Shows
The School Should Be PodcastHow can schools and teachers support Working Class students to pursue Higher Education?Professor Damien Page, Deputy Vice Chancellor, and soon to be Vice Chancellor, at Buckinghamshire New University, joins the School Should Be Podcast to share how schools, teachers and educators across communities can work together to support working class students pursue and sustain a career in Higher Education (HE). About a year ago, Damien shared his thoughts on LinkedIn about navigating the world of HE and executive leadership as someone who grew up in a working class household. The post attracted a wide audience and led to the launch of the Working Class Leaders in HE network, which hosts monthly...2024-10-2149 min
The School Should Be PodcastLanguage Matters: how can we teachers and students consciously use inclusive language in the classroom?In this episode, I am joined by the Sadia Siddiqui to talk about how schools and teachers can use inclusive language in the classroom and sustainably nurture a classroom and school culture that is safe for all students. One of my favourite episodes to date, we talk about inclusivity across the curriculum, difficult conversations in the classroom, using compassion and knowledge to build a culture of belonging and so much more!
My guest, Sadia Siddiqui has worked in advertising for 20+ years and held senior leadership positions in several London agencies. Four years ago, Sadia launched an Instagram...2024-08-1156 min
The School Should Be PodcastWhy should students consider a career in the police force?In this episode, I speak to the brilliant, Anita Grant, Assistant Chief Officer for Trust and Legitimacy at Sussex Police all about why students should consider a career in the police force. We talk about Anita's own journey into the police force (from a background in education and Sure Start settings), her relationship and thoughts about the police growing up and why policing is an attractive, purposeful and impactful career of choice for young people today. The opportunities are immense and we need to be the change we want to see in society.
...plus, who wouldn't want...2024-07-0740 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can teachers and educators ‘close the awarding gap’ for underresourced students?Sufian Sadiq, Director of Talent and Teaching School at Chiltern Learning Trust joins the School Should Be podcast to talk about the importance of teaching and living in the community and how to ensure community engagement and targeted interventions are effective and successful for marginalised and underresourced students.
This is such an engaging podcast and so valuable for anyone looking to engage unheard voices and groups of students who have become victims of 'stereotype threat' at your school. It is well worth a listen for teachers and community leaders looking to overcome barriers and stigmas that face...2024-06-101h 03
The School Should Be PodcastHow are you feeling? Being Muslim and Jewish amidst a rise of islamophobia and antisemitismThis was a difficult episode to title. Effectively it is two friends, two educators, one Muslim and one Jewish, coming together in a safe space to talk about how we are feeling amidst the rise of Islamophobia, antisemitism, the war on Gaza, the awful pictures and videos we are seeing day in and day out on social media and the utter feeling of helplessness watching an entire people suffer beyond belief.
I met Penny through Social Media and have so much respect and love for Penny's work in the anti-racism space. I have so much to learn...2024-05-1354 min
The School Should Be PodcastBEACONSFIELD HIGH TAKEOVER: THE STUDENT WELLBEING EDIT PART 3!In this episode of the BHS takeover, Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena talk all things GCSEs, from choosing your options, to what different GCSEs entail, along with workload, revision and managing expectations in years 10 and 11. A must listen for students choosing their options or students who have just started their GCSE courses.
*if you are a student and you are concerned about your wellbeing and mental health, please get in touch with your teachers at school or a trusted adult. For wellbeing and mental health advice, please visit: mind.org.uk
2024-05-0927 min
The School Should Be PodcastBEACONSFIELD HIGH TAKEOVER: THE STUDENT WELLBEING TAKE OVER PART 2!Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena are back to answer your questions with their tips and thoughts on navigating friendships and peer pressure at secondary school.
Listen in as they share their reassuring thoughts and wisdom on something we all think about on day one of year 7: friendship.
*if you are a student and you are concerned about your wellbeing and mental health, please get in touch with your teachers at school or speak to a trusted adult. For mental health support online, please visit: mind.org.uk2024-05-0724 min
The School Should Be PodcastBEACONSFIELD HIGH TAKE OVER: THE STUDENT WELLBEING EDIT!Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena, Sixth Form Students at Beaconsfield High School have taken over the School Should Be episode to help students navigate revision and wellbeing!
