Whole-school issues

Reducing single-use plastics in your school

We throw away more than 34kg of plastic packaging per person every year. Schools must do more to encourage initiatives to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic. Trewin Restorick offers some simple ideas

How to pick the right candidates for interview

Perfecting the interview shortlisting process is a vital stage of recruitment and helps you to find the right talent for your school. Kaley Foran sets out some tips for navigating the shortlisting process, including ensuring your process is fair and being prepared for if a decision is challenged

Planning for school security

Headteachers are very much aware of the need to protect pupils and staff. However, navigating the guidance and legal obligations can be difficult. Suzanne O’Connell looks at new online advice to help those responsible for policy and practice

Getting subject-specific CPD right

The role of subject-specific CPD and curriculum development in effective teaching is vital. Maria Cunningham looks at the research and some best practice approaches

November’s priorities for new headteachers

This year in Headteacher Update, National Leader of Education, Helen Frostick, is offering term-by-term advice for those new to school headship. In her second article, she focuses on issues including Pupil Premium, staff wellbeing, Ofsted and data as the autumn term enters the home straight

Curriculum design: Waiting for the Sunrise

In light of the new Education Inspection Framework, St Mary’s CE School has created the Sunrise Curriculum. Headteacher Nicola Bray describes their journey of curriculum design and development

Reception Baseline Assessment: What to expect

The pilot of the new Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) has begun and the national roll-out is due in September 2020. Katherine Fowler from the National Foundation for Educational Research – which has developed and will deliver the new assessment – explains how it will work in practice and ...

Case study: An effective plan for CPD

How does your school plan and implement effective professional development? Drawing on his work at Springfield Junior School, Daniel Jones shares the main principles and logistics behind their approaches to using CPD to develop and sustain high-quality teaching

Social media: How to stop parents from misusing it

The best way to deal with inappropriate social media use by parents is to proactively set expectations and to be clear on how you will respond to incidents. Kaley Foran explains what you can do if an issue does arise

September’s priorities for new headteachers

A new term brings a new start for many school leaders, including those taking up their first headship. National Leader of Education Helen Frostick offers her advice to those new to the post, including a quick guide to areas of focus for the autumn term senior leadership meetings

GDPR: One year on...

GDPR recently celebrated its first anniversary, but there is still confusion in schools about data duties and obligations. Richard Skipper provides clarity on some common problems

Leading EAL in your primary school

EAL support is a core responsibility for every school. Catherine Brennan considers the key roles and duties for those leading EAL within primary schools and offers some tips on how to embed sustainable EAL provision within schools and support your teaching staff

Time-out and isolation under scrutiny

At the National Education Union annual conference, delegates recounted stories about school isolation rooms filled with SEND children. It seems that the use of ‘time-out’ or ‘reflection rooms’ is increasing at primary level. Suzanne O’Connell looks at this growing trend and its place in school ...

The role of governors in supporting CPD

How much does your governing board know about effective staff development – and to what extent do governors support and challenge your school’s work in this crucial area? Maria Cunningham advises

School development, curriculum and Ofsted

Schools across England will be reflecting on their curriculum design in light of Ofsted’s new ‘intent, implementation and impact’ approach. National Leader of Education Helen Frostick offers a quick insight into how her school’s curriculum will meet Ofsted’s criteria, including areas for development

Dogs in schools: Getting it right

There has been recent media attention praising the impact of bringing dogs into schools, but this must be done in the right way to avoid putting both the dogs and the children at risk. Headteacher Nik Gardner urges schools considering this approach to take on board the proper guidance

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Curriculum design under a new Ofsted regime

The new Ofsted inspection framework will see a focus on the breadth of a school’s curriculum offer, including its ‘intent’, ‘implementation’ and ‘impact’. In light of these changes, Matt Bromley looks at how schools might plan their curriculum

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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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