• Ofqual warning over social media exam leaks

    Headteachers should remind their pupils not to be “distracted” by claims of exam paper leaks on social media, the chief regulator of Ofqual has said. In her letter to heads ahead of the summer exam series, Sally Collier warned that “sharing exam papers or questions, real or fake, could result in disqualification” and told leaders…

    10.35 Mar. 2nd, 2020 | News

  • How teachers are really using research

    Not all research is top-down from senior teams, says Tim Cain. Teachers are finding out for themselves how research can influence what they think about and how they think From the Department for Education, Ofsted, the Chartered College of Teaching and beyond, the message is clear: teachers should use research evidence to inform their decisions.…

    5.00 Feb. 11th, 2019 | Opinion

  • Schools need official guidance on pupils' social media safety

    An international anti-bullying charity has demanded better guidance for schools on keeping children safe on social media. Sue Jones, global deputy chief executive officer of charity Ditch the Label, said her organisation is “constantly” contacted by teachers asking for more help, and wants the Department for Education to publish more advice. She told the parliamentary science…

    15.18 May. 22nd, 2018 | News

  • Headteachers demand new laws to keep children safe online

    Legislation to protect children on social media is back on the agenda after a survey found that nearly every head had heard reports of pupils being approached by strangers online. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents to research by the school leaders’ union ASCL knew of online approaches, while 95 per cent said they felt the…

    0.01 Mar. 9th, 2018 | News

  • Ofsted rejects plans to monitor schools via social media

    Ofsted will not use information posted on social media by pupils and parents to identify schools in need of intervention, to the relief of opponents of the plans. The approach was floated in the watchdog’s ‘Innovation and regulation plan’, published in March, but a spokesperson has now told Schools Week that the strategy “was not…

    7.00 Feb. 3rd, 2018 | News

  • How to avoid school shaming incidents: build good parent relationships!

    In this internet age, former headteacher Mark Lehain shares his advice on how to maintain good communication with parents and avoid incidents that might shame your school Interaction with students and their families is one of the best parts of working in schools. A highlight for me was a parents evening in 2006 where, as…

    5.00 Dec. 3rd, 2017 | Opinion