, effective chair roles, link governor functio…
- The SecEd Podcast: Diversity in School Leadership
This episode of the SecEd Podcast explores diversity in school leadership, examining its practical implementation, cultural development, and advantages. It addresses how to foster an inclusive environment, improve recruitment, and ensure e…
- The SecEd Podcast: Teacher wellbeing: Avoiding burn-out
Peter Radford discusses his experience of burnout and breakdown from teaching workload and wellbeing pressures. This episode offers advice for teachers on spotting signs of poor wellbeing and managing workload, and for schools on creating…
- The SecEd Podcast: Protecting teacher wellbeing: Part 1
This episode addresses the issue of teacher burnout, discussing whole-school approaches to wellbeing including creating supportive environments and psychological safety. It also offers advice for teachers on managing workload, personal tim…
- The SecEd Podcast: Boosting school attendance
This episode of the SecEd Podcast discusses strategies for improving school attendance, addressing the barriers students face, and engaging families. It includes insights from Dame Rachel de Souza and the Education Endowment Foundation reg…