Pastoral

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

Tuesday

9th Jan 2024

New sex education guidance for NI schools
Northern Ireland schools receive advice on changes to RSE and lessons on issues such as birth control and abortion rights
RSE guidance
Making it safe for every child to walk or cycle to school
Pupils should take a lead in planning how to make the environment around their school safer for them when they are walking or cycling, says Karen McGregor
Helping make it safe for every child to walk or cycle to school

Thursday

4th Jan 2024

The attendance crisis: are pupils voting with their feet?
School climate and curriculum are contributing to the attendance crisis, suggests Jean Gross – and it’s time to do something about it
The attendance crisis: are pupils voting with their feet?

Friday

29th Dec 2023

Should you share your personal life with your pupils?
Would you talk to your pupils about your sexuality? Your health issues? Your additional needs? Meet the teachers who do...
Open book

Thursday

28th Dec 2023

SEND: a label worth having?
With more and more pupils identified as having special educational needs, Jean Gross argues that ‘SEND’ is an increasingly useless label – and that it’s time for an alternative
SEND label

Friday

22nd Dec 2023

Half of state school teachers work with homeless pupils
Children affected by homelessness are also coming to school tired and hungry, a survey finds
Half of state school teachers work with homeless pupils

Tuesday

19th Dec 2023

Scottish Budget: universal free school meals plan remains vague
But councils given £1.5 million to wipe out pupils’ existing school-meal debt, says finance secretary Shona Robison as she sets out Scotland’s Budget for 2024-25
Shona Robison
How playground ‘zones’ have transformed school break times
Some children can struggle with the lack of structure that playtime brings, says Leyla Gambell, but a new approach has made her school’s playground more inclusive
ARCHIVE Zones

Monday

18th Dec 2023

Tim Brighouse’s nine ways to minimise exclusions
The former schools commissioner talks mental health, off-rolling and offers his tips on how to tackle exclusions
Tim Brighouse’s nine ways to minimise exclusions

Thursday

14th Dec 2023

Term-time holidays drive surge in absence fines
Nearly 400,000 penalty notices were issued for unauthorised absence in 2022-23 – above levels seen before the Covid pandemic
Term time holidays has led to a surge in parents being fined, the latest data shows.

Wednesday

13th Dec 2023

How schools are supporting their communities this Christmas
With the cost-of-living crisis continuing to bite, four schools share what they’re doing to help local families through the festive period
Santa dash

Saturday

9th Dec 2023

How important is a teacher’s tone of voice?
Experts say that learning how best to use your voice as a teacher is like learning to play an instrument – but finding the right pitch isn’t as easy as you might think
How important is a teacher’s tone of voice?