Pastoral
The latest news, analysis and advice on pastoral support, including pupil mental health and wellbeing, attendance and non-academic development
Tuesday
24th Jun 2025
How ‘digital nutrition’ can help keep students safe online
Rather than debating mobile phone bans, schools should be encouraging young people to develop healthy habits in their digital consumption, writes Margaret Mulholland

School phone bans: Why we’ve launched a rating system
A new bronze, silver and gold rating system showing a school’s approach to smartphone use aims to increase confidence to push for full bans, says scheme co-founder Max Haimendorf

Thursday
19th Jun 2025
Sex education in international schools: 5 tips to get it right
A pastoral co-ordinator explains the steps his school took to bring sex education to its diverse student cohorts – and the importance of keeping families informed

How the mental health teams rollout created a two-tier system
The government says all pupils will have access to in-school mental health specialists by 2029-30. But so far the rollout has been unequal across the country, leaving some settings without the benefits others enjoy, finds Ellen Peirson-Hagger

Wednesday
18th Jun 2025
Why everyone should think about headship
As cohorts in Year 6, 11 and beyond prepare to pull on their leavers’ hoodies this summer, Kulvarn Atwal reflects on the joys of being a head

What’s ‘love’ got to do with teaching?
Do you have to like your students, or even ‘love’ them, to be a good teacher? Bernard Andrews goes on the hunt for a definition of pedagogical love
