JL Dutaut | Schools Week

Blogs of the year, 2020/21

Each of our blog reviewers selects one blog that has particularly impacted them this year and explains why Robin Conway Our visions for confident and articulate students @MissTBegum Choosing one blog for the year is never easy, and looking through past nominations has reminded me of some fantastic and inspirational pieces from this year. But […]

Are we showing the profession all that it can be?

Every year, we audit our back pages to hold ourselves accountable for representing the teaching profession at its diverse best. JL Dutaut sets out how we did in 2020/21 As Schools Week’s commissioning editor, I take seriously my duty to ensure the paper’s features are representative of the profession as a whole. After some pleasing success in […]

ITT review: Histrionics can’t block an historic opportunity

The reaction to the ITT review is completely out of kilter with its proposals, writes Stuart Lock, and improving teacher training is far too important to cave in to it It should be the entitlement of every new teacher to a structured introduction to the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great […]

Five research insights that shone a light on 2020/21

JL Dutaut selects five contributions to our regular research column that have informed and elightened our year Are exams really the only option? Cat Scutt, director of education and research, Chartered College of Teaching Always ready with a perfectly timed evidence-based intervention, Cat Scutt offered a piece on exams and teacher assessment back […]

The boy question by Mark Roberts

Don’t be put off by the title, writes Stephen Lockyer. This book is a goldmine of wisdom and practical adice for teachers of all students Very smooth, Mr Roberts. You were at the “difficult second album” stage of publishing. You’d had the fandom and adoration of that brilliant first album, Boys Don’t Try. Then there […]

Are we doing enough to support maternity returners?

Taking return to work from maternity for granted can cost schools talent and women their careers. That’s just not good enough, writes Sean Duffy Imagine you’ve been working at the same school for ten years. You’ve been following the same strict routines day in, day out. Through practice and ongoing professional development, you’ve honed your […]

Schools can’t dismiss the menopause as a ‘women’s issue’

There are many good reasons to make our schools ‘menopause aware’, writes Jenny Arrowsmith, and not doing so could turn out to be a costly mistake Around 50 per cent of women going through the menopause experience symptoms that affect their working life. It can prematurely end some women’s careers and leave experience gaps in […]

Post-Covid: risk and opportunity for women in schools

The pandemic has worsened factors that were already holding women back from leadership positions, writes Sharon Monaghan, but it has also created a chance for real change A report published by Dr Helen Kelly last November made for bleak reading about the pandemic’s effect on school leaders. Of the 721 surveyed, 70 per cent said […]

Research: How long actually is the school day?

After repeated calls to extend the school day, Gavin Williamson has admitted knowing little about it. Teacher Tapp has the data, says Laura McInerney, but it may not help his cause How many schools finish before 3.30pm? That feels like the sort of question that an education secretary intent on criticising schools for the length […]