Leadership and Policy

Covid-19 recovery: Time to start listening to our pupils

What does ‘recovery’ mean? Post-lockdown and as the Covid-19 pandemic continues, we are all talking about pupil wellbeing – but are we listening to the children? Jenny Mosley urges a renewed focus on circle time and other ways of supporting pupil (and staff) wellbeing

Spotting the signs: 10 mental health challenges post-Covid

What kind of wellbeing and mental health issues will some students be presenting with this term and what signs should we be alert for? Dr Pooky Knightsmith considers 10 challenges we are likely to see in the coming weeks and months – and what we can do to help

It will be a turbulent term, but we are prepared

It's set to be a turbulent and testing term. Three weeks in and we asked MAT CEO Louise Smith to reflect on the return of pupils across the primary schools in her trust, any problems that have emerged so far, and her thoughts for the coming months

Wellbeing: Supporting students who have to self-isolate

With potential this year for individuals or groups of pupils to be sent home from school at very short notice due to Covid-19, a new pastoral challenge will be supporting the wellbeing of those students affected. Dr Pooky Knightsmith advises

Taking a longer term look at Covid recovery

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Fiona Aubrey-Smith looks at how we can take advantage of the disruption of Covid-19 to build back better with children’s learning and parental engagement

Domestic abuse: The hidden legacy of the pandemic

Domestic abuse in the family can have significant implications for the welfare and wellbeing of young people – and lockdown has seen a dramatic rise in cases. Sara Alston looks at what we can expect as pupils return in September

Pupil attendance and Covid: A legal view

Despite the pressure building on government to scrap fines for non-attendance, the rules remain in place for the term ahead. So – do headteachers have to seek fines for parents who do not send their children back to school? We asked legal expert Karen Holden for her view

Remote learning: Creating safe digital ecosystems

Remote and online learning is likely to be with us for some time as the Covid-19 fight continues. As such, we must continue to prioritise esafety. Al Kingsley asks how we can promote and deliver safer digital ecosystems in schools and better develop pupils’ digital citizenship

Back to school: A headteacher's checklist

September is upon us and pupils are returning to school – some after more than five months away. National Leader of Education Helen Frostick considers how we can ensure we meet the pastoral needs of our pupils post-lockdown

Back to School Guide: Teaching & Learning

In this 12-page guide, we consider what teaching and learning should look like in schools from this September when all pupils are due to return following the Covid-19 lockdown...

Education post-Covid: Our principles of recovery

At the Unity Schools Partnership, the pandemic hiatus has provided an opportunity to re-evaluate and focus on what really matters in education. Yvonne Gandy looks at the trust’s principles of recovery

We’re ready to tackle lockdown learning loss

Tackling the gaps in learning post-lockdown does not mean blunt approaches like extra homework – it is about good assessment and working smarter. Louise Smith explains the approaches being planned at Warrington Primary Academy Trust

Back to School Guide: Staff wellbeing and support

In this 12-page guide, we consider how lockdown has affected the wellbeing and mental health of school staff and offer practical advice and ideas for promoting wellbeing and supporting colleagues, both now and this autumn

Four coaching conversations for school leaders

Coaching can have a positive influence on staff wellbeing, morale and performance in schools. Denise Barrows outlines four particularly powerful coaching conversations that leaders can use to achieve this sort of transformative impact

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Headteacher Update is the only magazine delivered directly to every primary school headteacher in the UK. It is published six times a year, at the beginning of each term and half-term, to keep headteachers up-to-date with everything going on in primary education.

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