Pastoral

The latest news, analysis and advice on pastoral support, including pupil mental health and wellbeing, attendance and non-academic development

Wednesday

22nd Jan 2025

Safeguarding action ends too soon, heads’ leader tells MPs
Even when school safeguarding concerns result in an intervention, this can end too soon, requiring repeated referrals, the education committee heard
Turning off alarm clock

Monday

13th Jan 2025

7 key questions for schools arranging SEND provision
Schools and trusts looking to become more inclusive face challenges along the way – a trust leader who has been on this journey shares her advice
Child's toy with question mark

Wednesday

8th Jan 2025

Why the social role of schools has never been more important
Schools must be lighthouses in their community, piercing the darkness and helping all to see what is possible, says Star Academies CEO Sir Hamid Patel
People walking up to lighthouse in dark

Tuesday

7th Jan 2025

Schools can’t tackle pupil poverty on their own
The CEO of Endeavour Academies explains how his trust is harnessing the power of collective action to tackle the scourge of poverty that is the reality for many pupils in Middlesbrough
Why schools cannot tackle pupil poverty on their own

Thursday

2nd Jan 2025

Rise in pupils needing severe mental health crisis support
Increase comes after the previous government’s rollout of mental health professionals to schools was criticised for being too slow
head moods illustration

Friday

27th Dec 2024

Why a good night’s sleep is crucial for pupils’ learning
A new study gives schools compelling evidence to present to pupils and parents on the importance of consistent sleep patterns
Child Sleeping

Monday

23rd Dec 2024

Gender-based violence scheme ‘needs to reach more schools’
Programme to tackle gender-based violence runs in only a third of secondaries, but Scottish government insists it is addressing ‘deeply concerning’ rise of misogynistic behaviour in schools
Call for gender-based violence programme to reach more schools

Wednesday

11th Dec 2024

Trauma: what is it and what role should schools play in support?
Trauma has become a contentious topic in schools, so we spoke to a world-leading expert to define what it is and where schools fit in the process of diagnosis and support
Painting trauma

Tuesday

10th Dec 2024

How teachers can help pupils with dysregulation at Christmas
The festive period in schools is ‘an assault course of changed routine and sensory overload’ for dysregulated pupils, says primary headteacher Grant Gillies
Rollercoaster

Thursday

5th Dec 2024

Starmer promises record number of ‘ready to learn’ five-year-olds
Prime minister shares concern that some Reception pupils are ‘struggling to speak’, while headteachers say focus on early years is ‘one of the nearest things to a silver bullet’
Keir Starmer

Wednesday

27th Nov 2024

Breakfast clubs: DfE urged not to repeat mistakes of NTP
The government needs to provide protected funding for breakfast clubs, ensure high-quality food standards and measure programme outcomes, says report
Labour has been urged to not to repeat mistakes of predecessors with breakfast club roll out.

Tuesday

19th Nov 2024

Heads challenged to show alternatives to toxic male role models
How boys perceive masculinity can profoundly affect their lives in school and beyond – so they need non-judgmental spaces to explore their identities, School Leaders Scotland told
Gareth Thomas