Best Practice

Breaking the cycle of poverty and exclusion

25 April 2022

What does the research into poverty and its links to exclusion and other consequences tell us? How we can best support disadvantaged young people? Sean Harris takes a look at the research and explores the excellent work being undertaken in Hartlepool

A teacher’s guide to retrieval practice: Spaced learning

20 April 2022

Continuing his series on the potential of retrieval practice, spaced learning, successive relearning, and metacognitive approaches in the classroom, this time Kristian Still focuses on the ‘spaced’ element, looking at the underpinning research and drawing out important lessons for teachers

Creating anti-racist school communities

19 April 2022

In light of the shocking experience of child Q, Angelina Idun considers the responsibility schools have for tackling discrimination and reflects on how listening to our young people can help us move our race equality work forward

SONAR leadership and a pedagogy of connection

19 April 2022

School leaders should ‘seek first to understand, then to be understood’ if they are to build relationships – and that requires active listening. John Dabell explains the principles of SONAR leadership

Seven ways my Master’s has improved my teaching

19 April 2022

Head of year Dave Stephenson recently completed his Master’s in learning and teaching. In this article, he describes the seven positive effects the experience has had for his teaching practice

Early retirement: Five things teachers must consider

19 April 2022

More teachers than ever before are considering early retirement. Lee Quinn, a specialist financial advisor, outlines the key factors to keep in mind for those considering stepping away from the profession

A teacher’s guide to retrieval practice: Repeated retrieval practice

6 April 2022

Continuing his series on the potential of retrieval practice, spaced learning, successive relearning, and metacognitive approaches in the classroom, Kristian Still looks at the research underpinning test-enhanced learning (repeated retrieval practice) and draws out important lessons for teachers

How can we support pupils who have Long Covid?

5 April 2022

How does Long Covid affect children and young people in the classroom and what can teaching staff do to help them? In the second of two articles on the impact of Long Covid on the young, Dr Sue Peters offers some practical advice

Tackling sexual harassment and misogyny in schools

4 April 2022

Violent and misogynistic views and actions experienced by so many women in our society can often have their roots in unchallenged attitudes and behaviours in childhood. This puts schools on the front-line. Peter Radford challenges us to consider how we respond...

Bullying, crime, school, society: Keeping students on track

4 April 2022

Bullying is not just a problem for schools – has clear links to wider anti-social behaviour and crime in local areas. In the second of two articles, Dr Mandy Shaw, Vaughan Clarke, and Graham Moore consider how we must respond

A teacher’s guide to retrieval practice: Let’s make some memories (stick)

30 March 2022

The potential impact of retrieval practice, spaced learning, successive relearning, and metacognitive approaches in the classroom cannot be underestimated. In this series, Kristian Still looks at nine interlinked elements crucial to these approaches and draws out important lessons for teachers from ...

There may be trouble ahead: Getting attendance right

29 March 2022

Poor school attendance can be a key warning sign of more serious problems to come for a vulnerable child. But how can we intervene to re-engage pupils and improve attendance? Darren Martindale advises

Supporting good mental health: Two case studies

28 March 2022

The impact of the pandemic has exacerbated mental health and wellbeing challenges for many students. From wellbeing rooms to the five tiers of mental health support, Emma Lee-Potter looks at how two schools are acting to support pupil wellbeing

Emotionally based school avoidance: Five tips

23 March 2022

A SecEd webinar on emotionally based school avoidance attracted thousands of viewers. In this article, which first appeared in SecEd's Back from the Brink supplement, Dr Pooky Knightsmith picks up the discussion, offering five steps to re-engage with pupils who struggle to attend school

Black lives in science: The past and present

22 March 2022

What does it mean to decolonise and diversify the curriculum? Genevieve Bent discusses her school’s work to review and transform the science curriculum to ensure all students feel represented

Safeguarding: What does a culture of safety look like?

15 March 2022

Safer working practice in schools is crucial to establishing safe cultures and ensuring effective safeguarding. In this article, Elizabeth Rose explains how schools can minimise opportunity for harm perpetrated by those working with children

Succeeding as an EAL coordinator: Eight secrets to success

14 March 2022

The role of EAL coordinators is crucial to the successful integration and education of students using English as an additional language. Emily Maybanks offers eight tenets of good practice that can bolster the achievement of this diverse cohort of young people
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