Diary of a headteacher: Genuine and sustainable school improvement 5 July 2019 Do you like your job? This was the question I was met with as I walked through the school this week.
AP and PRUs: The real picture 4 July 2019 Much has been said of late about the role of alternative provision and PRUs – in the context of knife crime, off-rolling and exclusion. Deborah Lawson looks at the real picture...
Character? It is not enough... 3 July 2019 It is true, of course, that delivering effective character education will play a role in raising students’ aspirations and outcomes, but this is not the whole story, says Dr Mary Bousted
The knife crime epidemic: In defence of schools 3 July 2019 The on-going knife crime epidemic in our cities has sparked a sound-bite response from politicians and others, who seem set on blaming schools. Matt Ward explains
Diary of a headteacher: School improvement – 1980s-style 3 July 2019 I am sat with my leadership team on a bright summer morning. We are planning for next academic year. We have got an awful lot to do. Not least because we hope to call in HMI.
Schools should be... left alone 3 July 2019 How many times have we seen organisations, charities and even ministers call for schools to be given a duty to tackle some societal problem or other? Enough is enough, says Geoff Barton
At the chalkface: Where language goes to die 1 July 2019 This once prince of subjects has been eviscerated. Creativity and critical thinking have been junked. Language is rarely subjected to ferocious and forensic examination. At what cost?
At the chalkface: Work 'til you drop 14 June 2019 The class drifted past my still form. Daisy asked about the homework, but rigor mortis had set in.
Support staff: Cut technicians, increase your risks 12 June 2019 The role of the technicians in our schools is vital to effective delivery of the curriculum, yet numbers are dwindling as school cuts bite, says Jon Richards 5 comments
Diary of a headteacher: Aiming for the moon 12 June 2019 Slowly and surely the transformation is taking place. After a meeting that will hopefully transform a core part of her school, our headteacher diarist reflects on the importance of aspiration...
Age discrimination: Time to celebrate experience 11 June 2019 Age discrimination is a real threat for older teachers in schools according to evidence from the NASUWT, which is launching a new campaign to tackle the issue. Chris Keates explains
Diary of a headteacher: We have got to be protected… 11 June 2019 Are you preparing your "exit plan" from headship? Our headteacher diarist says more must be done to protect headteachers from the pressure and strain of school leadership
The danger of growth mindset 5 June 2019 Growth mindset theory has dominated education practice in recent years, but its message and application is often misunderstood and misinterpreted, warns Paolo Canonica
NQT Special Edition: Looking back on my NQT year 5 June 2019 This year’s SecEd NQT diarist is a teacher of English from a school in the Midlands. Here she reflects on her first year at the chalkface – the challenges, successes and hopes for year 2
Equality: A fact, not a choice 5 June 2019 The angry protests in Birmingham against schools teaching equal rights are concerning. Paul Whiteman reminds us that every school has a duty to eliminate discrimination
Falling through the gaps: Focus on school exclusion long overdue 5 June 2019 The renewed focus on issues of school exclusion and off-rolling is welcome. The time has come for schools and policy-makers to reflect on why the exclusions system seems to be going off the rails. Anna Feuchtwang explains
Our GCSE system and its devastating collateral damage 9 May 2019 Our GCSE system, with its comparable outcomes basis, undervalues the achievements of too many students. This must end, says Geoff Barton
Diary of a headteacher: Practising ‘tension-free’ leadership 9 May 2019 Is the job of headteacher a stressful one? There is certainly a lot of pressure, but what can we do to protect our wellbeing and ease some of the many stresses and strains we face day-to-day...
Behaviour: We must say no to ‘no excuses’ 8 May 2019 The ‘no excuses’, zero tolerance approach to behaviour and discipline is shown to be a failed model and should now be thrown out by schools – for good – says Matt Ward
The ed-tech strategy: A great leap backwards? 8 May 2019 The government has finally launched its long-promised strategy for the future of educational technology. Bob Harrison looks at the ‘critical welcome’ it has received...
Diary of an NQT: Taking the time to observe others 8 May 2019 Having finally found some time to observe some of her colleagues' lessons, our NQT diarist recommends that all new teachers choose a focus and head out into the school to see other teachers' practice
STEM careers: A question of equity 8 May 2019 Statistics show that girls continue to turn away from STEM career paths – and it begins with the rejection of A level options, with physics being a prime example, says Charles Tracy
Mental health support: ‘You literally have to be suicidal’ 8 May 2019 With mental health support services at breaking point, chronic underfunding and an exam factory culture are driving a mental health crisis in schools, says Kevin Courtney
At the chalkface: ‘Go on sir, tell us a story!’ 8 May 2019 Story-telling is just about the most important thing you can ever do in English. It cuts across class, language, culture and even literacy. Children always want to hear (or tell) a good story. They think they’re not really working. Well, they’re so wrong.
Knife crime duty ‘ill-thought-out’ 7 May 2019 The government’s rush to appear tough on knife crime has led to a flawed proposal that will heap yet more responsibility onto schools, says Deborah Lawson 1 comment
3 July 2019