Pre-pandemic school standards won’t return as quickly as we’d like Schools are weathering the storm better than some public services, but a lack of funding will slow recovery
Assemblies: surfing the ripple to keep pupils focused After wiping out on a wave of disruption of his own making, James Handscombe reflects on how to keep assemblies meaningful – and focused
Time for change: let’s end discriminatory hair policies As well as asking teachers to deliver lessons, school leaders can show their commitment to Black History Month by ending Afro hair discrimination, writes Kate Williams
Ofsted’s framework is failing first and infant schools The only conclusion from the downgrading of so many infant and first schools is that Ofsted’s framework is unfit to judge them, writes David Scott
Recruitment: Our scramble for youth is missing the talent Changes in population and the labour market mean the government’s scramble for young recruits is no longer a workable strategy, writes Katie Waldegrave
Independence is just the start of the new Oak’s problems Plans to re-launch Oak National as an independent body are already running into legal challenges, and could be mired in many more, writes Martyn Davis
The Knowledge: This week’s research highlights Our commissioning editor delves into an EEF report that has reignited the reading wars and left teachers none the wiser
Schools need more support for students’ mental health On World Mental Health Day, Allie Denholm says there’s a lot schools can do to support pupils with increasing mental health needs – but they can’t do it alone
Supporting schools to tackle and prevent gambling harms A new framework is designed to help teachers and leaders approach the growing concern of gambling harms with confidence, writes Jane Rigbye