The School Should Be Podcast Zahara Chowdhury

In this episode of the BHS takeover, Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena talk all things GCSEs, from choosing your options, to what different GCSEs entail, along with workload, revision and managing expectations in years 10 and 11. A must listen for students choosing their options or students who have just started their GCSE courses.

*if you are a student and you are concerned about your wellbeing and mental health, please get in touch with your teachers at school or a trusted adult. For wellbeing and mental health advice, please visit: mind.org.uk

Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena are back to answer your questions with their tips and thoughts on navigating friendships and peer pressure at secondary school.

Listen in as they share their reassuring thoughts and wisdom on something we all think about on day one of year 7: friendship.

*if you are a student and you are concerned about your wellbeing and mental health, please get in touch with your teachers at school or speak to a trusted adult. For mental health support online, please visit: mind.org.uk

Jasmine, Ellie and Kareena, Sixth Form Students at Beaconsfield High School have taken over the School Should Be episode to help students navigate revision and wellbeing!

Sharing their thoughts, advice and wisdom after successfully completing their GCSEs and now on their A level journey, they reached out to students in years 7-10 to ask what questions and concerns do they have about their wellbeing at secondary school. Over the next few episodes, join them as they answer a range of questions and share their thoughts to get students through a very critical period of time: exams.

Tune in for some brilliant advice, plus they'll make you laugh along the way too.

Jasmine is a Politics Ambassador. She is currently studying A level History, English Literature and Politics. Ellie is an Economics Ambassador and currently studying A level Maths, Economics and Psychology. Kareena is a Philosophy and Ethics Ambassador and currently studying A level English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics and Psychology.

*if you are a student and you are concerned about your wellbeing and mental health, please get in touch with your teachers at school or a trusted adult. For wellbeing and mental health advice, please visit: mind.org.uk

The last few months have been challenging beyond belief and navigating conversations about Gaza, Israel and Palestine have been particularly challenging for schools. What we are seeing on social media and the news is nothing ever of us thought we would bear witness too, and the global and political climate is causing an overwhelming sense of anxiety, grief and uncertainty. As ever, young people need a forum to have these conversations and we have seen schools navigate the situation in Israel-Palestine very differently with very diverse responses. Some have chosen not to say or do anything at all, and some have strategically and thoughtfully navigated teaching, learning and conversations about it from the outset.

For teachers and schools concerned about the complexities and management of these conversations, this thought-provoking, candid and extremely valuable discussion with Sanum Khan and Jehan Al-Azzawi, will most definitely act as a guide and safe space to navigate conversations, teaching and learning about Israel-Palestine in secondary schools.

Jehan Al-Azzawi is a Transition Teacher and teacher of Global Citizenship based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Jehan is also an active trade unionist, holding elected positions at both local and national level in the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS). Jehan is a board member of the Scottish Association of Minority Ethnic Educators (SAMEE). Before becoming a teacher, Jehan was an academic. She holds a BA(Hons) in Politics, an MA in International Relations (University of London), a PhD in Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies and an MSc in Transformative Learning & Teaching (University of Edinburgh).

Sanum is an assistant head at a secondary school in the south east of England. Her subjects are RE and PSHCE. As an AHT, she oversees and leads on student personal development as well as staff wellbeing. She regularly delivers CPD on DEI and has recently written for SecEd and book reviews for Schools Week. She also works closely with Facing History and Ourselves UK and sincerely believes in education that nurtures reflection and critical engagement.

David Church, former senior leader, LGBT+ Education Consultant and Director of QueerEd, joins me, 20 years on from the repeal of Section 28, to talk about how teachers can create safe environments for LGBT+ students and all students to have difficult conversations amidst a growing concerns about media narratives, social media and the overwhelming impact these can have on schools.

David tells me how schools can talk to parents, carers, studentsn and why it is important we create environments in schools which are safe for every student to thrive and be themselves.

Natasha Devon MBE, is an author, presenter and campaigner and campaigner for mental health, student wellbeing, gender equality, diversity and inclusion. Natasha has been working with schools and within education for over 15 years, providing workshops, presentations, support and advice about mental health and wellbeing for young people; in 2015 she was awarded an MBE for her services to young people and is working as part of a coalition and cross-party group in parliament to make mental health at work a political priority.
Natasha talks to me about how young people can navigate their mental health in schools, how parents and carers can support mental health for young people, the impact of social media on mental health and how young people can navigate their own mental health, wellbeing and 'mental fitness' too.

Natasha has a weekly segment on LBC, every Saturday at 7pm where she discusses current events, very much amplifying conversations about education and schools. She is also a regular writer in publications such as Grazia, The Guardian and LBC too. She is author of many brilliant books, including, Yes You Can Ace Your Exams Without Losing Your Mind, Yes You Can - Ace School Without Losing Your Mind, Clicks, Toxic and Babushka.

Invite Natasha to your school or get in touch here: https://www.natashadevon.com/