Changes to SEND policy: what teachers and school leaders need to know

As of January 2016, there were 236,805 pupils in Englandwith a statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. This is an increase of 640 from 2015 – and equates to 2.8% of the total pupil population. Schools are still coming to terms with huge policy changes in this area. Following on from the Equalities A...

Continue reading
  10816 Hits

Should headteachers and school leaders maintain a teaching commitment?

A recent Twitter conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of headteachers having a teaching commitment made me thoughtful. I was a head for 30 years and taught each class of year 7 one English lesson every week throughout this time. I was paired with the English teacher who taught them for the rest of the time. If I had to be out of...

Continue reading
  10811 Hits

A beginner’s guide to Professor Steve Higgins

What is he best known for?  Higgins specialises in the use of research evidence to support effective spending in schools – probably most famously with the Sutton Trust and Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Teaching and Learning Toolkit; a summary of education research that offers advice for teachers and schools on how to improve attainment ...

Continue reading
  10757 Hits

Do your students have academic buoyancy? Here are five ways to help them develop it

Have you heard of academic buoyancy? While it isn't widely known about, it may be one of the most important areas of psychology for education professionals. It sounds similar to resilience but there are subtle differences between the two. Academic resilience often focuses on groups of students who face specific challenges – those with special educa...

Continue reading
  10731 Hits

6 must read texts on mindset, resilience, grit and character

Natasha Devon, until recently the government's mental health champion for schools, said before departing from her post: Time and time again young people – and the people who teach them – have spoken out about how a rigorous culture of testing and academic pressure is detrimental to their mental health. At one end of the scale we've got four year ol...

Continue reading
  10728 Hits