How to collect staff feedback on workload and wellbeing 25 November 2020 As the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, it is important to check in on your staff to see how remote learning and Covid restrictions are affecting their workload and wellbeing. Katherine Fowler shares some practical tips on how to talk to your staff and gather feedback, so that you can help ... 1 comment
A school system that drives social justice: Assessment 24 November 2020 In a seven-part series, teacher and school leader Dave Anderson considers how schools can be a key driver for social justice and how we can make our education system more equitable. In part six, he looks at the problems with our system of assessment and examinations
Ideas to support staff and pupil wellbeing at the time of Covid 18 November 2020 As the Covid-19 pandemic rumbles on, the emotional impact for both teachers and students continues to be a huge cause for concern. Matt Bromley considers some practical strategies we can employ to offer support in the coming months
Student wellbeing: Maslow before you Bloom 11 November 2020 The idea of ‘Maslow before you Bloom’ is once again gaining traction in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. SENCO Sanjo Jeffrey says this approach is crucial to supporting academic outcomes this year and beyond 2 comments
Covid-19: Why we need ethical leadership more than ever – and what it looks like 11 November 2020 We are teaching in uncertain times and Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. Ethical leadership and kindness are among the traits that former school leader Matt Bromley says must be at the heart of our leadership response this academic year
RSE and parental consultation: Getting it right 4 November 2020 Parental engagement and consultation is a vital component of effective relationships and sex education. Leah Jewett offers her advice to secondary schools on RSE delivery and parental engagement
Behaviour: Inclusion using a trauma-informed approach 28 October 2020 Some challenging behaviour in schools will be due to learned trauma responses. Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers some pointers for a more inclusive, trauma-informed approach
Building Resilient Learners: An intervention 27 October 2020 We know that some young people are at risk of getting trapped in a negative cycle of avoiding education, poor academic outcomes and a feeling of failure. The Building Resilient Learners project sought to give these young people practical tools to stop this from happening. Lisa Whitworth explains
Pupil Premium: The persistent problem of poverty 26 October 2020 Covid-19 is expected to exacerbate the already stark child poverty crisis facing millions of young people in our country. Sean Harris looks at how schools might poverty-proof their work
Covid-19: Managing and supporting your school's staff 21 October 2020 With increased staff absence due to Covid-19, increased anxiety among our colleagues, and an ever-changing landscape, supporting and managing our teaching colleagues is a priority for school leaders this year. Employment law expert Jane Hallas offers some tips
Staff wellbeing: Managing feelings of anxiety 20 October 2020 School staff may well be struggling with feelings of anxiety as the pandemic continues and schools remain open. Sophie Howells advises
A school system that drives social justice: Admissions 19 October 2020 In a seven-part series, teacher and school leader David Anderson considers how schools can be a key driver for social justice and how we can make our education system more equitable. In part five, he looks at the problems with admissions – another mechanism by which the playing field is kept ...
Covid-19: Maintaining your focus on staff wellbeing 13 October 2020 Staff wellbeing will have been a high priority as schools reopened fully in September, but we cannot let our focus slip, especially as a second wave looms and changed working practices look like they are here to stay. Amy Sayer offers some tips and reflections
Developing students' resilience: What does the research say? 12 October 2020 Resilience as a life-skill and as a part of character education has come to the fore in recent years – and in an era of Covid-19, it seems more relevant than ever. Dr Stephanie Thornton looks at what the research says about this sometimes-elusive concept
Covid-19 and schools: Taking stock and the challenges ahead 7 October 2020 As half-term approaches, Geoff Barton takes stock on the first five weeks of full re-opening and the challenges still facing schools. He covers Ofsted, examinations, remote education, budgets, accountability and life after the pandemic...
The Wheel of Teaching: How do you score? 28 September 2020 The Wheel of Teaching sets out eight aspects of your teaching life that are crucial to your wellbeing and job satisfaction. Drawing on the advice in his new book Love Teaching Keep Teaching, Peter Radford explains
Behaviour: Verbal and non-verbal communication 28 September 2020 There are many children who expend much of their time and energy trying to decipher adult communications and masking their responses with ‘poor behaviour’ when they feel that they have misunderstood. Sara Alston looks at verbal and non-verbal communication 2 comments
Creating inclusive classroom environments: Practical advice & ideas 23 September 2020 How can we best support pupils who struggle with behaviour or emotional wellbeing? What does a positive, inclusive classroom environment look like? Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale offers some advice and ideas
Language and communication strategies as part of good pedagogy 16 September 2020 Language challenges are often considered as part of SEN strategies. However, Daniel Sobel and Sara Alston argue for language and communication strategies rooted in general good pedagogy and offer five easy classroom tips
Wellbeing: Supporting students who have to self-isolate 16 September 2020 With potential this year for individuals or groups of pupils to be sent home from school at very short notice due to Covid-19, a new pastoral challenge will be supporting the wellbeing of those students affected. Dr Pooky Knightsmith advises
Spotting the signs: 10 mental health challenges post-Covid 13 September 2020 What kind of wellbeing and mental health issues will some students be presenting with this term and what signs should we be alert for? Dr Pooky Knightsmith considers 10 challenges we are likely to in the coming weeks and months – and what we can do to help
Covid: Making remote learning work in the months ahead 8 September 2020 As the fight against coronavirus continues, remote learning is here to stay and must now be adapted and embraced as part of our range of teaching and learning approaches this academic year. Al Kingsley advises
Domestic abuse: The hidden legacy of the pandemic 2 September 2020 Domestic abuse in the family can have significant implications for the welfare and wellbeing of young people – and lockdown has seen a dramatic rise in cases. Sara Alston looks at what we can expect as pupils return in September
Student attendance and Covid: A legal view 2 September 2020 Despite the pressure building on government to scrap fines for non-attendance, the rules remain in place for the term ahead. So – do headteachers have to seek fines for parents who do not send their children back to school? We asked legal expert Karen Holden for her view
Secondary RSE and SEND inclusion 1 September 2020 Relationships, sex and health education is a statutory requirement from this month. Rachael Baker looks at what we must do to ensure our curriculum is inclusive for SEND learners and offers some resources, advice and ideas
1 September 2020