First, I will start by outlining the case of Child Q. Although there was widespread outrage and comprehensive coverage of the case, some of my international readers may be unfamiliar with it. A summary of the Child Q case In 2020, a Black female child, referred to as Child Q, was strip searched by two…
Read MoreTowards an Effective Anti-bullying Culture
Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about how the school where I work could become a safer place through the reduction of instances of bullying. It goes without saying that bullying is a blight on school communities. Its effects can be far reaching and long-lasting. It happens in every school. From elite private institutions to…
Read MoreChild Centred Approaches
Being child centred rarely means giving the child what they want or desire. This can be the polar opposite of child-centredness. Sometimes it may mean saying no. It may mean not taking what they say at face value, but questioning their motives. Do we need to listen to young people? Yes. Do we need to…
Read MoreExternal and Internal Governance- influences on student behaviour
What makes students behave well? This question has been considered by virtually every educator at every level. And probably every parent at some stage too. Being an Assistant Principal for pastoral care, this is a question I am often grappling with. And not just after a fight has occurred between students, or just as I…
Read MoreHow to Discuss Challenging Issues in the Classroom
Having recently written a new curriculum for pastoral care, I’ve considered how we can raise difficult conversations in the classroom. These conversations could be related to race, social justice, ethnicity or class, and many more. As an educator, I think curricula should challenge students to think beyond their immediate circumstances and positions. This is particularly…
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