Government policy

A question of time? Priorities and considerations for the ‘catch-up’ funding

21 October 2020

The Covid catch-up funding should not be used simply to create more ‘time’ for schooling, but should be used to make the most of the time we have and to get students to a place where they can re-engage with their learning. Jon Gibson and Ben Slater explain

The National Tutoring Programme roll-out: How will it work?

14 October 2020

The £350m National Tutoring Programme will begin operation after the October half-term. Two main strands will support schools’ work with pupils whose education has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown. Director Robbie Coleman looks at how it works in practice

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 Forgotten Third: The students destined to fail – and what we can do about it...

7 September 2020

The 2019 Forgotten Third inquiry laid bare the injustice facing those students who are destined to fail their GCSEs in English and maths. Chair of the report group, Professor Roy Blatchford, has now written a book looking at what schools can do to improve the life chances of the forgotten third...

Keeping children safe in education – analysis of the latest update

25 August 2020

Once again, the statutory safeguarding guidance Keeping children safe in education has been updated ahead of the new school year. Sara Alston looks at what has changed in the new guidance

GDPR, data protection and remote learning

6 July 2020

In a world of online learning, data protection has never been more important. Have you got your bases covered? Lynne Taylor advises

A school system that drives social justice: Education policy & policy-makers

6 July 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 four, he looks at how education policy can help or hinder social justice

Clarity, communication and flexibility: Preparations ahead of June 15

2 June 2020

As things stand, June 15 will see more students returning to secondary schools. Headteacher Phil Denton is preparing to welcome his year 10s back. He discusses his reflections, practical considerations and the preparations that his team is putting in place

June 15: I will not be re-opening my school until I believe it is safe to do so

26 May 2020

The request that secondary schools lay on ‘face-to-face’ provision for year 10 and 12 students has caused confusion amid unclear and delayed guidance and shambolic government communication. Ben Solly will not be re-opening his school until he believes it is safe to do so

A school system that drives social justice: Collaboration vs competition

25 May 2020

In this seven-part series, teacher and school leader David Anderson considers how schools can be a key driver for social justice and offers us a blueprint for how we can make our education system more equitable. In part two, he looks at why we must end our system’s obsession with competition – and ...

Ed-tech: Making industry collaboration work for your school

11 May 2020

Collaboration between schools and ed-tech companies is one of the priorities of the government’s digital strategy. Al Kingsley looks at the risks, rewards and cost-benefits for schools considering a co-production partnership

Demonstrator Hubs: A welcome development in the face of our pedagogy-light ed-tech strategy

24 April 2020

As the DfE unveils which schools have been successful in their bid to become new ed-tech Demonstrator Hubs, Bob Harrison says that this promising project must not distract from the on-going challenges facing computing education and our pedagogy-light ed-tech strategy

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Coronavirus: Provision and teaching in school during the crisis

23 March 2020

For the foreseeable future, schools are only open to children of key workers, vulnerable students or those with an EHCP. Matt Bromley looks at what kind of provision we can reasonably offer these students at a time of national crisis and staff shortages

Coronavirus: Key messages from latest DfE guidance for schools

22 March 2020

Government guidance published on Sunday (March 22) outlines how schools are expected to operate during the coronavirus pandemic. Former school leader Matt Bromley takes a look and offers his advice

Coronavirus: Crisis management and school closure – issues to consider

18 March 2020

Schools are closing across the UK in the face of the coronavirus emergency. As they prepare to shut their doors, Matt Bromley looks at some of the issues headteachers will need to think about, including practical considerations, supporting staff, the continuation of learning, and safeguarding

SEND and SENCO support: Tenets of best practice

4 March 2020

The high numbers of pupils with SEN are putting a huge strain on school finances – and on SENCOs themselves. Margaret Mulholland looks at some tenets of best practice, what Ofsted wants to see, and how schools can best support their SENCOs

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

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

Funding pledge: What it means for your school...

6 November 2019

What will the government funding pledges – announced earlier this term – mean for your secondary school? Funding specialist Julia Harnden looks at the figures

GDPR in schools: One year on...

12 June 2019

GDPR recently celebrated its first anniversary, but there is still confusion in schools about data duties and obligations. Richard Skipper provides clarity on some common problems

LGBT within high-quality RSE

8 May 2019

What can schools do to make LGBT-inclusive approaches central to high-quality, statutory relationships and sex education for all pupils. Lucy Emmerson offers some guidance

Brexit: What schools need to know

13 March 2019

Brexit is upon us! Ahead of our EU exit, Imogen Rowley looks at the issues and considerations that schools need to be aware of

Regional Schools Commissioners: Lifting the veil

6 March 2019

The world of Regional Schools Commissioners and Headteacher Boards has long seemed opaque. Brian Rossiter looks at how the system has evolved and advises on how school leaders can best engage with their RSC

Handling incidents of sexual assault in schools

16 January 2019

Preventing and responding to incidents of child-on-child sexual assault is a key part of safeguarding in the school environment. Emma Banister Dean offers a practical guide for schools and parents

Aspects of effective PSHE

16 January 2019

High-quality PSHE is essential to the wellbeing of our students. Last week, Matt Bromley looked at how to create and lead an effective PSHE programme. This week he looks at what Ofsted has to say on the matter and offers further advice about the tenets of effective PSHE