Sociology Staffroom is a podcast from tutor2u Sociology hosted by Katie, aimed at GCSE and A-Level Sociology teachers. Each episode features lively discussion with special guests, offering support, encouragement and practical ideas for the classroom. It is designed for teachers at every stage of their career, from Early Career Teachers to those with many years of experience.
Episodes
Season 5 | Episode 4 | The Sociology of semi-professional music, with Dr Lena Lozano
Dr Lena Lozano, research officer at Live DMA, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the sociology of live musicians and the music business, especially in the context of France where there is a clear distinction between professional and amateur musicians, causing a range of social problems for those who might be considered "semi-professional". This is useful to consider Dr Lozano's rese
Season 5 | Episode 3 | Sounds in Prisons, with Dr Kate Herrity
Award-winning criminologist, Dr Kate Herrity, joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss her ground-breaking research into soundscapes within prisons.
Season 5 | Episode 2 | Representations of working-class women in comedy, with Professor Jo Littler
Professor Jo Littler, from Goldsmiths College, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into representations of working-class women in comedy: a must for anyone teaching the media topic, but a great listen for the rest of us too.
Season 5 | Episode 1 | Ageing, gender and self-reliance in Thailand, with Dr Kullanit Nitiwarangkul
Lecturer at Mahidol University, Thailand (and former visiting lecturer in Sociology at City, University of London) Kullanit Nitiwarangkul joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into the experiences of older women in Thailand. This is very useful for students considering culture and identity, but also families and households and global development, as well as for understandi
Season 4 | Episode 18 | Single Positivity with Dr Alicia Denby
Dr Alicia Denby, Sociology lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at Manchester Metropolitan University, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the concept of "single positivity". Really useful for Families and Households, Culture and Identity, feminism and postmodernism. Lots of fascinating insights into research and research methodology too.
Season 4 | Episode 17 | Elites in the UK, with Professor Aaron Reeves
Professor of Sociology at LSE, Aaron Reeves joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss elites in the UK and his book "Born to Rule". Useful for all sociology teachers and students, and especially those exploring Stratification and Differentiation.
Season 4 | Episode 16 | The Continued Relevance of Sociology, with Professor Laurie Taylor
Professor Laurie Taylor, sociology researcher and lecturer and long-term presenter of Thinking Allowed on Radio 4, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss his extraordinary career, his work in crime and deviance, and his thoughts about sociology and advice to up-and-coming sociologists.
Season 4 | Episode 15 | Class, Gender, Education & Employment, with Dr Kirsty Finn
Lecturer and researcher in Sociology and Education at the University of Manchester, Dr Kirsty Finn joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the experience of working-class girls in higher education and the idea of the "side hustle" and "girl boss".
Episode 14 | AQA Sociology, with Sarah Fawcett
Subject lead for Sociology and Citizenship at AQA and experienced sociology teacher and examiner, Sarah Fawcett, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her role and what's coming next for A-Level Sociology at AQA.
Episode 13 | Gender and AI with Khadija Aftab
Doctoral student from Central European University, Khadija Aftab, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research on AI, and particularly its impact on gender.
Season 4 | Episode 12 | The Importance of Sociology Today, with Professor Les Back
The President of the British Sociological Association, Professor Les Back joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss his role, his research and the continuing importance of teaching sociology in the today's society.
Season 4 | Episode 11 | Educational experiences for pupils with disabilities, with Stella Chatzitheochari
Reader in Sociology at the University of Warwick, Dr Stella Chatzitheochari, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom, to discuss the experiences of pupils with disabilities in education and its impact on later educational and employment experiences and opportunities. This is a fascinating discussion for those teaching the Education and Stratification topics and for all of us as practising teachers.
Season 4 | Episode 10 | Online Remote Learning & Gender, with Rituparna Patgiri
Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Rituparna Patgiri, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss online/remote learning and its impact on women and girls and marginalised groups, especially in India. This is a fascinating discussion which might be of particular interest with regard to those teaching the topics of Education, Global Development, Culture & Identity
Season 4 | Episode 9 | OCR Sociology with Tom Genillard
Sociology and Criminology Subject Advisor for OCR, Tom Genillard, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss a range of topics, including developments to their A Level specification.
