School accountability in England: A critique No school accountability system is perfect, but will mooted changes to inspection in England tackle some of the unintended consequences that school leaders face? Hilary Grayson draws some lessons from international practice
Supporting EAL learners in your classroom Continuing our series on supporting learners with English as an additional language, Emma Parsons recommends strategies and resources for teachers and support staff to use in class and offers her suggestions for CPD and sharing good EAL practice within your school
Case study: Innovative school facilities As far as innovative facilities projects go, Aldingbourne Primary School perhaps takes the gold medal – from a diner made from shipping containers to a double decker bus-based breakfast club. Emma Lee-Potter takes a look
Case study: Inclusion – the secret to success at Thames View Thames View Infants Academy is in the top three per cent of schools for attainment but is located in the most deprived ward of the sixth most deprived authority in the country. Suzanne O’Connell finds out how inclusion is at the heart of what they do and the secrets to their success
Dealing with incidents of sexual assault in schools Preventing and responding to incidents of child-on-child sexual assault is a key part of safeguarding in the primary school environment. Emma Banister Dean offers a practical guide for schools and parents
Attachment-aware schools Attachment-aware and trauma-informed practice can help to support some of the most vulnerable pupils in our schools, including those who are looked after. Virtual school head Darren Martindale advises 1 comment
Workload reduction: What will 2019 bring? In 2019 there will be a new Ofsted framework, the introduction of a mental maths test and the return of Baseline Assessment is on the horizon. So what hope for Damian Hinds’ pledge to support schools to tackle workload?
Making job-sharing work How can flexible working conditions, such as job-shares, improve the recruitment and retention of teachers? Caroline Cafferty speaks to headteacher Angela Pagett to get her perspective on job-sharing in a primary school setting
Battling the stress of leading Teacher Wellbeing Index has revealed just how stressed many school leaders are. Julian Stanley looks at what must change
Supporting refugee children The plight of the millions of child refugees and their fight for education is being highlighted in the run up to this year’s Red Nose Day on March 15. Emma Stevenson looks at the work of two charities and seeks some advice for UK schools on how they can support refugee children
Forging firm foundations for your leadership Forging a firm leadership foundation is a key job for the head of any multi-academy trust if they want their schools to thrive in the long term. Primary executive head and MAT CEO Michaela Lewis talks to Liam Donnison about her approach
STEM: Building early foundations When should we introduce the STEM approach and how can we maintain children’s engagement with STEM throughout their education? Emily Hunt offers teachers some advice 1 comment
What to expect from education in 2019? What does 2019 hold in store for the world of state education? Imogen Rowley dusts off her crystal ball and flags up three key areas that could see significant change this year
Therapeutic schools: Rethinking lunch and break times Continuing her regular series, expert Shahana Knight advises schools on supporting the emotional and mental health of children and staff, offering easy-to-implement and cost-effective activities. Here she focuses on rethinking lunch times and your outdoor spaces
Case study: Making mental health a priority in Morecambe The mental health and wellbeing of pupils and families has become a priority for primary schools, nowhere more so than at Morecambe Bay Primary. Emma Lee-Potter finds out about their work
Case study: Arts, creativity and the curriculum Headteacher Michael Schumm speaks to Amanda Hall-Davis about the innovative curriculum at his school and its basis in creativity and the arts
Reflections on recruitment Getting it right is absolutely imperative. Get it wrong and that has a tremendous impact on productivity, morale, workload and outcomes for children. Rachel Jones offers her reflections on the recruitment challenge
Supporting looked after children in your school Specific support for looked after children is essential if they are to thrive. Darren Martindale focuses on three key elements – the designated teacher, the Personal Education Plan, and the virtual school head
Choosing to read – what the evidence tells us... Literacy and numeracy are critical skills for pupils to develop if they are to reach their potential and achieve rewarding outcomes during and after education. Liz Twist highlights the evidence showing why reading – including reading out loud – must be at the heart of the curriculum in the primary ...
Will Ofsted’s inspection framework changes make a difference? After years of prioritising outcomes and data, Ofsted has signalled a change in focus. It comes after the NAHT’s landmark report into accountability. So what can we expect come September 2019 and will it really be an improvement?
Using video as part of CPD The impact of video feedback on teacher-led CPD in Ross Newman‘s schools has been notable. Here, he explains how video feedback was implemented and offers some tips for other schools
Workload. Are you working in the dark? If you are reading this article at school and it is dark outside – go home...
The dark days of winter... Stress and mental health difficulties can be harder to handle during the dark winter nights. How can we support our staff?
STEM: Why we should do more tinkering How can we foster creativity, open-mindedness and resourcefulness while still working towards key academic outcomes. The Royal Academy of Engineering says the answer is to tinker. Rhys Morgan explains
What can schools do about pollution? We are finding out more about the impact of poor air quality on our children, especially in urban areas. But what can schools do to protect their pupils and to raise awareness? Suzanne O’Connell reports
