We recognise that CPD is not just about sitting in a classroom or in front of a computer. We have collated a list of podcasts that support the PSHE curriculum to help develop knowledge around specific themes
Effective PSHE
Nick considers some ways of deconstructing a story, including using case studies and ‘timeline’, in order to help us use it to explore issues and strategies in PSHE.
Explores the challenges teachers can face when teaching RSE. Discussion points include: the importance of focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion; the impact of social media on the way young people learn about sex and relationships; and taking a whole school approach to delivering RSE.
looks at the pedagogy of inclusion, common mistakes, challenges and opportunities in every classroom as well as exploring the importance of various training routes for teachers to enhance their knowledge of SEND.
This podcast features an interview with sexual health expert Kelsie Holdstock, exploring how we can support young people through honest, inclusive RSE. From consent to confidence, Kelsie shares real-world insight and practical tips for educators working in early years, schools, and beyond.
This podcast features the College’s President, Dr Zara Haider, talking to Lucy Emmerson, CEO of the Sex Education Forum (SEF) about the new RSHE guidance, the worrying rise in online misinformation and SEF’s key priorities for the year ahead.
Theme Specific
Abuse and Violence
BBC Radio 4 has released a new podcast featuring voices from IICSA Changemakers, a group coordinated by the NSPCC. The episode shares experiences of child sexual abuse, challenges misconceptions about abuse, and highlights the impact of institutional silence.
Communities
Discusses the recent protests and riots that have taken place across the UK in the summer of 2024. What should schools do? How should schools react?
Conflict Resolution
Bringing effective, reasonable solutions to disputes is a difficult talent to learn and an even harder one to master. It’s vital that parents and educators know how to support young people in developing this critical skill. This week’s podcast covers how best to help children manage conflicts!
Domestic Abuse
Features representatives from Childline and the NSPCC Helpline discussing: what children are telling Childline about domestic abuse and how this differs from what adults are telling the Helpline; the ways in which the effects of domestic abuse may present through a child’s behaviour; the importance of listening to the voice of the child; and safeguarding actions for professionals who identify domestic abuse.
Two episodes featuring Michael Conroy discussing working with boys to challenge sexism, rape, domestic abuse and coercive control, misogyny and porn use and his work with domestic abuse perpetrators. Episode two can be found here.
Gender
About the Boys – hear from teenage boys across the UK about their fears, worries and ambitions
What’s actually happening in the manosphere? How is it affecting children and young people? And how might we respond? In this episode of Tomorrow is the Question, the Fully Human podcast, Jono Baggaley chats to Professor Harriet Over and Dr David Zendle from the University of York and Fully Human’s own Dr Elly Hanson to explore their deep research into these questions.
Two episodes featuring Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard who shares how he uses this to educate boys about coercive control, male entitlement, misogyny and sexism to break the cycle.
Episode two can be found here.ive control, e entitlement, misogyny and sexism to break the cycle.
Exploitation
Features academics from Black Box Research & Consultancy addressing audience questions and exploring the complex realities of exploitation that children and young people face.
Featuring the Service Head of the NSPCC’s helpline and a police detective from an exploitation team in England. The episode covers what CCE is; signs of CCE that professionals working with children should look out for; why early intervention is so important and what that may look like; and how the police can respond to CCE. Since the recording of the episode, the Crime and Policing Bill has been introduced into Parliament, which would introduce a new specific criminal offence of child criminal exploitation. This would target the adult as the primary offender in causing harm to the child by exploiting them to commit criminal activity.
Featuring the NSPCC’s Childline Team Manager Danielle Harris, and Marie Smith from the National Crime Agency, discussing financially motivated online sexual extortion of boys. Listen to find out what online financial sexual extortion is, how to support boys and how to report real and AI generated images.
Media Literacy
Featuring guests from the Economist Education Foundation this show talks about fake news and media literacy
Mental Health
This podcast explores the use of mental health first aid kits to help young people manage their mental health if they are struggling.
Hear from the PSHE Association’s Head of Research and Subject Specialist team about Foundations for Wellbeing — their evidence-based mental health and wellbeing curriculum for primary schools.
Opens dialogue on mental health and the highs and lows of adolescents. Ginya will be joined by fellow ambassadors to cover a range of topics chosen for and by the youth ambassadors whilst pointing you in the direction of helpful resources.
Online Safety
This podcast explores young people’s perspectives on online safety. The podcast features a discussion with children from the NSPCC’s Voice of Online Youth group, covering: the positive uses of online technology; the importance of content moderation; concerns around misinformation; and the impact of Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI).
Misinformation, the abuse of AI, and concerning findings about one of the most popular messaging apps on the market. All these and more are covered in the inaugural episode of the Online Safety Monthly Roundup, bringing you the most prominent news from August 2024.
Pornography
Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba opens up about addiction for the first time – and the secret he’s carried for over 30 years. Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and addiction. In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Ore shares how he was first exposed at just nine years old – and the lifelong impact it had on his identity, confidence, and relationships. He also reflects on the emotional scars of growing up in fear, the silence he carried into adulthood, and the private battles behind his public success.
Self-Examination and Screening
This podcast reflects on Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and the wealth of changes to cervical cancer screening announced recently.
Self-Harm
The podcast discusses: the prevalence of self-harm and risk factors; the support accessed by children and young people who self-harm; and different digital interventions.
Sleep
Hosted by the renowned sleep expert, Dr Sophie Bostock, speaks to different specialists each week to discover more about sleep, how to support a sleep journey and real-life stories.
Substances
Topical discussion about some of the current challenges facing schools around drug taking and vaping. Guests include John Rees.
Hear from Dr Harry Sumnall — Professor in Substance Use at the School of Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University — on the latest trends in young people’s drug use, and when and how to talk to children and young people about substances.
Topical discussion about some of the current challenges facing schools around drug taking and vaping. Guests include John Rees.
The Environment
Faced with a worsening climate crisis it’s easy to feel paralysed, helpless or overwhelmed. How can we help young people find other ways of responding to the feelings that environmental harm provokes? Dr Elly Hanson and Clover Hogan explore constructive approaches…
Hear about the Programme of Humanitarian Education – an inspiring initiative from the British Red Cross that helps young people understand the human stories behind global crises.
From conflict and migration to climate adaptation and first aid, the conversation explores how schools can empower students to act with empathy, resilience, and confidence in an increasingly complex world.
Nathan and his guests discuss how this long-standing humanitarian movement continues to stay relevant, how educators can embed these vital topics into their classrooms, and why developing future generations of humanitarians has never been more important.
Youth Violence/Knife Crime
The Ben Kinsella Trust has launched a compelling podcast series titled “Knife Crime: Real Stories, Real People”, aimed at raising awareness of the devastating impact knife crime has on individuals, families, and communities.
Safe is a series of conversations about violence affecting children and young people, with experts who are working hard to stop it. Each episode starts with a simple question — ‘when you were young, what did being safe mean to you?’ — before exploring how guests’ life and career journeys led them to create sustainable solutions to violence.