Pastoral

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

Thursday

6th Feb 2025

Gilruth pauses school ‘sex survey’ amid concerns over data availability
Education secretary has recognised the ‘strength of feeling’ over use of data from health and wellbeing census that asked upper secondary school students about sex and relationships
Gilruth with Venus and Mars
How we used a scavenger hunt to explore mental health topics
A headteacher explains the novel way her school found to mark Children’s Mental Health Week
How we used a scavanger hunt to raise mental health topics

Wednesday

5th Feb 2025

Why reflective practice is key to supporting pupils’ mental health
Providing teachers with safe, confidential and reflective spaces in school will improve pupils’ emotional wellbeing – as well as that of teachers themselves, says Fiona McFarlane
Why reflective practice is key to supporting pupils’ mental health

Friday

31st Jan 2025

Why girls need extra help with transition to secondary
The country’s biggest study of pupil engagement reveals a gender gap in students feeling anxious about school, writes ImpactEd Group’s research director
Why girls need extra help with transition to secondary

Thursday

30th Jan 2025

School readiness: ‘alarming’ gap in parent-teacher attitudes
Only three-quarters of parents say children should be toilet trained before joining Reception, poll finds
Less than half of parents thinking children starting Reception need to know how to use books

Tuesday

28th Jan 2025

Phillipson dismisses Conservative call for school phone ban law
Education secretary calls the proposals a ‘headline-grabbing gimmick’
Phillipson on mobile phone ban

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