What Are We Teaching? Powerful knowledge, capabilities, and teacher autonomy – with Richard Bustin
- Sophie Dean
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
In this wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation, we're joined by teacher and researcher Richard Bustin, author of the fascinating new book What Are We Teaching?
We delve deep into some of the biggest questions in curriculum and pedagogy today – from the concept of powerful knowledge to the ongoing tensions between progressivism and traditionalism in education. What does it mean to teach in a way that builds pupils' capabilities – not just their test scores? And how can we balance a knowledge-rich curriculum with professional teacher autonomy?
Richard brings a rare blend of classroom insight, research rigour, and philosophical curiosity to this conversation. We discuss:
What powerful knowledge is – and isn’t
How geography “went woke”
Whether the progressivism vs traditionalism debate is helpful or reductive
Why a focus on capabilities might offer a richer way forward
The risks of top-down curriculum mandates
And why teacher professionalism and trust matter more than ever
This is a rich and energising listen for anyone who cares deeply about what – and how – we teach.
Richard Bustin is a secondary geography teacher and doctoral researcher with a focus on curriculum studies, powerful knowledge, and geo-capabilities. His book What Are We Teaching? (2025) is a compelling invitation to examine the deeper messages embedded in our teaching and to reclaim the professional agency of teachers as curriculum-makers.
BUY - What are we teaching?
CREDITS
Outro track: How it is and how it should be by Grit Control
DON'T BE A STRANGER
The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted by Dr James Mannion and produced by Sophie Dean. You can contact James at rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing:
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