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Top Class: The OECD Education Policy Podcast | Teachers, PISA, Students

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Everything you need to know about teaching and learning in one podcast. Top Class, the OECD Education Podcast, interviews leading educators, researchers and policy experts about the big issues facing education systems around the world. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed and arguments employed on the "TopClass" podcast and the recordings contained therein do not necessarily represent the official v... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes88Founded9 years ago
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Education

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Artwork for Top Class: The OECD Education Policy Podcast

Latest Episodes

What makes a fair exam? It’s a question that has grown in significance as upper secondary certificates play an ever more pivotal role in students’ lives. They are a passport to higher education, training and employment at a time when institutions and... more

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What makes a great teacher? Beyond subject expertise, effective teaching depends on a strong understanding of how students learn, what motivates them and how to create classrooms where every learner can thrive. A new OECD report reveals significant d... more

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What does it take to lead one of the world’s highest-performing education systems? In this episode of Top Class, OECD Editor Duncan Crawford speaks with Estonia’s Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas. Drawing on Estonia’s experience wi... more

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Working with young children can be a tough job, so what can be done to ensure staff want to stay in their jobs? This episode of Top Class delves into the world of creches, kindergartens and nurseries. While most early childhood education and care sta... more

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Recent Guests

Ruth Johnson
Assessment Director at Cambridge OCR
Cambridge OCR (Exam Board)
Episode: Are exams still the fairest way of assessing students?
Linda Darling-Hammond
Chief Knowledge Officer at the Learning Policy Institute; former California State Board of Education member
Learning Policy Institute
Episode: The importance of teacher knowledge
Heewoon Bae
OECD Policy Analyst; author of the OECD Teacher Knowledge Survey; former teacher
OECD
Episode: The importance of teacher knowledge
Kristina Kallas
Estonia's Education and Research Minister
Estonian government
Episode: How Estonia delivers world class education, a conversation with Estonia’s Education Minister
Elizabeth Shuey
OECD analyst and author of the Starting Strong Teaching and Learning International Survey
OECD
Episode: What really keeps early childhood staff in their jobs?
Anne-Marie Brooks
Assistant Secretary in Ireland's Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Ireland Government
Episode: What really keeps early childhood staff in their jobs?
Barbara O'Brien
Principal of Greater Shepparton Secondary College in Victoria, Australia
Greater Shepparton Secondary College
Episode: How an alternative pathway into teaching comes to life
Joanna Barbousas
Professor at La Trobe University, Melbourne, involved in the Nexus program.
La Trobe University
Episode: How an alternative pathway into teaching comes to life
Miriam Tanti
Professor at La Trobe University, Melbourne, involved in the Nexus program.
La Trobe University
Episode: How an alternative pathway into teaching comes to life

Host

Duncan Crawford
Host of Top Class; OECD Education Policy Podcast

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • White noise

    Why on earth is the white noise music during the introduction? Music overshadowed the content so had to turn off episode which is supposed to be informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    chekabaraka
    United States4 years ago
  • Brilliant

    Love the episodes so far. Excited for more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gg7008
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episode quality and guest expertise are frequently praised, with practical policy insights highlighted.
Some listeners feel the intro music can be distracting at times.
Overall high regard for data-driven policy conversations and expert guests.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are exams still the fairest way of assessing students?
Q: What's the role of AI in the future of exam design and marking?
AI will support teachers and exam boards in non-high-stakes tasks like generating practice papers and detecting errors, while humans remain in the loop for quality control and final marking, ensuring reliability and trust in the system.
Are exams still the fairest way of assessing students?
Q: How do you ensure fairness in exam design and marking when new syllabuses appear or when exams are unusually difficult?
We start with a blueprint, train examiners with accessibility principles, and use a long, iterative process with external reviews to ensure questions function as intended. If a paper is harder, grade boundaries are adjusted based on prior attainment and item performance to protect fairness.
Are exams still the fairest way of assessing students?
Q: Do you think exams are still the best form of assessment compared to alternatives?
It depends on what you're measuring. Exams can be fair by focusing on a student's knowledge and skills in a controlled setting, but in an ideal world there would be more authentic, embedded assessments; yet exams provide a resilient, standardized baseline that counters privilege.
What really keeps early childhood staff in their jobs?
Q: What policy changes does OECD recommend to improve retention in ECEC globally?
OECD highlights clearer career progression, targeted training, mentoring, leadership development, and policies to reduce stress and administrative burdens, while ensuring adequate staffing pools and system-level supports.
What really keeps early childhood staff in their jobs?
Q: What actions are being taken to address pay and working conditions around the world, especially in tight-budget contexts?
Some countries raise pay through government-supported collective negotiations and industrial relations reforms, as in Ireland; others report higher satisfaction with salaries, and emphasize non-monetary factors like autonomy and professional development to retain staff.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on education policy, teaching, and learning, with a strong emphasis on how teacher knowledge, policy design, and system-level reforms shape outcomes across countries. Episodes frequently explore topics like teacher preparation, professional development, AI and digital tools in classrooms, and innovative training pathways (e.g., Nexus) amid teacher shortages and evolving curricula. Guests range from ministers and OECD analysts to researchers and school leaders, offering data-driven insights, cross-country comparisons, and practical policy levers. A notable edge is the balanced mix of high-level policy discourse and classroom-level implications, plus timely examinations of AI in education, making it valuable for policymakers,... more

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this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 88 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Ruth Johnson
2. Linda Darling-Hammond
3. Heewoon Bae
4. Kristina Kallas
5. Elizabeth Shuey
6. Anne-Marie Brooks
7. Barbara O'Brien
8. Joanna Barbousas

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