Pastoral
The latest news, analysis and advice on pastoral support, including pupil mental health and wellbeing, attendance and non-academic development
Thursday
5th Oct 2023
Heads question supervised school toothbrushing plan
Labour has said it will introduce supervised toothbrushing in schools as part of plans to improve the nation’s oral health
Schools face ‘rising tide of mistrust’
Confederation of School Trusts chief warns leaders must help ‘re-establish the social contract’ with parents
Wednesday
4th Oct 2023
Sexual consent must be ‘core part’ of ASN pupils’ learning
The direction is found in relationships and sex education guidance from the Scottish government, which is currently out for consultation
The special school helping pupils talk to emergency services
One special school explains how it is supporting pupils and emergency services staff to improve their communications with one another – and wants to take its approach nationwide
Tuesday
3rd Oct 2023
Banning phones is the right call - but schools aren’t the problem
If the government is worried about the impact of phones on education, it should be targeting social media companies, says this leader
Owen Eastwood: How to build a school where pupils feel they belong
In the first part of the Leading and Learning Webinar series, internationally renowned performance coach Owen Eastwood, who has worked with Nato and the England football team, explains why belonging needs to be central to your school’s focus
Monday
2nd Oct 2023
Private schools: 5 ways to show a pupil wellbeing focus
With pupil wellbeing at the heart of the new ISI framework, these are the ways schools can ensure they demonstrate they are following this new requirement
The issues blighting Black Caribbean girls’ school experiences
Dr Julie Blake explains how research into the school experiences of Black Caribbean girls reveals the issues they face – and what schools can do to improve
Wednesday
27th Sep 2023
Use absence figures to ‘make case’ for SEND cash, DfE told
Commons Education Select Committee chair calls for DfE to make attendance a clear focus in funding bids
Why schools are key to tackling climate change
The director-general of the IB outlines why it will take educators’ expertise to inspire pupils to believe they can reverse the climate crisis
Spotting and supporting pupils who are young carers
A director of education in a trust – who cared for her parents as a child – explains how schools can ensure they support pupils who have additional caring responsibilities