Alongside our best practice section, Headteacher Update features regular news and news analysis articles to keep school leaders up-to-date with the latest policy and sector developments. Our news pieces attempt to tackle issues of direct relevance to primary school educators and offer something different to the mainstream media.

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Families urged to remain vigilant after marked drop in Covid cases

As Covid-related pupil absence falls markedly, families are urged to continue to remain vigilant and to continue to follow government guidance on testing and isolation.

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Anger at DfE's 'casual' claim that schools can afford pay rises

It is “patently not the case” that the government’s proposed increases to teacher pay over the next two years are affordable from existing school budgets.

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Adopted children let down by 'inadequate' accountability

'Inadequate' accountability over how funding is used for adopted children has created a postcode lottery of provision, with some families reporting confusion over the use of Pupil Premium Plus and the role of the virtual school head and designated teacher.

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Child poverty: The hidden costs of school spelt out

Expensive trips, costly music and arts classes, stigma about clothes and mobile phones, barriers to school food – a report has laid bare how poverty is impeding children’s access to education.

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Workload crisis – 11.2 hours of unpaid overtime a week

Teachers are once again at the top of the list of those working unpaid overtime in the UK.

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FoI investigation reveals thousands of 'missed opportunities' to help children

Tens of thousands of children a year are missing out on vital early help support, only to be referred again to social care within 12 months, Freedom of Information requests have revealed.

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Safeguarding data insight into violent language being used by pupils

A disturbing insight into the increasingly violent bullying language being used by school children has been revealed by new online safeguarding data.

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From Covid restrictions to personal responsibility: Will people do the right thing?

Can we rely on families “doing the right thing” and keeping children off school if they have symptoms or test positive for Covid? That is the key question playing on the minds of school leaders as self-isolation rules are axed.

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A chilling effect: Unease at political impartiality advice for schools

“A chilling effect.” Deep concerns have been voiced about the impact that the government’s guidance on political impartiality in schools could have on open classroom discussions.

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Ending Covid restrictions: Deep concern over lack of detail

Boris Johnson’s plans to scrap all Covid restrictions, including the need to self-isolate after testing positive, risk causing chaos in schools without clear guidance.

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Ofsted: Curriculum transition deadline extended

Ofsted has extended the transition deadline by which schools must ensure that their curriculum provision is completely aligned with the Education Inspection Framework (EIF).

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Staff wellbeing: Teachers treated as 'collateral damage'

Ministers and inspectorates stand accused of treating teachers as “collateral damage” from the pandemic after research involving almost 12,000 teachers yielded deeply concerning results.

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A grim picture: Flood of mental health research published

Increasing mental health referrals, increasing levels of anxiety, and increasing numbers at risk from severe mental health conditions – a range of research published during Children’s Mental Health Week lays bare the scale of the mental health challenge facing young people. Pete Henshaw takes a look

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'Sensible albeit obvious' – Ofsted's attendance advice focuses on the basics

School leaders have welcomed new Ofsted advice on improving attendance, although have gently pointed out that much of what inspectors have to say on the issue is “obvious”.

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Covid absence: Schools call for ‘more honesty’ from government

Slowing rates of Covid infection and absence among pupils and staff have been welcomed, but schools still face “significant operational challenges” and would like more acknowledgement of this fact from ministers.

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'Until recently, I would have called myself an aspiring head'

A primary school deputy headteacher has delivered a stark and uncomfortable message to MPs about the growing hole in the headteacher pipeline.

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Primary schools on measles alert as vaccination rates plummet

One in 10 children are starting school at risk of measles due to plummeting MMR vaccination rates – with evidence showing that many parents simply do not understand the risks measles can pose.

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Improved retention rates will offset cost of 35-hour CPD target

The additional cost of embedding 35 hours of high-quality CPD a year for all teachers would most likely be offset by improved retention rates, researchers have concluded.

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School attendance: National thresholds for fixed penalty notices

New school attendance proposals will set national thresholds at which a fixed penalty notice must be considered and require schools to have an official attendance policy.

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Will SATs be fair? Soaring Covid absence raises fears over May tests

Questions are being asked over the fairness of holding SATs this summer given the continuing and stark increases in both student and staff absence from schools.

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The two sides of the digital divide

Despite the pandemic having brought the stark realities of the digital divide to the nation’s attention, and the roll-out of free laptops, the problem persists and risks getting worse. Pete Henshaw reports

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Reading: Academics criticise DfE's narrow focus on 'synthetic phonics only'

Research claiming that the government’s main approach to the teaching of reading does not follow the best evidence has reignited the debate over the teaching of phonics.

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Flaws in the system: Influx of new FSM pupils causes attainment gap headache

Flaws in how we measure the eligibility and attainment of disadvantaged pupils must be ironed out if we are to properly support these young people.

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Children's word of the year unveiled

The children’s word of the year for 2021 has been revealed as “anxiety”, reflecting the mental health and wellbeing challenges caused by the pandemic.

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Staff absence: Schools screaming for more financial support as Covid infections soar

A teaching assistant looking after 90 pupils in the school hall. An untrained cover supervisor teaching a full timetable. The Covid staffing crisis is worsening significantly with schools screaming for more financial support.

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