LO: To know students will stick anything in places they shouldn't stick things.

This week, the lads are back after half term and counting down the final few weeks until the summer holidays. Adam opens up about leaving his latest role and finding himself in that strange in-between stage of weighing up new opportunities, signing up for supply work and figuring out what comes next. Two new features this week. First - THE BIG QUESTION from a listener focuses around the Department for Education's controversial collaboration with Gemma Collins. Lee shares his experiences of working with the DfE, meeting Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and explains the challenge of trying to represent teachers' concerns while still maintaining access to decision makers. The conversation dives into SEND reforms, teacher workload, government communication and why so many teachers and parents felt frustrated by the timing of the campaign. The there's IN THIS WEEK'S NEWS... There's also a look at two bizarre education news stories making headlines. One involves a teacher who called in sick before being spotted on a stag do in Portugal, while the other features a headteacher accused of some very questionable spending decisions involving school funds, cruises and karaoke machines. Elsewhere, there's a discussion about the latest playground obsession with Michael Jackson, memories of legendary school productions, and whether social media trends are any stranger than the things pupils were obsessed with in the 1990s. The blind ranking returns with a fiercely contested list of classic school dinner desserts. Expect strong opinions on Arctic Roll, Cornflake Tart, Sprinkle Cake, Jelly and Ice Cream, Rice Pudding and the iconic Chocolate Cake with Pink Custard. Some of the rankings may cause outrage. Finally, the listener stories are back and they might be some of the funniest yet. From children calling teachers "King of Crying", to pupils wiping tables with ham, swinging dead moles around the playground and attempting prison-style escapes via manholes, it's another reminder that no workplace produces stories quite like schools. 📬 Want your story or question featured on the pod? Submit it here: 👉 forms.gle/sWCUVURZjtn6GeN16 Here’s where you can catch the show 👇 🎭 October 2026 25th October - Norwich, Epic Studios 🏰 26th October - London, Soho Walthamstow 🎤 27th October - Tunbridge Wells, Assembly Hall Theatre 🌳 28th October - Eastbourne, Devonshire Park 🌊 29th October - Colchester, Charter Hall 🏺 30th October - Southampton, O2 Guildhall ⚓ 31st October - High Wycombe, Swan 🎶 🎭 February 2027 14th February - Blackpool, Grand Theatre 🎡 15th February - Carlisle, The Sands Centre 🏞️ 16th February - Chester, Storyhouse 🐎 17th February - Crewe, Lyceum Theatre 🚂 18th February - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall 🏹 19th February - Stoke, Victoria Hall 🏺 20th February - Stockton, Globe Theatre 🌐 🎟️ Tickets at 2mrpspodcast.com/live See you on the road again soon 👏🎤 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices