So, Unions say ‘pause inspections’ following the tragic death of a head teacher; OFSTED says stopping inspections would not be in children’s best interest. Perhaps a pause is required for some reflection, about the full process of the current inspection routine, from the school staff’s near continual worry and stress of the short notice ‘pounce’ on a school, the inspection …
Continue ReadingInitially, my reaction to the recent student protests in schools was that they were taking the P—. However, I retracted my comment after realising it was an inappropriate pun. These protests have centred around such issues as toilet breaks and school uniforms; there’s nothing new here. As someone who once owned a school uniform shop, I recall that many parents …
Continue ReadingAs parents, educators and researchers we want students to succeed academically, but what about their mental health? A growing body of evidence shows that a positive school culture can significantly impact mental health. But what exactly is school culture, and how can we improve it? To answer these questions, a qualitative study was conducted in three UK secondary schools. The …
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