Government policy

School finance: The Spending Review, the Budget and you

18 January 2022

Now the dust has settled on last term’s Budget and Spending Review, we asked funding specialist Julia Harnden to look at the implications for the education front-line in schools

Using the DfE Climate Change Strategy to develop your school's sustainability ethos

29 November 2021

The DfE’s sustainability and climate change strategy sets out a range of actions across five key areas. Author of Leadership for Sustainability, Dr David Dixon, picks out his highlights and sets out why having a sustainability ethos is the only sensible option for schools

A robust cross-curricular approach to climate education

8 November 2021

How do teachers make sense of the decisions emerging from COP26? Alan Kinder says clear curriculum thinking will be required and offers ideas for ensuring a robust approach to climate change education

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Environmental sustainability: Actions secondary schools can take

8 November 2021

The views of young people have helped to create a new manifesto for environmental sustainability in secondary education. Dr Elizabeth Rushton and Dr Lynda Dunlop explain

The Pupil Premium strategy statement

13 October 2021

The DfE’s new Pupil Premium strategy statement is aimed at helping schools to explain how they are using this crucial funding. Suzanne O’Connell looks at what it entails and what’s involved

Flexible working: How can it work for your school?

5 October 2021

Over the last 18 months more school staff will have worked flexibly than ever before, but what does flexible working actually mean in the secondary school context? Louise Hatswell looks at employment law, best practice and offers some guidance for employers

Schools and vaccine liability: Debunking the anti-vaxxers' threats

28 September 2021

As the vaccination programme rolls out for 12 to 15-year-olds, headteachers continue to receive threatening letters alleging severe legal consequences for them and their schools. We asked legal expert Julia Green to debunk these threats and reassure SecEd readers

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Early Career Framework: Roll-out and next steps

6 September 2021

The Early Career Framework is here and with it comes a new two-year induction cycle for early career teachers across England. Leora Cruddas identifies some key questions schools should be addressing as full roll-out of the ECF begins...

Employment law and Covid-19: The key issues

23 August 2021

With a new term upon us, where do we stand in relation to our school staff, vaccinations, self-isolation and other key Covid-related issues? Employment law expert Jane Hallas offers her reflections

Our broken assessment system: How schools are leading change

29 June 2021

A four-year upper secondary phase, a baccalaureate-style award, a stage not age approach – now is the time to rethink our assessment system says Elena Wilson. She sets out her case and considers some examples that schools can build on...

Senior Mental Health Lead: How to have an impact

11 June 2021

If you are new to the role of mental health lead, or you would like to make sure that your role really makes a difference next year, Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers a few simple ideas to help you to maximise your impact

Early Career Framework: Choosing your school's induction mentors

1 June 2021

Under the new Early Career Framework, schools must appoint an induction mentor for their early career teachers. Simon Clark explains the role of the mentor, how you can pick the best candidates, and ways you can support them in their role

Early Career Framework: Which delivery model is best?

25 May 2021

The Early Career Framework reforms come into action in September, but schools face some difficult decisions around delivery models and providers. Sara Ford advises

Ready for the Early Career Framework? Five things to do now

17 May 2021

Given the challenges of the last year, some schools have not quite got to grips with the impending Early Career Framework reforms. Leora Cruddas offers five things you can do now to support early career teachers from September

The senior mental health lead: What does this new role entail?

17 May 2021

The government wants every school to have a designated mental health lead in place by 2025 and has begun to fund training to support this goal. In light of the pandemic’s impact, the role could well be a crucial part of recovery. Sam Preston looks at what it will entail

Exam grading 2021: What are the key challenges ahead?

3 May 2021

Several trends are emerging from the concerns that school leaders have about this summer’s exam grading process. Tom Middlehurst looks at the main sticking points and offers advice and reassurance for secondary school leaders and teachers

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Sexual violence and harassment: How schools must respond

14 April 2021

As thousands of young people share their experiences of sexual harassment and violence, both in and out of schools – safeguarding expert Hannah Glossop looks at how schools can sharpen their policies and procedures

Full re-opening on March 8: Safeguarding priorities

24 February 2021

With schools due to re-open fully from March 8, safeguarding issues will be foremost in our minds and our preparations must begin now. Expert Elizabeth Rose advises on what our priorities and approaches should look like

Schools post-Covid: Five changes for the better

8 December 2020

What changes should schools make in the post-Covid world? What are the new priorities? Malcolm Groves outlines five changes for the better that school leaders say they want to see

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Social justice and schools: Accountability

1 December 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 the final part, he tackles our school accountability system and the dreaded ‘O’…

Social justice and schools: 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

Online learning: There is nothing remote about it

18 November 2020

Learning cannot be remote. But it can take place online. Having seen the various official contributions to the remote education push, Bob Harrison despairs…

What should remote education look like in your school?

11 November 2020

What is remote learning? What isn’t it? And how are schools approaching it? Tom Middlehurst takes a practical look at what school leaders and teachers can and should be doing to fulfil their legal and moral obligations this term and beyond

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

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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