Sharing their thoughts, advice and wisdom after successfully completing their GCSEs and now on their A level journey, they reached out to students in years 7-10 to ask what questions and concerns do they have about their wellbeing at secondary school. Over the next few episodes, join them as they answer a range of questions and share their thoughts to get students through a very critical period of time: exams.
2024-03-1823 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can teachers have conversations about Israel and Palestine at school?The last few months have been challenging beyond belief and navigating conversations about Gaza, Israel and Palestine have been particularly challenging for schools. What we are seeing on social media and the news is nothing ever of us thought we would bear witness too, and the global and political climate is causing an overwhelming sense of anxiety, grief and uncertainty. As ever, young people need a forum to have these conversations and we have seen schools navigate the situation in Israel-Palestine very differently with very diverse responses. Some have chosen not to say or do anything at all, and...2024-01-301h 28
The School Should Be PodcastHow can teachers create safe environments amongst 'unsafe' media narratives?David Church, former senior leader, LGBT+ Education Consultant and Director of QueerEd, joins me, 20 years on from the repeal of Section 28, to talk about how teachers can create safe environments for LGBT+ students and all students to have difficult conversations amidst a growing concerns about media narratives, social media and the overwhelming impact these can have on schools.
David tells me how schools can talk to parents, carers, studentsn and why it is important we create environments in schools which are safe for every student to thrive and be themselves. 2023-11-1940 min
Pride and ProgressP&P BITES, E5: Sharing Pronouns - Zahara Chowdhury‘Pride & Progress Bites' is a P&P mini-series.
We've been releasing the Pride & Progress podcast for 3 years now, and the podcast is built on the belief that sharing a story can start a change. Stories are incredibly powerful - even a short story has the power to start a meaningful change. In each ‘Pride & Progress Bite', we hear from an LGBT+ educator or ally, each sharing a short story of pride & progress from their own school or community.
This Pride & Progress Bite comes from the brilliant Zahara Chowdhury (she/her...2023-10-1704 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can teachers, parents and carers support young people with their mental health?Natasha Devon MBE, is an author, presenter and campaigner and campaigner for mental health, student wellbeing, gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Natasha has been working with schools and within education for over 15 years, providing workshops, presentations, support and advice about mental health and wellbeing for young people; in 2015 she was awarded an MBE for her services to young people and is working as part of a coalition and cross-party group in parliament to make mental health at work a political priority.
Natasha talks to me about how young people can navigate their mental health in schools, how parents and carers...2023-10-0838 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can schools diversify their curriculums to create inclusive learning cultures?Bennie Kara, former Deputy Headteacher in the UK, Co-founder of DiverseEd an award-nominated diversity, inclusion and equity training and development consultancy talks to me about moving beyond book lists and how schools can diversify their curriculums. Bennie speaks to me about diversity within the context of whole-school culture and as an integral process to supporting every student and member of staff.
Get in touch with Bennie via LinkedIn or X to support your organisation with EDI and she shares a range of resources for schools on her social media platforms too.
X: https://twitter.com...2023-10-0245 min
The School Should Be PodcastSouth Asian History Month: Stories to Tell - lessons from my Nanaba!This episode is a special one, one where I sit down with my grandad (Nanaba) and learn as much as I can about his story. He was born in Kisumu, Kenya in 1935, went to school in Nairobi and Mbale and he has never visited the country where his own parents were born: India. He took a trip to a newly formed Pakistan before marriage in 1960 and then he left behind his life in Africa to build a life in England in the 1970s. In and amongst so many things he tells me about, it makes me think the only...2023-07-1857 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can we have honest conversations with young men in schools?Edgar is a year 13 student at Dr Challoner's Grammar School. I met with Edgar, along with his fellow students, to talk about Andrew Tate, masculinity and the impact these conversations and current context of masculinity is having on young men. In this episode, Edgar joins me to discuss, candidly, the experiences of young men at school and his own very thoughtful reflections, experiences and research on the topic of masculinity for teenage boys in schools.
Edgar shares his perspectives on the conversations young men would benefit from, and based on his experiences, how we can create a...2023-07-1053 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can teachers and parents work together to end sexism in schools?End Sexism in Schools are a grassroots organisation made up of individuals from up and down the UK, and as far afield as New Zealand, united by a shared vision of ending sexism in UK schools. The campaign began with founder, Debbie Brazil's experiences with her son’s school brought home the real need for change — both in the curriculum and in school culture.
