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Why I’m Fighting for Play – For Students and Teachers

Why I’m Fighting for Play – For Students and Teachers

Scrolling through LinkedIn is one of my least favourite parts of running my own business. It’s necessary – without visibility there is no business – but it often feels like walking through a corridor of the same story told a hundred different ways: teaching is broken, everyone is leaving, look how exhausted we all are. Same headlines. Same tone. Same clamour to be seen. So I’ve had to get really intentional about how I show up there. And somewhere along the way, my feed quietly filled up with early years practitioners. Honestly, it has been a lifesaver.

Menopause Brain Fog: How to Find Your Powerful Voice Again in School

Menopause Brain Fog: How to Find Your Powerful Voice Again in School

I knew the topic. I had opinions. But I couldn't grasp a single coherent one. I mumbled something vague, feeling a hot flush of embarrassment as the attention of the entire room locked onto me. This style of 'popcorn' questioning, of putting senior colleagues on the spot, isn't just poor meeting etiquette; for many experienced female staff, it's downright inconsiderate. It completely fails to account for the cognitive 'brain fog' that so many of us are silently navigating.

5 Steps to Cut Feedback Time in Half with AI Marking

5 Steps to Cut Feedback Time in Half with AI Marking

Tired of drowning in books and feedback forms? These 5 steps show you how to use AI marking to cut student feedback time in half — safely, ethically, and without losing your personal touch. Learn how to combine structure, smart prompts, and DfE-compliant AI practices to reclaim your evenings and protect your wellbeing.

Email Etiquette for Teachers: Stop Inbox Overload

Email Etiquette for Teachers: Stop Inbox Overload

If your inbox feels like a second job, you’re not imagining it. Teachers lose hours each week to unclear, overlong, and unnecessary emails - “All Staff” messages are the worst offenders. This subscriber-only guide shows you how to: 1. Cut the waffle and write clear, BLUF-style emails. 2. Avoid the “All Staff” trap that drains everyone’s focus. 3. Use two simple AI prompts to tidy up any message in seconds You’ll also see real before-and-after examples that show exactly how much time and clarity these tweaks can save.

Why Leaving Teaching Isn’t the Only Way to Reclaim Your Life

Why Leaving Teaching Isn’t the Only Way to Reclaim Your Life

Leaving the classroom can feel like the only way out. And sometimes, it is. But what if there’s another way to reclaim your life, without walking away from the profession you love? This article explores why leaving teaching isn’t your only option, and how some teachers are quietly reshaping the system from within. [Subscribe or log in to read the full post + access the free Teacher Wellbeing Toolkit]

Rethinking the Wellbeing Lead: Are We Solving Teacher Burnout or Just Serving Cake?

Rethinking the Wellbeing Lead: Are We Solving Teacher Burnout or Just Serving Cake?

Walk into a staffroom and you might find cakes, yoga flyers, or even a free coffee voucher in your pigeonhole. Nice gestures, sure. But here’s the reality: none of these stop teachers from burning out. Let's not sugar-coat it. Teaching in the UK right now is tough. Really tough. Recent surveys paint a stark picture: a staggering 85% of teachers have reported high levels of stress in the last year.

Build a 30-Minute A-Level Results Appeals Tracker in Google Sheets + Outlook (No Code)

Build a 30-Minute A-Level Results Appeals Tracker in Google Sheets + Outlook (No Code)

A-Level results drop at 8am. By 8:01, the stopwatch starts. To stop Results Week swallowing your holiday, set up this zero-code triage that tracks every request, auto-calculates deadlines, and batches your communications so you hit windows without panic.

12 Best Books for Teacher Wellbeing & My Next Two Reads

12 Best Books for Teacher Wellbeing & My Next Two Reads

Practical strategies, mindset shifts, and genuine support to help you teach sustainably. I’ve always been a physical book person. I love the feel of it, the dog-eared pages, the satisfaction of seeing how far I’ve come. But recently, I’ve found a new rhythm. My walk to work, or a quick wander at lunchtime, has become my audiobook time. (I have to confess, this started because my children somehow subscribed to Audible, and I realised I was already paying for it!).

AI Prompting for Teachers: 5 Simple Techniques to Save Hours

AI Prompting for Teachers: 5 Simple Techniques to Save Hours

If you’ve been dabbling in ChatGPT or other AI tools as a teacher, you’ve probably heard this a lot lately: “You don’t need fancy prompts anymore—reasoning models can just figure it out.” And yes—on paper, that’s partly true. Newer AI models are smarter, more intuitive, and can often handle vague questions better than older versions. But here’s the quiet part no one’s really saying out loud:

Essential Teacher Pay Progression Checklist (2025): STPCD Updates You Must Know

Essential Teacher Pay Progression Checklist (2025): STPCD Updates You Must Know

Too many teachers are left guessing when it comes to their pay — especially after the annual pay progression letters land. I’ve been there: reading the letter, feeling vaguely relieved that it’s ‘progression’, but not really knowing if it’s accurate. This year, it’s time to change that.

