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4 October 2026

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Opinion

Veiled needs pose a hidden risk to post-Covid catch-up

A growing number of young people report keeping their suffering to themselves. Simon Walker explains the evidence and how to support them It used to be that most pupils with challenging emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) were difficult to miss. Challenging needs almost always meant challenging behaviours. But not anymore. The majority of pupils facing […]

Why we asked ministers to mind their language on exclusions

Ministers have agreed to reconsider new language around exclusions that caused a visceral reaction. Philippa Stobbs explains why words matter  Nationally, disabled pupils are more likely to be absent, excluded or bullied. At the Council for Disabled Children, we devote a lot of energy to understanding and preventing that, and we know the language we use is crucial. So we […]

Helping children exit the deep well of traumatic bereavement

When life feels scary for children, teachers are particularly well placed to notice and offer ways to cope with the pain of loss, writes Beck Ferrari    School staff provide daily support to children and young people who are facing tough times. Sadly, the death of someone significant in a pupil’s life is likely to be one of those times.   Even when you are experienced in providing such […]

How to avoid being caught out by staff holidays abroad

School leaders will need to plan ahead to minimise the possible impact of staff heading for holidays overseas, writes Jenny Arrowsmith  As half-term and the summer break approach, staff will likely be hoping to get away on holiday. If they choose to go abroad, they risk having to self-isolate afterwards.   Until May 17, when […]

Look to the system – not schools – for ‘moral purpose’

The academies minister is right to say collaboration between schools is a matter of morality – but she’s looking for it in the wrong place, writes Caroline Barlow  Last week, Academies minister, Baroness Berridge came out strongly for the government’s policy of expanding MATs en masse. Hardly surprising. What was surprising was that her argument […]

How can we secure the recovery without losing teachers?

NFER’s Jack Worth looks at the organisation’s latest teacher labour market research and finds the Covid recovery will require careful planning to make the most of an uptick in applications While full details of the government’s plans for post-Covid educational recovery are still coming together, the overall strategy is clearly to provide ‘more’ for pupils. That could mean a range of different […]

We must treat mental health as we do safeguarding

The experience of the past year has brought a greatly increased focus on mental health that should be sustained as a top priority, writes Michael Samuel Over the past year, schools and colleges have faced an overwhelming increase in children and young people’s mental health problems. It’s not entirely surprising. When a child’s relationships and […]

A better alternative to A-levels? We already have one

A new report recommends an alternative model of post-16 qualifications. Jo Sale agrees, but wonders why the proposed solution is to reinvent the wheel Examinations are needed for many reasons, not least because they are an important ritual of closure. Their cancellation again this year has deprived students of that and given new life to […]

ITT review: are universities heading for the ‘Ex-ITT’?

There would be nothing to fear from a genuinely impartial ITT review, writes David Spendlove, but does anyone believe such a thing possible? In normal circumstances, a review of Initial Teacher Training (ITT) might be welcome and considered long overdue. But these are not normal circumstances. And given the Sewell Race and Ethnic Disparities report, concern […]