Best Practice

Learn more about primary education and leadership best practice with our range of in-depth articles written specifically for UK primary school leaders.

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Setting vs mixed ability

Sir Michael Wilshaw tells us that mixed-ability can harm the more able. Boris Johnson stands up in favour of grammar schools. Should our schools be more selective and put children back into sets? Suzanne O’Connell takes a look

‘The tyranny of stuff’

If your workload is becoming unmanageable it may be time to turn your back on some of the demands on your time – and give your team more responsibility. Nick Bannister on achieving work/life balance

Effective consultation with your parents

With recent changes to the Ofsted framework giving greater prominence to the views of key stakeholders, schools need to find new ways of gathering and responding to feedback. Dorothy Lepkowska reports

A new approach to CPD

Maggie Farrar discusses joint practice development, a peer-to-peer approach to CPD which is prioritised and modelled by school leaders too

School exclusions and the SEN expert

Independent SEN experts are playing an increasingly common role in exclusion processes. Legal expert Richard Wilkins explains more

The rise and rise of business managers

The school business manager is an established part of the leadership of England’s secondary schools, but primaries are still some way behind. That’s now changing, as Nick Bannister discovers

Academy status – to be or not to be?

Whether or not to convert to an academy is one of the fundamental questions facing primary leaders across the country today. Nick Bannister speaks to three heads about the factors that made them go for, or reject, academy status

How to spend the Pupil Premium

Having increased to £900 in 2013/14, the Pupil Premium is expected to make all the difference to disadvantage in our communities. Suzanne O’Connell speaks to schools about how it is being used, including how Ofsted is reporting its use

Creating a friendly school library

Finalist in the School Librarian of the Year 2012, Gill Trueman offers her advice on how we can create friendly and inspiring library environments

What does the Equality Act mean for schools?

The Equality Act 2010 replaced nine major pieces of legislation and should make it easier for school leaders and governors to understand their legal responsibilities and tackle inequalities in education. Bill Bolloten explains

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Forced conversion puts leaders under threat

As primary schools are being targeted for forced academy status, many headteachers are not being given the benefit of the doubt. Headteacher Update investigates the story behind the conversion statistics

Data protection – legal advice for schools

A survey of 1,000 schools has found that around half have inadequate policies on data protection and security. Expert Ros Foster looks at the challenges facing schools and the need for many to update their policies and practices on managing data

How primary schools can help to tackle teenage NEETs

The vital work to help tackle the number of young people who are NEET – not in education, employment or training – starts in our primary schools, research shows

Ofsted – an inspector's advice

We are now two months into life under the new Section 5 inspection arrangements. Here, an Ofsted inspector and practising primary headteacher – writing anonymously – looks at the key changes that schools must be aware of under the latest inspection regime

Careers education for primary pupils

It is becoming more common for primary schools to focus on pupils’ career aspirations and to begin preparing them for the world of work. Suzanne O’Connell reports

Developing a culture to drive standards

How can a headteacher create a school culture and ethos that drives standards? Brenda Bigland offers her advice

Making school count for young carers

Michelle Dale discusses the importance of supporting young carers and explains how her primary school is making a difference for those pupils who have caring responsibilities

One small step towards good pupil behaviour...

Small steps and consistent language can have a huge impact on children’s behaviour. Nick Bannister looks at the successful approaches of two schools to behaviour management

Removing barriers for BME pupils

Are schools doing enough to meet the needs of their increasingly diverse population? Linda Tanner reports on programmes that have been proven to make the difference for Black and minority ethnic children

Tackling homophobic bullying

In 2009, 75 per cent of pupils at Alfred Salter Primary School were hearing homophobic language on a daily basis. Now, the school is to become the only primary in the country offering training days to support school staff in tackling homophobic bullying.

Environmental citizenship – not just recycling

We visit two schools that have worked to establish a culture of environmental citizenship and outdoor learning across the curriculum

Down on the farm – school trips to the country

Farming and Countryside Education works to connect schools with farms and farmers. Jonathan Falkingham explains what a farm visit can bring to your curriculum

Pupil wellbeing and attainment

Wellbeing activities such as yoga, music, breathing techniques and good nutrition can help create pupils who are ready to learn. Giles Bryant explores the link between wellbeing and attainment and looks at case studies of wellbeing practices in action