Top results

Mental health/wellbeing (teacher & pupil)

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School heating – What lessons in cold classrooms mean for students’ behaviour Beyond the obvious budgetary concerns, the sharp rise in heating costs this winter will directly impact upon the behaviours and academic outcomes we see in our classrooms, says Nikki Cunningham-Smith...

Teenage girl posing dramatically with an electric guitar

Music and mindfulness – How singing and playing can improve students’ wellbeing Helen Tierney offers some advice for making sure your school’s wellbeing strategies hit all the right notes

Menopause – why it’s time we talk about it in education 'I thought 'The Change' was the stuff of legends, something that happens to other people... how wrong I was,’ says Maria Richards

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Exclusions in schools – Why they mustn’t be outlawed The decision of one London borough to prevent virtually all forms of permanent exclusion risks leaving schools with fewer options and a drain on staff capacity, argues Dr Stephen Curran...

Ofsted deep dive – my school’s approach has staff paranoid and panicking Civil war has broken out between the teachers in my school. We are all fighting for ‘our’ subjects, and we are all going to lose...

Picture of a peeled, partially pixelated banana to convey the concept of pornographic material

Adults only – Could your school have a porn problem? Hannah Day examines the phenomenon of ‘playground porn’ – the sharing of sexual content via smartphones on school property – and what staff can do to prevent it…

isolated image of a surgical face mask

Toxic teaching – “I was answering work calls from my hospital bed” An anonymous contributor shares their experiences of the toll teaching has exacted upon both their physical and mental health…

Real wellbeing allows for a creative curriculum and empathetic children at this school An understanding of the natural world and exposure to culture are top priorities for Glade Primary

COVID-19 and wellbeing – Let’s remember that staff are affected too The mental health of our students has rightly been the focus of much attention these past two years, but we risk overlooking the profound impact the pandemic has also had on the wellbeing of school staff

“Always open, always there” – Why post-pandemic schools have rediscovered their sense of purpose Headteacher Neil Morris describes how his school’s experiences of the pandemic helped to centre the importance of ‘We’, over ‘I’...

Teacher retention – why I left the best job in the world Simeon Crowther explains the journey he took to leave his classroom behind after 13 years

How to reflect positively on your teaching Stuck on the hamster wheel? Perspective and acceptance are the keys to improving your practice and your wellbeing...

ECT teaching – how the framework is creating disillusioned educators Staff wellbeing is just as important as that of pupils, and especially as trainees, we need more support, says Lily Norris

Teacher burnout – The signs, indicators and symptoms to watch out for Preventing burnout requires self-awareness, knowing your limits and being attentive to those who care about you the most, advises Dr Emma Kell…

Listen slowly, read quickly – Why staff communications should respect people’s time Colin Foster argues that Macfarlane’s law may hold the key to crafting internal communication systems in schools that work better and faster for everyone…

The problem of perfectionism – What happens when students chase unrealistic expectations Rob Lightfoot explains how a ‘perfectionism literacy’ intervention can benefit everyone…

Back to school – Beat the January blues With a little planning and organisation, it’s possible to lift colleagues’ spirits and keep morale high during the January gloom, says Nicola Brooks…

Trauma-informed training – why all teachers should have it In the face of rising mental health issues for children, all teachers should receive trauma training in school

Why we need a better post-maternity process for teachers New mothers can have a difficult time confronting the assumptions and expectations of colleagues upon returning to work – but it doesn’t have to be that way, writes Nikki Cunningham-Smith...

“Staff morale improves when we don’t strive for it” Easy humour between colleagues, drinks after work – often, the best way to improve staff morale is for leaders to just get out of the way and let things happen, observes Ian Mitchell…

Golden time – Avoiding ‘dull-eyed automatons’ Academic progress is important, but we mustn’t lose sight of giving children genuine choices in school...

Mental health in primary schools – how we improved children’s wellbeing Lorna Beard discusses how a mental health programme has helped light up pupils’ future

Educate everyone – Can families afford your curriculum? Rachel Macfarlane looks at whether those well-meaning practices and habits intended to support economically disadvantaged students may actually be doing more harm than good...

Teacher workload – We can’t expect stressed-out teachers to teach well Given the heavy workloads and distressing situations that can come with the job, let’s rethink the emotional expectations made of teachers, says Billie Krstovic...

How to be a good teacher… SPOILER: Having your own kids has nothing to do with it

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