Operation Education
Pritesh Raichura / Bunsen Blue 16 episodes Nov 12, 2026
Operation Education is a podcast hosted by Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma that focuses on practical classroom strategies. Produced by Bunsen Blue, it connects specific teaching techniques to broader questions of classroom culture, school leadership and the wider educational landscape. Each episode offers concrete ideas intended to help teachers transform their practice.
Episodes
Ep 018: Teaching Personal Responsibility and Self-Esteem Through...Equipment?!
Should a pupil get a detention for forgetting their pen? Or should we just give them one and move on?It sounds like a rather trivial question. But Pritesh & Neena argue that how schools approach missing equipment has enormous implications for pupil responsibility, organisation and character development.We discuss why the debate shouldn't begin with sanctions, but with how we set pupils up
Ep 017: How to Teach Gratitude
"Sir, have you marked our tests yet?""Miss, when are we doing a practical?"Sound familiar?In this episode, Pritesh & Neena explore how schools can explicitly teach pupils to become more grateful. Can we really transform a pupil's mindset from one of potential entitlement to one of gratitude? And what practical strategies can teachers use to make gratitude a habit that
Ep 016: How to Teach Good Manners
Do your pupils greet you when they enter your classroom? Do they thank you at the end of a lesson? And when they need a pen, do they ask politely or simply announce their stationery emergency and expect you to come running?In this second instalment of our series on character education, Pritesh & Neena tackle manners, politeness and respect. Inspired by a brilliant question from listener Claire
Ep 015: How to Teach Pupils to Work Hard
Telling kids to work hard doesn't work. So what does?And can hard work actually be taught?In this episode, Pritesh & Neena get stuck into one of their favourite topics: character education! They explore the surprisingly powerful difference between two ways of setting exactly the same homework. How can the words we use inspire pupils to go above and beyond? What should we do when pupils do
Ep 014: Q&A - Mini Whiteboards vs Turn & Talk and English vs Science Teaching
You ask and we answer! In this Q&A special, Pritesh & Neena discuss whether turn and talks should only ever be used for rehearsal or for other types of questions? If we use turn and talk, how do we know which pupils need follow-up questioning when we cannot hear every conversation? Should teachers always use high frequency questioning or are there times when it is not necessary in a lesson
Ep 013: Rethinking Turn and Talk
Whether you've never used 'Turn and Talk' in your classroom before or are a seasoned expert, this episode packs in lots of practical advice for improving pupil outcomes.If you already use Pritesh and Neena's favourite strategy (they swear by using 'Turn and Talk' 20 times or more per lesson), this episode is going to turn conventional wisdom on its head. They say &apo
Ep 012: Inside Pritesh's Live Lesson - Explicit Instruction in Action
Hear Pritesh delivering a live lesson at a conference using explicit instruction (aka direct instruction), where he demonstrates delivering clear explanations, high frequency questioning & warmth. Some cool statistics about the lesson: in 12.5 minutes he asks the audience to actively participate 38 times! On average, that's an opportunity to participate every 20 seconds! That's a lot
Ep 011: Choral Response and 'All Hands Up' Questioning
You pose a question. The whole class responds in unison. The energy, the buzz, the feeling of success is palpable for every pupil. Pritesh and Neena discuss the power of 'Choral Response' as a questioning strategy, and contrast it with 'I say you say' from the previous week's episode. These strategies support with 'checks for listening' rather than 'checks f
Ep 010: How to Get Every Pupil Participating with 'I Say You Say'
Teachers are often faced with pupils who are very reluctant to participate in lessons. Two major reasons for this can be apathy and a lack of confidence. How can teachers tackle these? Pritesh and Neena explore, with the use of 'I Say You Say'.'I Say You Say' is a where the entire class repeats a word the teacher says. It sounds like a simple strategy but there are so many nuan
Ep 009: Five Strategies to Secure 100% Attention
Pritesh and Neena explore 5 powerful strategies for teachers to secure and sustain 100% attention. From using your body, eyes, and silence, to giving simple instructions that prevent the loss of attention in the first place, this episode packed with practical practices.They also mention Paul Kirschner & Paddington Bear. Make of that what you will.Timestamps:0:07 Conference Buzz and Attention S
Ep 008: The First Five Minutes With a New Class
You've never met a class before. They start to arrive at your door. Pritesh and Neena discuss precisely how they would get the class in and into a seating plan, and share mistakes they've experienced to avoid.Seating a new class can be quite tricky because it is so out-of-routine. But it is perhaps the most important thing to get right, especially as it forms the first five minutes of a
Ep 007: Is Your School Getting Rewards Right?
