At the chalk-face
At the Chalk Face is a no-nonsense podcast from Craig’n’Dave, tackling real issues in education. Expect honest chat about pedagogy, classroom practice, and what actually works — from two ex-teachers still embedded in the world of schools. Not just for computer science teachers — this one’s for every educator.
Episodes
19 episodes
At the chalk face: Schools should be phone free?
At the chalk face: Schools should be phone-free?Well, it’s official – mobile phones in schools are under the microscope! In this episode, Craig and Dave dive deep into the latest government guidance, Ofsted expectations, and th...
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32:10
At the chalk face: Dodona Learning Technologies - A Coding Platform That Actually Works for Teachers
Are you fed up with coding platforms that appear… then disappear just as you’ve got your scheme of work sorted? This week At the Chalk Face, we’re joined by two brilliant guests who might just restore your faith in programming pla...
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41:38
At the chalk face: Too much pushback on exclusions
At the chalk face: Too much pushback on exclusionsDo schools get too much pushback on exclusions – or not enough support to deal with persistent disruptive behaviour?In this episode, we tackle one of the most complex and emotion...
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37:20
At the chalk face: Fail an Ofsted inspection for safeguarding | Should mobiles be banned in schools?
At the chalk face: Fail an Ofsted inspection for safeguarding | Should mobiles be banned in schools?In this episode of At the chalk face, Dave is joined once again by the brilliant Kat Morgan for a lively, honest and (at times) nerdy de...
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41:41
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 3 | CAR2025
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 3 | CAR2025 This week, together we’re going into part three of our deep dive into the recent Curriculum and Assessment Review.If you’ve missed parts one and two — w...
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33:30
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 2 | CAR2025
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 2 | CAR2025Welcome back to Craig & Dave at the Chalkface as we dive into part two of our CAR trilogy.The biggest shake-up in education for a decade is here! 🚨The...
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41:44
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 1 | CAR2025
At the chalk face: Curriculum and Assessment Review - PART 1 | CAR2025The biggest shake-up in education for a decade is here! 🚨The Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) has landed – and it’s a whopper! 180+ pages of pr...
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26:54
High expectations from the first minute
At the chalk face: High expectations from the first minute A great lesson doesn’t start when the bell rings — it starts long before! In this episode of At the Chalkface, Craig and Dave dive into what it really means to...
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34:02
High expectations and homework
🎯 High expectations. But what does that really mean?Craig and Dave are diving into one of education’s favourite buzzwords — and giving it a proper reality check! For them, it’s not about piling on pressure; it’s about purpose.In...
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21:26
When the Internet Fails: How Teachers Can Keep Lessons Running
Craig and Dave reminisce about the days of CD-ROMs, dot-matrix printers, and mischievous bus networks — and connect those stories to a timeless truth: technology will fail you sooner or later. So how do you keep a Computer Science lesson produc...
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28:50
Non-specialist teachers curse or cure?
At the chalk face: Non-specialist teachers curse or cure?Non-specialist teachers: The classroom reality no one talks aboutDid you know a third of Year 7 lessons are taught by teachers who aren’t specialists in that subject? 🤯...
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33:28
Why networking matters
At the chalk face: Why networking matters | Teachers need each other Are you too busy to network… or just making excuses?Craig and Dave get fired up in this episode as they unpack one of teaching’s biggest missed opportunit...
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30:24
Do school libraries still matter in 2025? | Rethinking learning spaces
Do school libraries still matter in 2025? | Rethinking learning spacesAre traditional school libraries becoming outdated in the age of AI, smartphones, and instant online knowledge? Or do they still play a vital role in inspiring studen...
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29:24
Is reading necessary
Is reading still essential once students can access the curriculum — or is it just another demand in an already packed timetable? In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave dig into the role of reading across subjects, from v...
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22:24
A GCSE results analysis 2025
🎓 GCSE results 2025 – what do they really mean? 🎓The headlines always show the smiling (and sometimes not-so-smiling) students clutching envelopes, but the story behind the statistics is far more complex.In this podcast, Craig'n...
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Episode 5
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27:27
Stop teaching this myth
At the chalk face news: Stop teaching this myth.A new year and another new initiative!Are all CPD sessions worth your time?In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Dave and Kat tackle one of education's most persistent myths: learn...
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Episode 4
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35:55
Virtual teachers: The solution to recruitment?
Join Dave and Lesson Hacker, experienced educator and edtech expert Kat Morgan, as they explore how remote subject specialists could help tackle the UK’s teaching recruitment crisis, the benefits for students, and the challenges schools face.
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Episode 3
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32:21
Why Matt Wrack thinks education's at breaking point
Newly appointed union leader Matt Wrack has caused a stir — not just for stepping into teaching without ever having taught, but for calling out the real pressures in UK schools. In this episode of At the Chalk Face, Craig and Dave unpack Wrack'...
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Episode 2
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39:03