PDA is a controversial label for pupils who display anxiety-driven demand avoidance. Here, special school headteacher Sandy Turner explains what it is and how to support students who present with it

Attachment theory explains how a child’s earliest relationships go on to shape not just how they respond to others but also how they learn. So, what do teachers need to know about attachment? Psychoanalyst Peter Fonagy explains all

New research shows that brain scans can predict learning better than traditional assessments, and give us clues as to which teaching approaches might be most effective, finds Chris Parr

The government has spent £100 million on its Teaching for Mastery maths programme, and yet, given the availability of a number of other ‘mastery’ programmes, there is confusion in schools about a clear definition of ‘maths mastery’. Kate Parker takes a look at the maths mastery landscape and the evidence behind it

With new research finding a link between pupils’ economic disadvantage and the social difficulties they face, Kate Parker looks at the implications for the classroom  

New data this week showed just how challenging a problem reading is in schools, says Claire Heald, director of education at AET. Here, she outlines how her trust is approaching it

Increasing numbers of children are experiencing emotionally based school avoidance post-Covid – but how can schools best support them? Dr Cathleen Halligan offers her advice

Politicians are fond of using international education rankings data as evidence that their policies are working – but conclusions drawn from these league tables are rarely clear cut, warns Christian Bokhove

Cognitive load theory has been a staple of evidence-based teaching for years – but there’s more to it than meets the eye, says Michael Hobbiss, who breaks down the research about load theory

Academics and teachers have so much to learn from each other, write Jessie Ricketts and Megan Dixon as they explore what makes for a successful collaboration

Lionel Messi and teachers share an ability to inspire and a passion for constant learning, says a schoolteacher who has closely analysed the Argentinian star

Children born prematurely may face difficulties in school that can go undetected, but a new charity award scheme hopes to raise awareness and improve provision