So many schools have a system where pupils can trade points they earn for rewards. Is this genuinely improving pupil culture and winning hearts? Or are there unintended consequences? Are there alternatives? Pritesh and Neena discuss!Swap 5 points for a pen. Trade 10 points for a chocolate bar. 50 points might get you a voucher for a high street retailer, or a raffle for a bigger prize! We discuss
Ep 006: What's Wrong With Planning Activities?
How can we safeguard against pedagogical fads? Is 'engagement' pupils getting up, having experiences and teaching each other? Or does 'engagement' describe pupils enthralled through teacher exposition and questioning, and engaging in lots of practice? Pritesh and Neena explore.Timestamps:0:10 Seduced by Teaching Ideas2:27 Blu Tack Lesson Reflections5:08 Ofsted Panic and Teacher
Ep 005: The Pedagogy We All Fell For
Silent debates, video lessons for bottom sets, poster lessons for cover, market place activities, posters around the room... Pritesh and Neena take a trip down memory lane, recalling classroom practices we were all seduced by earlier in our careers, but have abandoned now.Timestamps:0:04 Seduced by Fun Lessons4:02 Macbeth Witches Activity7:32 Silent Debate Setup12:26 Photosynthesis By Experience18
Ep 004: The Ultimate Exit Routine... It's All About Team
Whilst Pritesh exemplifies each element of a classroom exit routine this week, Neena leans into her alliteration addiction: 'pack up and praise'; 'authority and anticipation'; 'power of pause'. Somebody stop her, please.Teachers often rush their exit routine. The bell goes. The teacher abruptly ends the lesson. Kids fly out of the door in a mad rush. Pritesh and Neena
Ep 003: How to Notice the Invisible Pupils
The loudest pupils can often take up most of a teacher's attention. What can we do in the classroom to ensure that no pupils are overlooked, whilst maintaining a high bar? Pritesh and Neena explain their suggestions.Timetstamps:0:22 First Lesson Disaster5:34 Optimising Seating Plans for Attention11:26 Is it Mean to Separate Friends?14:01 Tick Sheets in Action18:41 How to Notice Quieter Pupils
Ep 002: From Compliance to Buy-In
How can teachers tackle passivity, apathy or unwillingness to participate in the classroom? How do you move a class culture from compliance to genuine buy-in? Pritesh and Neena break this down into 'winning hearts' and 'winning minds'.As teachers, we all want hands flying up, enthusiastic contributions from ALL pupils, not just some, and we want pupils to buy-in to our schools.
Ep 001: Getting Your Class' Attention
Welcome to the very first episode of Operation Education, the brand new podcast discussing all things pedagogy, classroom culture, school leadership and the wider educational landscape.In this week's episode:It's not just what you say to your pupils but how you say it that matters. Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma discuss the power of voice in the classroom at getting attention. This le
Ep 000: Trailer, with hosts Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma
When and how did Pritesh Raichura and Neena Sharma come up with Operation Education? Who was the catalyst behind its launch? How many teachers and leaders will hit subscribe?Sign up now to receive the weekly Operation Education Briefing:One practice. One pitfall. One principle. Supporting teachers to sharpen their teaching and build extraordinary school culture.bunsenblue.com/briefingFor high qual
