Classroom fad or fix? The big picture on class sizes

What is it?  The belief that smaller class sizes mean better results for pupils. It's an idea that has huge support among parents, who (understandably) follow the logic that if there are fewer pupils in class, their child will get more attention and be more likely to succeed. The public are quick to jump on the bandwagon too. In his book, Davi...

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The science of resilience: six tips to help your students

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." So said Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of ...

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Older teachers are overlooked and underappreciated. We must support them – here's how

It's well-known that there's a timebomb in teaching right now – the sector is struggling with both recruitment and retention, while the population of pupils keeps increasing. And yet, many experienced older teachers, particularly women, feel that they are being performance managed out of their jobs, to be replaced by younger, cheaper staff. Those w...

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6 scientifically proven work-life balance tips for teachers

Teaching naturally attracts conscientious people. That's not to say that teachers are saints, but they often have a tendency to put others' needs before their own. And when you are caught up in the daily bustle of school and home life, it is easy to get overwhelmed. The enormous workload of the job is also a factor. The latest government survey [pd...

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​Are you an NQT applying for teaching jobs? Read this first

Taking the plunge into finding a full-time teaching job is daunting, but there are some simple tricks that will put you ahead of the pack when it comes to application, interview and the dreaded practice lesson. We spoke to four school leaders for their top tips on how you can stand out from the crowd: Christopher Hammond, incoming headmaster a...

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