Government policy

Teacher development: Understanding the DfE's Golden Thread

27 June 2022

Are you tying yourself in knots with the golden thread? Gareth Conyard discusses two key challenges schools must navigate when considering career-long CPD for teaching staff

Post-16: Delivering the additional 40 hours

14 June 2022

Sixth forms and further education must deliver an additional 40 hours of teaching from September, but the guidance is vague. Post-16 specialist Kevin Gilmartin offers some reassurance

Improving attendance for Pupil Premium students

25 May 2022

Attendance is a priority for Ofsted and the DfE is to introduce new requirements for schools. Xavier Roeseler outlines some strategies for supporting Pupil Premium students to attend

The virtual school headteacher: What you need to know

23 May 2022

What is the role of the virtual school head, what does their new duty to support all children with social workers entail, and how can they support schools? Darren Martindale explains

Political impartiality: Ten ways to sit on a fence

17 May 2022

The government’s new political impartiality guidance has caused some consternation in schools, with fears of a potential ‘chilling’ effect on teaching. Andrew Jones considers 10 strategies for tackling ‘political’ issues impartially

Boosting social mobility: Seven building blocks for schools

22 February 2022

The tail of educational underachievement for disadvantaged students risks getting longer. Dr Jonathan Doherty looks at the state of play after two years of Covid, considers where now for social mobility, and discusses seven building blocks for schools to help raise attainment for disadvantaged ...

Social media, teachers and schools: How to avoid the pitfalls

7 February 2022

Planned changes to safeguarding law could see schools conducting social media checks on prospective teachers. Legal expert Sarah Linden considers the common pitfalls of social media use for teachers…

Why are we here? Twelve reasons schools exist

25 January 2022

Why do schools exist? What exactly are we trying to achieve? Renowned educationalists Sir Tim Brighouse and Professor Mick Waters call for a national conversation about the purpose of schooling and offer their list of 12 core reasons we do what we do...

Reviewing your school uniform policy

24 January 2022

New statutory rules on school uniform require schools to review their uniform policies, keeping branding to a minimum and ensuring best value for money. Ciara Lamb advises how to develop a policy and consult with your families in line with the new guidance

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: 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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