Headteacher Update

Headteacher Update is a magazine tailored specifically for those in primary school leadership roles. Released bi-monthly, it addresses various leadership topics, providing best practices, real-life case studies, and detailed information along with helpful advice. Our coverage includes the latest updates on government policies, school inspections, curriculum matters, teaching and learning strategies, technology integration, workforce issues, the Pupil Premium, and additional relevant topics. Each issue also highlights useful resources and features comprehensive product information.

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Ofsted anger: 'A nonsensical inspection framework and a nonsensical timetable' - Headteacher Update

2 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) was scathing in its assessment of the situation, labelling it “frankly ridiculous” to ask schools to prepare for a “complete change in the inspection system” in just two months. For its part, Ofsted is not backing down. It said it “fully intended to make improvements to the proposed inspection framework” but needed time to do this.
More than 114,000 teachers have quit in the last three years - Headteacher Update

2 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

The latest workforce data from the Department for Education (DfE, 2025) shows that 37,413 teachers walked away in 2023/24. This is a marginal improvement on the previous two years when 38,788 (in 2022/23) and 38,568 (in 2021/22) quit respectively. This is in addition to the more than 11,500 teachers who retired over the same three-year period.
Free school meals eligibility finally expanded – but what comes next? - Headteacher Update

3 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

After years of pressure from campaigners and education unions, the government has finally acted to expand free school meals (FSMs) to all families receiving Universal Credit. In the long-term, the move, which was announced on Wednesday night (June 4) and which will come into effect in September 2026, will benefit 1.7 million children in years 3 to 11, according to the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS).
‘Redundancies are the only way to balance the books’ - Headteacher Update

3 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

Survey findings involving 1,091 school leaders have been published by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) ahead of the government’s Spending Review on Wednesday, June 11. They show that of the responding leaders, 46% anticipate having to make teachers redundant next year while 80% believe they will have to lay-off teaching assistants to help balance their books.
Headteacher Update Podcast: A headteacher’s guide to retirement planning - Headteacher Update

3 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw |David Baker |Oonagh Morrison

We speak with two experts from Wesleyan Financial Services to discuss principles of effective retirement planning and what headteachers need to think about and plan for. We focus on the provisions within the Teachers’ Pension Scheme including how benefits are calculated under the 80th Final Salary, 60th Final Salary, and Career Average schemes. We explain the McCloud Judgement and how it is likely to affect headteachers who have been in service a long time.
Whole-class mental health interventions yield 'small but significant' impact - Headteacher Update

3 weeks ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

A review by researchers at University College London and Anna Freud found that sessions based on CBT – a technique that helps students to recognise and challenge negative thoughts and behaviours – were more effective at reducing anxiety symptoms than mindfulness sessions or other approaches. The analysis includes findings from 71 global research studies, including 51 involving secondary schools and 19 featuring primary schools. The studies involved more than 63,000 young people aged 8 to 18.
Best Practice Focus: Executive headteachers: Your complete guide - Headteacher Update

1 month ago | headteacher-update.com | Paul Ainsworth

In Headteacher Update's latest Best Practice Focus download we offer a complete guide to executive headship in primary schools. Written by experienced school leader Paul K Ainsworth, the free 7-page guide looks at the development of executive headship and leadership roles in the last 15 years, reflecting on the skills and attributes of executive leaders and common structures of executive leadership.
East Ham vs Newcastle: The sobering geography of social mobility - Headteacher Update

1 month ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

Only eight of the top 50 constituencies for opportunity and social mobility are outside of London, while places in the North East and North West dominate the bottom of the table. Social mobility charity the Sutton Trust has compiled its first ever Opportunity Index (Holt-White et al, 2025), drawing upon data from more than 10 million young people across two decades to shine a light on “the geography of opportunity and social mobility”.
Childline reports rise in anger issues among children seeking help - Headteacher Update

1 month ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

Childline has delivered almost 3,000 counselling sessions in the last year to children and young people struggling with anger issues. It is a 6% rise year-on-year and makes anger one of the top 10 mental health concerns reported by children contacting the service – it is the 6th most common issue reported by boys (10th for girls). The Childline support service is run by the NSPCC, and the charity has published the figures to mark Mental Health Awareness Week this week.
Parents pay £1,003 a year to send their child to primary school - Headteacher Update

1 month ago | headteacher-update.com | Pete Henshaw

A research study looking at the minimum families need to spend for their child to attend and participate in school has revealed just how much costs have risen in the last two to three years. Analysis carried out by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Centre for Research in Social Policy has identified key drivers for this rise in costs including higher costs for materials such as books and stationery and the rising cost of food.