Season 4 | Episode 8 | Comparative Global Sociology and Masculinities with Satanik Pal
Sociological researcher at the National University of Singapore, Satanik Pal, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss his research into comparative global sociology, with particular focus on masculinities and status hierarchies and caste systems in India and Japan.
Season 4 | Episode 7 | Reimagining gender roles, and much, much more, with Dr Finn MacKay
Well-known sociologist, Finn MacKay joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss their wide-ranging research into a range of sociological topics surrounding gender. Finn's research features in the AQA and OCR specifications and this is an excellent opportunity to learn more.
Season 4 | Episode 6 | Researching the Manchester Arena Bombings, with Ashley Collar
PhD student Ashley Collar joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into the Manchester Arena bombing. Fascinating discussion about research practice, interviews, subjectivity, sensitive issues and values as well as Ashley's own inspiring story of how she came to be an academic sociologist.
Season 4 | Episode 5 | Gender and families today, with Professor Leah Ruppaner
Melbourne University sociologist, Leah Ruppaner - a public sociologist active on TikTok and podcasts, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into gender, families and mental load.
Season 4 | Episode 4 | Brexit, Post-Brexit and Migration, With Professor Michaela Benson
Professor of Public Sociology at Lancaster University, Michaela Benson, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research on Brexit, post-Brexit and migration - fascinating for those of us teaching culture and identity, demographic changes, stratification but also for research methods.
Season 4 | Episode 3 | Exploring the Importance of Sociologically-Informed Social Care, with Dr Sam Teague and Dr Chad Morrison
Sam Teague and Chad Morrison, who are launching a new degree in Applied Social Care, join Katie in the Sociology Staffroom for a fascinating conversation about their research, their new degree and the importance of social care. This is of particular interest to those studying the Health optional topic, but also to consider issues around social policy across a range of topics, as well as theory and
Season 4 | Episode 2 | Education and Equity with Abrilli Phillip
Former Director of Education for Lambeth, sociologist, and former teacher, Abrilli Phillip, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss education policy and equality, drawing on her vast experience of working in education and local and national government.
Season 4 | Episode 1 | Researching Racism and Anti-Racism, with Dr Aaron Winter
In the first episode of the new season, public sociologist Aaron Winter, from Lancaster University, joins Katie in the sociology staffroom to discuss his research on racism and anti-racism, as well as issues relating to values and objectivity in research.
Season 3 | Episode 15 | Ethnicity, Gender and Education with Professor Heidi Mirza
Professor Heidi Mirza, author of many books and articles on ethnicity, race, gender, education, families, inequalities and intersectionality, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom for the last episode of Season 3. This is a fascinating conversation and lots in there that you can share with your students too!
Season 3 | Episode 14 | Researching Inequality, with Professor Lucinda Platt
Professor Lucinda Platt, from the LSE, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research across a wide range of topics relating to inequality, poverty, social mobility, migration, intersectionality and much more! Great for teachers of Stratification and Education and also for questions around the links between Sociology and Social Policy.
Season 3 | Episode 13 | Education and Sustainability, with Dr Katy Wheeler
Senior lecturer in Sociology at the University of Essex, Dr Katy Wheeler, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into how sustainability and environmental issues are taught in school. This is a fascinating discussion for teachers generally - how should we broach this subject - and for sociology teachers in particular, both in terms of the Education topic, and the places whe
Season 3 | Episode 12 | Sociology and Education with Diane Reay
Professor Diane Reay from Cambridge University joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into education and social class, and her thoughts on the impact of recent policies on students as well as what might come from the new government.As you might imagine, from this famous author of Miseducation and many, many journal articles, she does not hold back!!
Season 3 | Episode 11 | "Teaching controversy: navigating British Values and political neutrality in the classroom", with Andrew Jones
Assistant headteacher, PhD student and experienced sociology teacher, Andrew Jones, returns to the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how teachers of sociology (and other subjects) can maintain political neutral in the classroom, as well as the limits to that neutrality. Another fascinating chat with this great returning guest.
