Teacher Mum

Charlie Birkett
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Education for Kids

My son is taking his GCSEs. Five minutes ago, he was playing with Lego; now, he’s in the eye of the exam storm. As a teacher with over 20 years of experience, I thought I was ready for this. I wasn't. Welcome to Teacher Mum, an honest, and practical guide to navigating the "pivotal years" of your child’s education. Being an educator gives me a unique lens, but being a mum gives me a completely different reality. In this series, I pull back the curtain on the triumphs, the struggles, and the constant dilemmas of balancing my professional expertise with the visceral, biological anxiety of being a parent during the exam season. For help and resources designed to support parents through GCSEs, visit literaturetutor.co.uk/podcast

Episodes

  1. 5h ago

    Chapter 4 : Learning to be independent at home

    Explore the challenge of cultivating independent study habits at home. Charlie shares her shift from teacher-led control to being a facilitator, helping her son find his own rhythm while navigating the balance of being both a mum and an educator. For help and resources, visit www.literaturetutor.co.uk

    8 min

  2. 2d ago

    Chapter 3: Whip or carrot?

    A look at the dilemma of student motivation. Is it better to push, goad, and nag, or to focus on facilitation? This episode questions the modern "reward culture" and seeks the balance between helping a child succeed and letting them take ownership.

    7 min

  3. 2d ago

    Chapter 2: Making the choice to let him choose

    Exploring the monumental transition into Year 10. This episode tackles the struggle between wanting to steer a child's academic future and the importance of allowing them to make their own choices, while navigating the unique anxiety of being a parent during this period.

    7 min

  4. 5d ago

    Chapter 1: The road less travelled

    As a teacher with over 20 years’ experience working with reluctant grumpy teenagers – well not all of them; some of them are motivated and charming human beings – I am now faced with a situation that I thought I was well equipped for. A mum to a GCSE student. I recognise that I have miraculously managed to produce a well-mannered, academically high-achieving, and likeable son, who performs well in school and, at times, acknowledges that I may actually know what I am talking about when it comes to English GCSE. However, I am beginning to appreciate on a whole new level, how hard it is for teenagers and their families to navigate this transition. But how do I use my experience of education to go from being a mum to a teacher mum?

    8 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

My son is taking his GCSEs. Five minutes ago, he was playing with Lego; now, he’s in the eye of the exam storm. As a teacher with over 20 years of experience, I thought I was ready for this. I wasn't. Welcome to Teacher Mum, an honest, and practical guide to navigating the "pivotal years" of your child’s education. Being an educator gives me a unique lens, but being a mum gives me a completely different reality. In this series, I pull back the curtain on the triumphs, the struggles, and the constant dilemmas of balancing my professional expertise with the visceral, biological anxiety of being a parent during the exam season. For help and resources designed to support parents through GCSEs, visit literaturetutor.co.uk/podcast

Information

  • Creator
    Charlie Birkett
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Charlie Birkett