After garnering initial support from members of the Women’s Equality Party, after it was brought to the 2020 WEP Conference, the campaign began to find its feet independently, involving anyone who shares our vision for change. The de...2023-06-121h 05
The School Should Be PodcastHow can we navigate conversations about masculinity at school?Shuaib Khan is a teacher, author, podcaster and proud brother to his late brother Kasim Khan. Shuaib is a teacher of 6 years, specialising in RE and sociology, and has been a dedicated teacher and role model in his local community. Shuaib's tweets are lyrical, nuggets of wisdom and he has amassed a social media following of over 6000. In this episode, Shuaib talks to me candidly about how we can have conversations about masculinity with teenagers in and out of school, especially as the phrase 'toxic masculinity' is being used more and more in schools now.
2023-05-0159 min
The School Should Be PodcastCaptains and Poets: how can we help children build a sense of identity and belonging at school?Jan and Jennifer are co-founders of Captains and Poets: a groundbreaking Kindergarten – Grade 12 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program that students will take with them their entire lives. It is a research-based program that has been built by a passionate team of educators, parents, SEL and equity consultants to help young people reach their full potential.
Jan and Jen explain what Captains and Poets are and how every student, teacher and parent can discover their own captain and poet for a true and authentic understanding of their identity. The programme is built for all ages and captures the tru...2023-04-0341 min
The School Should Be PodcastWhy should young people work in construction? Diversifying career and academic choices for young womenDr Whitney Bevan is a lecturer in Construction Management at Robert Gordon University . Whitney's research and teaching focuses on sustainable energy, wellness and socio-economic development within the construction industry. As a leading expert in her field, Whitney wants to encourage more young people, especially young women, into the field of construction. It is so much more than hard hats and building sites. In many ways, it is the foundation (no pun intended!) of the world we live in.
This episode is for young people, teachers, parents and careers advisors looking to diversify careers education and learn more...2023-03-2445 min
The School Should Be PodcastHow can schools and parents support students with hidden disabilities?Aleha is a year 12 student, who has a hidden disability. Her disability is called panhypopituitarism, a disability that impacts the functionality of the pituitary gland. For her Extended Qualification Project, an additional research project A level students can do when in Sixth Form or college, Aleha is focusing on the relationship between Hidden Disabilities and mental health. As part of her project, Aleha has recorded a podcast for the School Should Be podcast to discuss what it feels like to grow up with a hidden disability and speaks very candidly about the everyday impact this can have on a...2023-03-1738 min
The School Should Be PodcastDyslexia and Me: navigating dyslexia and entrepreneurship at school from the age of 12!Onyinye Udokporo is an entrepreneur, Neurodiversity consultant and LinkedIn creator. A magnificently eclectic career so far, Onyinye works to enable and support the use of education as tool to ensure young people, private and public organisations can enable success and achievement for all. Her company, Enrich Learning makes education equitable and accessible for young people. She has written papers on the Urban Digital Divide, received by the Prime Minister and has also conducted research in parental engagement - effectively to bridge divides in education accessibility for all students. She has authored the excellent book, Dyslexia and Me, part-memoir, part...2023-03-0659 min
PrincipledEp5: Zahara Chowdhury: How Schools Should BeWelcome to the Principled podcast.In this episode, Matt Hall and Gill Kelly of Making Stuff Better talk to Founder of the School Should Be community, Zahara Chowdhury.They discuss various topics based around the theme of belonging, including: why leadership can be incredibly lonely, and the ways in which leaders can feel more connected; how to integrate new staff into a school in a more holistic way; and how not contributing for the first three months can actually lead to greater long-term insight into an organisation.--------------------------------------To get in...2023-03-0130 min
The Big PictureTalking to young men about Andrew Tate | Zahara ChowdhuryAndrew Tate’s sudden and meteoric rise as a men’s rights influencer has captivated the attention of young men all over the world and shocked many others, including teachers and parents, about why their children are drawn in by his mix of misogyny and self-help guruisms. Despite his arrest on sex trafficking charges by Romanian authorities, his loyal followers continue to stand by him, including a large group of Muslim men.Educator, teacher, podcaster and speaker Zahara Chowdhury has made a career from talking to young people and their parents about difficult topics - diversity, inclusion, toxi...2023-02-0156 min