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Supporting looked after children to aspire to university

11 January 2021

An incredibly small minority of children in care end up going to university. Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale discusses a programme in the Midlands which set out to raise aspirations among our most vulnerable students

Supporting the education of white working class boys

5 January 2021

Data suggests that white working class boys are among the lowest attainers in our schools. Matt Bromley considers why this is and what schools might be able to do about it

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

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

Social justice and schools: 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 ...

What kind of support will EAL pupils need this term and beyond?

7 October 2020

Teaching and learning post-lockdown presents many challenges. Silvana Richardson considers how we can support the most disadvantaged EAL pupils, who as well as suffering a hit to their learning, may have also experienced a language learning loss...

Spending the £650m Covid 'catch-up' funding: Some things to consider

5 October 2020

The government’s £650m so-called catch-up premium amounts to £80 per-pupil. Matt Bromley looks at how the funding is being delivered, how we might spend it, and Ofsted’s role in the coming months

Lost learning? Why we must avoid a deficit teaching model post-lockdown – and how we can do it

23 September 2020

The rhetoric around ‘lost learning’ is not helpful and should be avoided, says Matt Bromley. Drawing on the words of David Ausubel and Dylan Wiliam, he looks here about why we must avoid the deficit model when teaching this academic year

Recovering from Covid: Supporting the learning of disadvantaged pupils

14 September 2020

After the Covid-19 lockdown, we are facing a growing attainment gap between rich and poor. Bethany Eadie asks how we might spend our Pupil Premium budgets this year and what evidence-based measures we can take to begin closing the gap again

Social justice and schools: 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

Coronavirus: On the wrong side of the digital divide

10 June 2020

What does the research say about the impact of the coronavirus lockdown on potential gaps in learning – and about how schools can best support students and their families with remote education – especially those on the wrong side of the digital divide? Dr Beng Huat See considers the evidence

Social justice and schools: Resources & funding

8 June 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 three, he considers huge disparities between state and private schools when it comes to resources and funding

Social justice and our school system: A blueprint for equity

6 May 2020

In a seven-part series, teacher and school leader David Anderson draws on his Master’s research to consider how schools can be a key driver for social justice and how we can make our education system more equitable. In part one, he looks at inequity across the system, the challenges we face and ...

Pupil Premium: Levelling the playing field with high expectations

26 February 2020

How can we ensure that our disadvantaged students make good progress and achieve success? Amy Benziane discusses approaches centred on high expectations and aspiration

Interventions: How well do you know your cognitive bias?

5 February 2020

Cognitive bias can present itself in many forms and can hamper your school’s work to raise attainment and close the gaps. Fiona Aubrey-Smith asks whether cognitive bias is holding you, your colleagues or your school back

A case study of effective Pupil Premium practice

9 October 2019

Oriel High School has achieved some notable success with its Pupil Premium strategy. Helen Everitt and Ryan Sallows reflect on some of the key tenets of the school’s work

Pupil Premium: An intervention epidemic?

12 June 2019

Is a lack of diagnosis leading to guess work in a world of solutions looking for problems? Phil Naylor urges schools to ensure that the evidence backs up their interventions

The specific challenges of previously looked after children

10 April 2019

Previously looked after children can present particular challenges and schools are required to have a ‘designated teacher’ in place. Darren Martindale offers us best practice advice

Interventions in learning: The evaluation deficit

4 April 2019

We should be using evidence of what works to close the attainment gaps, but are we properly evaluating our interventions? Owen Carter looks at the ‘evaluation deficit’...

Spending the Pupil Premium Plus effectively

20 June 2018

The Pupil Premium Plus grant for looked after and other vulnerable pupils is £2,300 per-student, but many schools are still uncertain as to how it can be best utilised. Virtual school headteacher Darren Martindale advises

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Pupil Premium: A 10-step spending plan

21 March 2018

All schools should be regularly reviewing their Pupil Premium practice to ensure their spending is evidence-based and improving outcomes. John Dabell looks at the wealth of research and guidance out there to help, including some of Sir John Dunford’s best advice

Pupil Premium: Create a strategy, grow a culture

21 March 2018

Ahead of his address at SecEd’s National Pupil Premium and Ofsted Conference, Stephen Rollett offers five steps for ensuring your Pupil Premium spending narrows the gap

Pupil Premium: Using CPD to narrow the gaps

21 March 2018

The evidence is clear – the quality of teachers and teaching is one of the most important factors in raising outcomes, and disadvantaged pupils are disproportionally affected by the quality of teaching. Maria Cunningham looks at the role of CPD in narrowing the gaps

Pupil Premium: Low-cost strategies

21 March 2018

Some schools are using the Pupil Premium to plug holes in their general funding. John Dabell warns against this approach and offers 25 low-cost ways to spend the Pupil Premium and make maximum impact

Narrowing the Gap