At the chalkace: Any classroom, any time 14 November 2018 “Billy Boy” Byron lives in a caravan under Westway. His drunken father hits him a lot. The teacher wants to like him, but cannot. He wishes he was only absent. So does Billy Boy.
Diary of a Headteacher: Not in a million years… 14 November 2018 Reflecting on her first 20 weeks or so of headship, our diarist wouldn’t change a thing – despite the myriad challenges she has faced and continues to encounter 1 comment
Diary of an NQT: The quiet students 14 November 2018 A recent experience has opened our NQT diarist’s eyes to those quieter students in her classes who might be slipping under the radar...
No more low-trust schools 14 November 2018 Too many teachers feel that they are not valued for the work they do and too many schools operate a low-trust environment
Handling sexual allegations between students 7 November 2018 Government guidance offers support on managing allegations of sexual violence and harassment between pupils. However, Dai Durbridge highlights some common difficulties that schools still face
A betrayal of childhood 7 November 2018 What would an alien from Mars with no vested or financial interest say about British education on arriving here? Former children’s commissioner Sir Al Aynsley-Green tackles this question in his new book
Diary of an NQT: A simple marking solution 7 November 2018 Desperate to reduce her marking workload, our NQT diarist realises she has overlooked a simple solution – marking codes and comment banks
Diary of a Headteacher: Thanks for not a lot, Phil... 7 November 2018 It has saddened and infuriated many in school leadership to see the government – once again – ignore the funding crisis in education
What is ‘wrong’ with them? 7 November 2018 Is this pupil mentally ill or just human? Anna Scarr asks why we are too willing to convey the dangerous message that something is ‘wrong’ with a child...
At the chalkface: Wellbeing 7 November 2018 The prime minister is on the case. Children from the age of four will be given an annual “wellbeing test”. By whom? You, of course. You’ll be trained up and rolled out and on stream by 2020.
Getting school accountability right 17 October 2018 Many agree that school accountability in England is not fit-for-purpose. The NAHT’s Accountability Commission has put forward a way to fix the system. Nick Brook explains
Ofsted: Finally on the right track? 17 October 2018 Ofsted is finally showing signs of positive change, says Deborah Lawson – but will it stay the course?
Diary of a headteacher: Admissions – The pressure mounts 17 October 2018 Despite a successful Open Evening, enrolments for next year are still down and so our headteacher diarist is forced to step-up the fight
Diary of an NQT: After the observation... 17 October 2018 Our NQT diarist’s long-awaited first formal observation has happened, leaving her exhausted and with an unexpected outcome…
At the chalkface: The lesson wrecker... 17 October 2018 Ah, but something is waiting out there, something lurks in the inner city air. This is their season. They flourish about now. Before them, all pedagogy is as nought, all teachers impotent. What can it be?
Shared Education: The journey is just beginning 10 October 2018 Northern Ireland’s first ever Shared Education Week is taking place, giving young people from different communities the chance to learn together. Barbara Ward says this is just the beginning of the journey
Diary of a Headteacher: Admissions – Holding our heads high 10 October 2018 Admissions is another area of school life where some schools are tempted to cross ethical lines…
Diary of an NQT: My first formal observation 10 October 2018 As her first formal observation approaches, our NQT diarist is searching for a development area on which to focus in her lesson
New roles, new networks 10 October 2018 It has never been more important to have supportive professional networks around you, says Fiona Aubrey-Smith
At the chalkface: A pork pie and shandy 10 October 2018 He gets a rush hour bus. The road is a snarl up. He gives up, jumps off and races through the park, just in time to be late for school and the Breakfast Club. He gets a bollocking from Ms Strict.
Our child poverty shame 3 October 2018 The government is not short on rhetoric over social mobility and child poverty, but the reality in Britain today is very different, says Kevin Courtney
Do you talk about death in your school? 3 October 2018 It is perhaps the one issue that many children will experience but which schools don’t talk about. Alison Penny gives five reasons for making death and dying part of your curriculum
Diary of a headteacher: Planning the Open Evening 3 October 2018 Teachers being strangled, parents being arrested?! Our headteacher diarist is planning for the worst but hoping for the best for her first Open Evening... 5 comments
From RE to religion and worldviews 3 October 2018 Is it time to refresh religious education? Wide-ranging reforms to the subject have been proposed by the Commission on Religious Education. What next? Dr John Hall sets out the proposals
At the chalkface: Sweating the small stuff 3 October 2018 Stand silent at desks. Satchels on floor. Check for sartorial peccadilloes – QPR scarves, dodgy hats, spider tattoos or illegal trainers.
17 October 2018