Exclusion: Falling into the gaps? The renewed focus on issues of school exclusion and off-rolling is welcome. Anna Feuchtwang says that the time has come for schools and policy-makers to reflect on why the exclusions system seems to be going off the rails...
‘It is not just what the law says, it is the right thing to do’ The angry and intimidating protests in Birmingham against primary schools running the No Outsiders programme and teaching equal rights are deeply concerning. Paul Whiteman reminds us that every school has a duty to eliminate discrimination and sends a message to protestors, schools and ministers...
Make time for wellbeing Strong and positive leadership is at the heart of whole-school wellbeing, enabling staff to handle the pressure of the job, says Richard Faulkner
Facing up to our challenges as primary school leaders The challenges facing schools are varied, including recruitment, funding and impending inspection reform. Andy Mellor considers these issues, but also calls on colleagues to remain optimistic
Staff wellbeing: The tide is slowly turning Schools can provide the best and worst working environments, but Sinéad McBrearty says there are signs that staff wellbeing is finally being given the priority it deserves
Funding, inspection and statistics... It is hard to know what 2019 will bring. Continued challenge and change is perhaps the only thing we can bank on. Paul Whiteman looks ahead to 2019, but you won’t find him making any predictions...
No evidence to support grammar school expansion The expansion of grammar school places makes no sense, says Andy Mellor – and even the secretary of state for education seems to realise this
Facing up to the Baseline Assessment As the government ignores the wealth of opposition to push ahead with its reformed plans for Baseline Assessment, Joyce Connor gives us a view from the early years
Funding: Government needs to understand the reality The incoming president of the National Association of Head Teachers, Andy Mellor, reflects on the values that have taken him so far in the profession and sets out some of his priorities for the year ahead
Supporting support staff It is not just teachers who are feeling under pressure at the moment. Julian Stanley reports on the problems facing support staff in an era of ever-shrinking school budgets
The Mental Health Green Paper Schools are front and centre in the new child mental health proposals, but these plans will need to be honed and implemented swiftly if they are to address the current crisis, argues Anna Feuchtwang
The equality of opportunity Governments talk often of ‘social mobility’ and ‘narrowing the gaps’ and schools have a clear role to play. But without two crucial ingredients – funding and teachers – we will not make progress, warns Anne Lyons
No more hero heads The hero head model is discredited and dangerous. Julian Stanley urges school leaders to adopt a ‘first among equals’ approach and safeguard their own wellbeing
All eyes on Westminster... The Chancellor will deliver his Autumn Budget on November 22. Anne Lyons says all eyes will be on Westminster to see if the government finally acts to ease the huge pressure on schools’ finances
School funding: You couldn't make it up As the government continues to parrot its line that school funding is ‘at record levels’, frustration and anger is growing. What hope for an honest debate ahead of June 8, asks Pete Henshaw
DfE's claims that budgets have been protected are desperate and insulting School budgets have not been protected. The government must stop claiming otherwise and act quickly to support our desperate schools, says Headteacher Update editor Pete Henshaw
The term-time holiday debate The recent High Court ruling in favour of a parent who pulled his daughter out of school for a family holiday has got headteacher Paul Wyllie thinking...
Flawed decision to refuse PSHE statuory status ignores wealth of evidence Nicky Morgan’s refusal to make PSHE and SRE statutory is based on a flawed argument, completely misses the point, and ignores a wealth of research evidence and expert advice, says Pete Henshaw
Pupil Premium: The elephant in the room The Pupil Premium is the core strategy for closing the achievement gap and tackling the stark effects of poverty on educational outcomes. But there is an elephant in the room – not every eligible child gets the funding. Pete Henshaw joins the calls for this to change
Tackling the biggest threat to our children As we begin 2016, mental health must be recognised as the biggest danger to our young people’s wellbeing and a priority for us all, says Pete Henshaw
Plan for more testing is a backwards step The move for yet more testing into our school system is a backwards step. We should be scrapping most exams, not introducing new ones, argues Headteacher Update editor Pete Henshaw
Key questions over government's latest headline-grabbing policies There are already key questions over the government’s two latest headline policy announcements. Pete Henshaw sets out his concerns
‘We have a chance to make history – standing by, it is clear, will simply not do’ Headteacher Sebastien Chapleau issues a call to schools across the UK to play their part in welcoming refugee children and families from Syria
Child poverty pledge 'significantly off track' With 3.7 million children still living in poverty, Megan Jarvie warns ministers who might be tempted to welcome the latest figures showing that child poverty has not risen in the past year
Offensive Education Bill completely misses the point The Education Bill is an offensive piece of legislation that shows a complete lack of respect for the teaching profession – it also completely misses the point. Headteacher Update editor Pete Henshaw explains.
