Pupil wellbeing

PISA: Beyond the league tables and the headlines

15 January 2020

The main findings and rankings of the international PISA research make newspaper headlines every three years, but there is so much more to learn if we take the time to look at the results in more depth. Steen Videbaek offers us his analysis

LGBT+ in the RSE curriculum

4 December 2019

Ahead of SecEd’s Delivering Statutory RSE conference in January, expert Adele Bates – who will be leading two workshops at the event – looks at how we should be including LGBT+ in the new curriculum and signposts to some useful resources

Creating calmer classrooms

30 November 2019

Your classroom environment can play a crucial role in influencing the emotional state of your students. Shahana Knight offers some quick and practical tips…

The importance of sleep

26 November 2019

All teachers know that tired students make for poor learners. John Dabell looks at what the research tells us about why sleep is a fundamental part of the thinking and learning process

Tackling period poverty: Secondary school roll-out

19 November 2019

In an average classroom of 30, two girls will miss school due to period poverty. The government has now agreed to fund free sanitary products in schools to help end period poverty. Chris Brown looks at what the research says and how schools might approach implementation

Techniques to help students suffering with anxiety

13 November 2019

Anxiety-related disorders are increasingly common among young people. Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers us five simple calming strategies that can be used in the classroom

Getting statutory RSE right for SEND students

13 November 2019

Relationships and sex education is statutory from September 2020 for all pupils, including those with SEND. Adele Bates advises schools on how to ensure this group does not miss out on these vital lessons

When death happens: Bereavement in schools

6 November 2019

To mark Children’s Grief Awareness Week, Alison Penny considers how schools can be better prepared to support young people who are coming to terms with the death of someone close

A safe haven: Ideas for your school library

22 October 2019

The school library is about more than literacy and ICT – it should be a safe haven for all pupils and should cater for the whole child. Valerie Dewhurst offers some practical ideas

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Keeping Children Safe in Education: Important changes for the new school year

18 September 2019

The new school year has seen some minor – but important – changes to the statutory safeguarding guidance Keeping children safe in education. Dawn Jotham runs through the changes and offers her advice

Supporting children through crisis moments

17 September 2019

When a young person with mental health or wellbeing issues faces a crisis moment, there are some simple techniques and ideas that could help. Dr Pooky Knightsmith explains

Supporting students who stammer

10 July 2019

Stammering can have an adverse effect on a student’s confidence and ability to thrive in school. Teacher Abed Ahmed gives us an insight into what it is like to live and teach with a stammer – and offers some advice for supporting students

Self-harm: How teachers should respond

3 July 2019

A guide from the University of Oxford and the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust offers practical ways in which schools and school staff can support young people at risk from self-harm

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Getting transition right for vulnerable pupils

20 June 2019

We all know that transition to year 7 can lead to a dip in student outcomes. Daniel Sobel speaks to Jez Piper about how we can get transition right, particularly for our most vulnerable pupils

Supporting young people who have had adverse childhood experiences

20 June 2019

Half of children will live through an adverse childhood experience and around one in 10 will suffer four or more. How can schools support these young people? Lynn Miles, who suffered ACEs herself, explains more and offers her advice

Promoting summer holiday wellbeing

12 June 2019

The long summer break can be challenging for students facing mental health or emotional wellbeing issues. Dr Pooky Knightsmith looks at how we can help students to prepare

Supporting students with medical needs

5 June 2019

Many schools work hard to make the best provision they can for students with medical needs, but it is not always easy. Jackie Wheatley highlights key areas of best practice, considers some of the legal requirements placed on schools, and offers her advice