Season 3 | Episode 10 | Gender, employment, social policy and inequality, with Dr Helen Kowalewska
Sociology lecturer at the University of Bath, Helen Kowalewska, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her research into the impact of social policy on women and gender inequality. They discuss Helen's most recent research into women over the age of 60 (including the WASPI women) and the different research methods that she has employed. They talk about the often double-edge nature of so
Season 3 | Episode 9 | Personal and Family Relationships with Dr Katherine Davies
Dr Katherine Davies, from the University of Sheffield, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about her research into siblings and other family and friendship relationships, as well as her work on the impact of Brexit on families. She also discusses her qualitative and creative research methods. Definitely worth a lesson to hear about some contemporary research (relevant to families, educa
Season 3 | Episode 8 | Qualitative Research & Legal Aid with Dr Emma Cooke
Criminologist and sociologist from the University of Kent, Dr Emma Cooke, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about her journey into the subject and her research into the criminal justice system, as well as how we can support students for Higher Education. Want to add something really contemporary to your lessons on the CJS? Here's a good starting place!https://bristoluniversitypress.co
Season 3 | Episode 7 | Key words in essay questions with Duncan Hall
The Sociology Staffroom returns in a new "every other week" schedule with lots of great guests scheduled. In this episode, the subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to look at those important words that can be key to higher marks in Sociology essays. One area they particularly focus on is "today" and "contemporary" and the importance of contempo
Season 4 | Episode 9 | OCR and A LeveL Sociology, with Tom Gellinard
Subject lead for Sociology and Criminology at OCR, Tom Gellinard, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss what's coming up for A Level Sociology (and Criminology) at OCR over the coming years, and to talk about their new specification.
Season 3 | Episode 6 | Interactive Lessons with Richard Brinkley
Experienced sociology teacher Richard Brinkley joins Duncan in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to make lessons more interactive, including some great ideas!
Season 3 | Episode 5 | Engaging GCSE Sociology Pupils, with Rhiannon Watson
Experienced social science teacher Rhiannon Watson joins her old Sociology teacher Katie Tyler in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss issues relating to GCSE Sociology and how to engage and inspire the students.
Season 3 | Episode 4 | Applying the science of the brain to Sociology, with Zenab Farag
Experienced sociology teacher, Zenab, joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss how we can apply various aspects of brain science to our teaching as well as exploring some popular misconceptions.
Season 3 | Episode 3 | September Teacher Panel Discussion
In this episode, a teacher panel (consisting of Anna Lise White, Craig Gelling and Duncan Hall) discussed a range of issues relating to the start of a new term, mostly ones raised by teachers in the AQA A Level Sociology Teachers Group.
Season 3 | Episode 2 | Sociology & Literacy, with Richard Brinkley
Experienced sociology teacher Richard Brinkley joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to talk about the important links between sociology and literacy.
Season 3 | Episode 1 | Managing your ECT year, with Lizzie Skinner
ECT social science teacher Lizzie Skinner joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her experiences of ECT 1.
Episode 35 | Reflections on Season 2 with Katie and Duncan
Regular host Katie Tyler and subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, look back on what's been a fascinating second "season" of the Sociology Staffroom and forwards to what's coming in September.
Episode 34 | Improving and Updating our Subject Knowledge, with Fran Nantongwe
Experienced teacher Fran (otherwise known as Norfolk Fran) joins Katie to discuss ways to check, develop and update our Sociology subject knowledge.
Episode 33 | Supporting High Achievers with Liv Le Poidevin
Experienced sociology teacher Liv joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to support, stretch and challenge high achievers in A Level Sociology.
Episode 32 | Multicultural awareness with Anna Lise White
Experienced Sociology teacher Anna Lise returns to the Sociology Staffroom to talk to Katie about the importance of multicultural awareness in Sociology teaching.
Episode 31 | Teaching Global Development, With Bridget Gray
Experienced Sociology teacher Bridget Gray joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss her experience of teaching the Global Development optional topic for A Level Sociology.
