Today
Wealthier pupils benefited most from ‘gifted and talented’ scheme
A now-defunct government programme for ‘gifted and talented’ students could have ‘inadvertently reinforced educational inequalities’, say researchers – but they still want to see the idea revived
How schools can show parents the value of play
Some parents query why their child is still playing rather than engaging with formal teaching. Paul Ramchandani explains how EYFS professionals can help change their view
War’s impact on schools puts future peace in jeopardy
IB chief Olli-Pekka Heinonen reflects on how wars rob children of a normal childhood and disrupt learning, but says we must hold faith in the purpose of education
Friday
Ofsted recruits unpaid inspectors as part of pilot scheme
Inspectors recruited under the scheme will not get an inspection fee, with Ofsted instead contributing to their employers’ costs
Teachers should have to earn the right to use AI
AI can be a huge help for teachers – but its use must not come at the expense of hard-earned professional wisdom, writes this educator
Thursday
Cognita enters Austrian market with Salzburg school buy
International schools group is now operating in 21 countries after deal for IB curriculum school with 230 pupils
We need to talk about the neurodivergent teachers in our schools
There must be plenty of teachers who are neurodivergent, but we never hear about them, says one former head who has ADHD. Are they getting the support they need in schools?
How to make your action research matter
Too often, teachers’ action research projects fail to have the whole-school impact that they should, argues Sally Franklin. Here are five key questions to ask to put that right
Why trusts should give estates a seat at their strategy table
The physical environment of a school affects learning, behaviour and staff morale – so the estates team needs to be involved in strategic planning, writes the head of estates at Avanti Schools Trust
Wednesday
Why schools and trusts should ‘grow their own’ teachers
Developing support staff to step into teaching roles is an effective recruitment solution, writes Sam Gibbs, but the challenge lies in creating the right pathways to let talent grow and flourish
War in the Middle East: Schools pull together in adversity
The chair of British Schools in the Middle East reflects on how, with the conflict causing huge uncertainty, the international schools community in the region – and beyond – has rallied together
Why schools should stop pushing reading for pleasure
Reading for pleasure has become central to school literacy strategies, but there are increasing calls to ditch it, with research suggesting it has done little to turn pupils into avid readers
