Pastoral

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

Thursday

12th Jun 2025

DfE ‘should auto-enrol’ pupils for free school meals
Call for all eligible children to be automatically enrolled for FSM follows the government announcement that it is expanding the entitlement from next year
Free school meals

Wednesday

11th Jun 2025

Free school meals to be offered to more S1-3 students
S1-3 students whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment will be eligible for free school meals in eight council areas
Free school meals

Tuesday

10th Jun 2025

The joy of creating a school culture where staff thrive
For our series in which headteachers outline what makes the job so rewarding, Helena Marsh explains why helping staff to grow and develop is so gratifying
Grow and develop plant in wood

Thursday

29th May 2025

Students miss school because they can’t afford transport and meals
One in six secondary students has missed school at least once because they did not have something they needed, polling shows
Students are missing school because they can't afford uniforms or meals, research shows

Friday

23rd May 2025

Heads change lives - but we have to be prepared to fight
School leaders are in the privileged position of being able to help struggling families, though battles have to be won to do it, writes this co-chair of the Headteachers’ Roundtable
Keziah Leadership

Wednesday

21st May 2025

Mental health and attendance: 5 insights for school leaders
New DfE research offers insightful analysis of the relationship between mental ill-health and school absence, including some findings that challenge conventional wisdom, writes Luke Ramsden
Wellbeing absence child sitting on bench

Tuesday

20th May 2025

School engagement plummets in Year 7, research finds
Separate studies warn that students’ enjoyment of lessons drops, and stress levels rise, after moving to secondary school
Pupil enjoyment and engagement bored stressed

Saturday

17th May 2025

Why schools should be worried about exam TikTok
When Amy Forrester discovered her GCSE students were turning to unreliable online videos for help with their revision, she set out to understand more
Reading tea leaves GCSE predictions

Friday

16th May 2025

DfE sets out mental health, behaviour and attendance plans
Expansion of mental health support in schools announced alongside the launch of 90 attendance and behaviour hubs
Mental health hand on shoulder

Wednesday

14th May 2025

4 in 5 teachers warn government will miss ‘school-ready’ target
A lack of affordable childcare is contributing to the problem of children starting Reception without being ready for school, a poll suggests
Mother tying child's shoes School Ready

Thursday

8th May 2025

How English literature can counteract the ‘manosphere’
Few boys are opting to take English at A level, missing out on developing important empathy and communication skills, writes Andrew Copeman
Hand holding skull English Literature

Saturday

3rd May 2025

Why we must hold on to the ‘magic’ of the early years
In the push to see more children reach a good level of development, we can’t forget the intangible benefits of patience, persistence and empathy in EYFS, writes Julian Grenier
Why we must hold on to the ‘magic’ of the early years