Episode 30 | Teaching Sociology Remotely, with Nicole Levy
Experienced teacher, Nicole Levy, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to share her experiences of teaching sociology remotely, challenges and opportunities, and effective techniques.
Episode 29 | How to make effective starters, with Ian Luckhurst
Experienced sociology teacher Ian joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to share some of his great ideas for starting lessons, and explore the reasons why simple, effective starter activities work.
Episode 28 | GCSE Troubleshooting, with Vicki Woolven
Subject lead for GCSE Sociology, Geography and History at tutor2u, Vicki Woolven, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss misconceptions about GCSE Sociology and how to deal with some of the problems that are specific to that qualification.
Episode 27 | Supporting and Retaining Trainees, with Alison Wiggins
Subject leader for PGCE Social Sciences at UCL, Alison Wiggins, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom for a fascinating discussion about trainee teachers and how we can support them in the early part of their career.
Episode 26 | In conversation with Duncan & Katie: Issues and concerns for teachers towards the end of the Spring term
In a departure from the usual format, usual host Katie and subject lead Duncan have a conversation about issues that teachers face at this time of year: when to "start revision", what to do if there's content still to complete, etc.
Episode 25| Teaching Culture & Identity, with Shahina Yasmin
Experienced sociology teacher, Shahina, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss switching to the optional topic of Culture & Identity, why you might want to, challenges faced, and advice for teaching it.
Episode 24 | How to Lecture Less, with Katie Tyler
Regular host Katie Tyler joins Duncan in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how and why to lecture less and have more student-focused lessons. Lots of practical tips and professional discussion about teaching and learning.
Episode 23 | Helping students who have underperformed in their mocks, with Kate Flatley
Experienced Sociology teacher and YouTuber Kate Flatley (@theteachersociology) joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss "bouncing out of the pit" - how to encourage and support students whose mocks show they have a lot to do!
Episode 22 | Methods in Context Revisited, with Craig Gelling
Experienced Sociology teacher Craig Gelling (aka The Sociology Guy) rejoins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to once again look at the Methods in Context question and how to help students prepare and revise for this.
Episode 21 | Switching to Stratification, with Duncan Hall
Subject lead for Sociology at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the Stratification and Differentiation topic and some of the reasons why people may or may not want to switch, and some approaches that teachers might like to take if they are tackling this topic.
Episode 20 | Effective Marking with Jodie Robert
Experienced sociology teacher, Jodie Robert, joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss some great tips on how to make marking and feedback more effective.
Episode 19 | Getting A*s and As with Erhan Bora
Experienced sociology teacher Erhan joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the methods he uses to help students access high grades.
Episode 18 | Sociology Trips & Visits with Anna Lise White
Experienced sociology teacher Anna Lise White joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss a wide range of possible trips and visits for Sociology students and the benefits and challenges of taking them.
Highlights from 2023 in the Sociology Staffroom
Katie and Duncan review some of their favourite moments from the last 12 months of podcasting, and look forward to some of what's coming up in 2024. It would be great to hear from you, our listeners, what some of your favourite parts were.
Episode 16 | In Conversation with Steve Taylor, Head of Curriculum for Sociology at AQA
Head of Curriculum for Sociology at AQA, and experienced sociology teacher, Steve Taylor joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss a range of issues and questions surrounding his role, priorities and the future of the qualifications.
Episode 15 | Teaching Postmodernism with Reece Goscinski
Returning guest Reece Goscinski joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss postmodernism and postmodernity and how and when to teach it.
Episode 14 | Should Sociology be a Compulsory Subject? With Rita Marvin
Experienced Sociology teacher and head of sociology in her school, Rita Marvin, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to ponder the question of whether Sociology should be made a compulsory subject in school. What do you think?
Episode 13 | Coaching in the Classroom, with Jenny Weidner
Experienced and qualified coach and educational manager, Jenny Weidner, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the role and importance of coaching, particularly to help students (and staff) suffering stress and anxiety around exams and achievement.
