Pastoral

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

Wednesday

10th May 2023

‘Dramatic’ rise in pastoral work takes ‘emotional toll’ on teachers
Three-fifths of teachers spend more time dealing with pupils’ emotional needs and behaviour than before the pandemic, survey finds
emotional support

Tuesday

9th May 2023

How Instagram and Facebook can help school attendance
A leader explains how they turned to social media to help drive attendance and punctuality among pupils in their school
School attendance: How Instagram and Facebook can help
Call for safeguarding qualification to combat porn threat
Children’s commissioner report on the link between pornography and harmful sexual behaviour among pupils calls for several reforms of RSE teaching in schools
Safeguarding child watching laptop

Thursday

4th May 2023

Weekly round-up: Joint strikes and Ofsted legal challenge
This week’s round-up includes a plan for education unions to coordinate strike action, a High Court challenge against Ofsted and the DfE spending £350K on wildflower seeds
Joint strikes

Wednesday

3rd May 2023

NI teachers ‘lack confidence’ delivering sex education
It is ‘not good enough’ that almost half of schools in Northern Ireland teach little or nothing about sexual consent, an Education and Training Inspectorate report says
Most NI teachers lack confidence delivering sex education

Tuesday

2nd May 2023

Coronation: DfE to spend £350k on wildflower seeds
Primary schools will receive more than 200,000 wildflower seed packets to mark King Charles’ coronation
Coronation: DfE to spend £350k on wildflower seeds

Friday

28th Apr 2023

Revealed: ÌÇÐÄVlog Schools Awards 2023 shortlist
Find out who has made the list this year as ÌÇÐÄVlog prepares to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of school leaders and staff
Revealed: ÌÇÐÄVlog Schools Awards 2023 shortlist

Wednesday

26th Apr 2023

Jean Gross: How school has to change for disadvantaged pupils to thrive
Following the pandemic, the gap between disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers is wider than ever. But there are ways to level the playing field, says author and advocate Jean Gross
Jean Gross

Tuesday

25th Apr 2023

How to support the siblings of autistic children
Research shows that the non-autistic brothers and sisters of children with autism can face specific challenges at school, and teachers need to be alert to these, says Kelle Salle
Autism symbol in sand

Monday

24th Apr 2023

We can’t fix attendance by punishing families
Using fines as a deterrent won’t stop persistent school absence when families are struggling, says executive headteacher Keziah Featherstone
We can’t fix attendance by punishing families

Friday

21st Apr 2023

Why we let pupils sit wherever they like
When one primary school experimented with flexible seating arrangements and different types of chairs, it was surprised at the results
Why we let pupils sit wherever they like
GCSEs 2023: Grading fears amid high exam student absence
Former schools minister warns of ‘grave concern’ over Year 11 absence rates as exam grading standards return to pre-pandemic levels
chairs stacked
Exclusive