Guidance

The latest news, analysis and best-practice advice when it comes to official education guidance coming from the government, inspectorates and governing bodies

Wednesday

18th Jun 2025

Recording of racist incidents ‘essential’, Scottish schools told
New government guidance for schools on tackling racism is timely amid a rise in far-right narratives and hate speech, says diversity expert
Draft guidance for schools on tackling racism has been published by the Scottish government

Tuesday

10th Jun 2025

DfE sets out how schools can ‘safely’ use AI
New guidance for schools on using AI can help to cut teachers’ workload, says the government
Guidance on the use of AI for schools has been published

Monday

9th Jun 2025

How useful are your ‘book looks’?
Work scrutinies, or ‘book looks’, are often not used well to support school improvement, suggests Mark Enser. So, how can leaders get this practice right?
book looks

Thursday

15th May 2025

Why it’s time to scrap punitive teacher appraisals
As the sector moves on from performance-related pay, schools need performance management systems that focus more on meaningful professional growth than on compliance and control 
How to make teacher appraisals more effective

Wednesday

14th May 2025

‘Urgent’ call for clarity on single-sex spaces in Scottish schools
The Scottish government should immediately withdraw its ‘out of date’ guidance for schools and issue new guidance in the wake of Supreme Court ruling, says SSTA
Transgender Scotland Clarity

Friday

2nd May 2025

Heads demand clarity on the legal right to seclude pupils
School leaders voice fears over changes to government guidance on the use of restraint, warning that they could lead to the unfair treatment of pupils with SEND
Pupil sitting on her own

Monday

28th Apr 2025

Trans students should not use toilet of their identified gender, says guidance
Equality and Human Rights Commission publishes an interim update to guidance for schools following Supreme Court ruling
Trans pupils should not use toilets of gender they identify with - guidance

Monday

7th Apr 2025

Are these the 20 essentials to ‘unlocking’ high-quality teaching?
An OECD report, based on feedback from schools in 40 countries, has broken down what needs to happen to ensure teachers are operating at their best
Are these the 20 essentials to 'unlocking' high-quality teaching?

Wednesday

26th Mar 2025

MATs told to seek DfE approval for ‘contentious transactions’
New guidance sets out what transactions may be considered ‘novel, contentious and repercussive’ amid a row over one academy trust’s plan for an alternative pension scheme
MATs have been issued with new government guidance on transactions

Friday

21st Mar 2025

DfE wants schools to meet six digital standards by 2030
The government has also announced a £25m investment to upgrade wireless networks in schools
DfE wants schools to meet six digital standards by 2030

Friday

7th Mar 2025

Government doing ‘too little, too slowly’ on mobile phones, MPs told
Ministers under fire over ‘watered-down’ second version of the Safer Phones Bill, which no longer includes consideration of a statutory mobile phone ban in schools
School children with mobile phones

Wednesday

5th Mar 2025

‘Imperative’ for schools to talk up apprenticeships, report finds
School leavers from minority-ethnic backgrounds will gain most if apprenticeships are put on a par with university and further education, says Skills Development Scotland report
‘Imperative’ for schools to talk up apprenticeships, report finds