Episode 12 | How to teach synopticity, with Nusrath Sharmin
Experienced Sociology teacher, Nusrath Sharmin, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the importance of synopticity and tips on how to teach it and improve the skill with our students.
Episode 11 | Pedagogy and Sociology with Andrew Jones
Return guest Andrew Jones joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom again, this time to consider some fascinating insights relating to applying sociological theory to pedagogy.
Episode 10 | Metacognition in Sociology, with Garnette Watts
Experienced sociology teacher Garnette Watts joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss metacognition and its application to the Sociology classroom.
Episode 9 | Research vs Practice with David Morris
Experienced Sociology teacher David Morris joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the relationship between research and classroom practice in sociology.
Episode 8 | New to Heading a Department, with Reece Goscinski
New head of sociology, Reece, is back in the Sociology Staffroom with Katie Tyler to talk about his experiences and the challenges associated with taking on this role.
Episode 7 | tutor2u Strong Foundations cinema workshops, with Duncan Hall
Subject lead for sociology and politics at tutor2u, Duncan Hall, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the upcoming workshop tour for Year 12 students. See here for more information.
Episode 6 | Anti-racism for sociology teachers, with Azryah Harvey
Anti-racism consultant and teacher, Azryah Harvey, joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the importance of anti-racism in our teaching practice and what it might look like in the Sociology classroom and in our schools and colleges.
Episode 5 | Teaching Minority Topics, with Risteard Mac Fheorais
Experienced sociology teacher Risteard joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss teaching the less popular optional topics in A Level Sociology, with particular focus on Work, Poverty & Welfare. They also discuss the issue of objectivity in the sociology classroom.
Episode 4 | Challenging Students with Theory, with Brett Byatt
Early career teacher Brett joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss theory, especially more niche theories or nuances within the main perspectives.
Episode 3 | Teaching the Classics with Andrew Jones
Experienced Sociology teacher and assistant principal Andrew Jones joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss teaching the classic theories in A Level Sociology.
Episode 2 | Whole Class Feedback, with Mark Gill
Sociology teacher Mark Gill joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss the use of whole class feedback - why you might use it, who to use it and the advantages and potential disadvantages of its use.
Episode 1 | Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in A Level Sociology, with Jacquiline Agyeman-Duah
Experienced Sociology teacher Jacquiline Agyeman-Duah joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in A Level Sociology. Jacquiline has authored a forthcoming e-learning course for AQA on this topic.
Episode 48 | Addressing controversial topics in sociology, with Reece Goscinski
In the final episode of season 1, experienced Sociology teacher Reece Goscinski joins Katie in the Sociology staffroom to discuss techniques for addressing controversial topics in the sociology classroom.The podcast is taking a little break for a few weeks now, but will be back with a new series in September. Have a good summer :)
Episode 46 | Making Homework Meaningful with Alexia George
Experienced sociology teacher and subject leader Alexia George joined Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss homework and how to make it as useful and meaningful as possible.
Episode 45 | A happy balance between teaching to the exam and for the love of learning, with Cerys Dyke
Experienced Sociology teacher Cerys Dyke joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how to strike the balance between teaching to the exam and encouraging a love of learning sociology.
Episode 44 | Maximising the talents and skills of your colleagues, with Emma Stack and Carly Benge
Head of department, Emma, and experienced teacher Carly, join Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss working as a team and making the most of your colleagues' talents and skills.
Episode 43 | Using Social Media with Sociology Students, with Stephanie Harding
Experienced sociology teacher Stephanie Harding joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss how she was successfully made use of social media platforms in here A Level Sociology teaching.
Episode 42 | Supporting EAL learners (including the use of AI) with Vicky Lyons
Vicky Lyons - a former sociology teacher and someone who works closely with EAL students for a local authority - joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss supporting EAL learners, including how to use AI as a form of assistive technology.
Episode 41 | Teaching Social Action Theory with John Harvey
Experienced sociology teacher John Harvey joins Katie in the Sociology Staffroom to discuss teaching Social Action theory, a topic that is sometimes considered tricky by students and non-specialist teachers (and others!)
