It’s tough being a member of SLT in times like these. With the ever increasing pressure of budgetary constraints it is, of course, essential that school leaders achieve value for money in all they do.

 Summer is on its way which means one thing - barbecues, beaches and books by the pool.

The holidays are a great opportunity to grow and learn as an educator, but choosing the right books is essential. So, whether you’re on the hunt for inspiring reads that demonstrate concepts and strategies for engaging lessons, or you’re struggling with behaviour management and need new ways to motivate students, we’ve got it covered. 

Guest blog by Tom Oates, Nurture teacher and pupil premium coordinator at Joseph Norton Academy. @JNA_Tom

“Dialogic teaching harnesses the power of talk to stimulate and extend pupils’ thinking and advance their learning and understanding.” - Prof. Robin Alexander

Is great dialogue taking place in your classroom and across your school?

It’s well worth taking the time to reflect on this given the robust evidence that dialogic teaching (more broadly known as classroom talk) is key to improving formative assessment of pupils.

Research shows that there is a direct relationship between dialogic teaching and improved individual and collective academic outcomes. A report recently published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) shows that spending more class time on meaningful dialogue that encourages pupils to reason, discuss, speculate, argue and explain, rather than simply give the expected answers can boost primary pupils’ maths, science and English results.

Feedback is an important and necessary part of any teacher’s career path. Whether they’re in their first, fifth or fifteenth year of teaching, feedback from senior leaders, peers and reviews is critical to identifying performance weaknesses and strengths, providing teachers with opportunities to grow and develop their practice. What’s more, it often improves communication and better understanding of expectations.  

But there is a world of difference between just giving someone feedback and giving them effective feedback.

It’s become increasingly clear of late,  that effective leadership is a linchpin in tackling the teacher recruitment and retention crisis, making this year's Inspiring Leadership Conference a top item on any SLT's calendar.