Teacher Wellbeing Blueprint for UK Schools

Teacher Wellbeing Blueprint for UK Schools

Wellbeing: from “nice-to-have” to non-negotiable. A thriving staff is a productivity engine, not a perk. McKinsey and the World Economic Forum peg the global upside of healthy employees at up to $11.7 trillion a year. That’s about 3.2 times larger than the UK’s entire GDP.

If Lesson Observations Worked, We’d All Be Outstanding By Now

If Lesson Observations Worked, We’d All Be Outstanding By Now

We’ve all done it, haven’t we? The moment you know someone is watching, everything shifts: You pick your best starter. You go for the safe activity. You speak with the “Ofsted voice”. It’s human nature to perform when we’re being watched, even when the watcher is kind, supportive, and well-meaning. But here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Why Every Teacher Should Master Their Assertive Voice

Why Every Teacher Should Master Their Assertive Voice

It’s common for teachers to pour their energy into supporting pupils and colleagues — but when it comes to advocating for themselves, many struggle.Whether you’re applying for a new role, leading behaviour in the classroom, or managing a team, your choice of language matters.

Flexibility in Teaching: The Unspoken Advantage We’re Missing Out On

Flexibility in Teaching: The Unspoken Advantage We’re Missing Out On

After reading the TES article on why schools resist flexible working, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experience. I’m fortunate to be part of a school that truly understands the importance of flexibility—not just as a catchphrase, but as a way of life.

Struggling with Your Mentor? How to Navigate a Challenging Teacher Training Placement

Struggling with Your Mentor? How to Navigate a Challenging Teacher Training Placement

For many trainee teachers, a positive mentor relationship is key to a successful placement. But what happens when that relationship becomes strained, leading to stress and concerns about failing?

AI Lesson Planning: 5 Powerful Tips to Save You Hours

AI Lesson Planning: 5 Powerful Tips to Save You Hours

Ever tried using AI for lesson planning and thought, “Well, that was underwhelming”? You’re not alone. So many teachers dip a toe in, expect magic, and end up disappointed. All too often, we forget: AI was never meant to be a vending machine for ready-made lessons. It’s not about typing a quick request and getting the perfect plan. Instead, think of AI as your eager new trainee — bright, capable, and full of potential, but only if you take the time to show it the ropes.

Cultivating Confidence with Colleagues and Line Managers

Cultivating Confidence with Colleagues and Line Managers

In teaching, we often say “yes” without a second thought. Whether it's for the sake of the students or the school, teachers take on more than they should, and over time, this willingness to help becomes a fast track to burnout.

Rethinking Target Setting: Aligning Teacher Growth with Personal Values

Rethinking Target Setting: Aligning Teacher Growth with Personal Values

The removal of Performance-Related Pay (PRP) in schools marks a pivotal turning point. For years, pay progression hinged on metrics like student outcomes—targets that often led to stress, competition, and misplaced priorities. PRP’s fall from grace is an opportunity to reimagine professional development in education.

Your Guide to PPA Time: Know Your Rights & Make It Work for You

Your Guide to PPA Time: Know Your Rights & Make It Work for You

Do you know your rights when it comes to PPA time? You might be surprised by what you're entitled to! Too often, teachers feel pressured to use this time for things they shouldn’t, or worse, they don’t get their full entitlement.

The Paradox of Overworking Teachers: Why Overdelivering Is Killing Your Career Potential

The Paradox of Overworking Teachers: Why Overdelivering Is Killing Your Career Potential

If you think staying late, taking on everyone’s workload, and sacrificing your wellbeing will fast-track your promotion, I have news for you: it’s not just unsustainable— it’s self-sabotagepp

Are You Ready to Stop Taking Work Home?

Are You Ready to Stop Taking Work Home?

Every hour spent on schoolwork outside of school is time away from your loved ones, your hobbies, and your well-deserved rest. If you’re finding yourself in the classroom during holidays or buried under piles of resources to prepare, it might be worth rethinking how things are done.

10 Boundary-Setting Phrases to Reclaim Your Time as a Teacher

10 Boundary-Setting Phrases to Reclaim Your Time as a Teacher

As teachers, we pour so much of ourselves into the classroom, often at the expense of our own time and well-being. We stay late marking books, answer emails during dinner, and agree to meetings that clash with our planning time. Sound familiar? We've all been there.

It’s Not the Workload That’s Draining Teachers, It’s Being ‘On’ All Day

It’s Not the Workload That’s Draining Teachers, It’s Being ‘On’ All Day

Why are we so shattered by the weekend? Spoiler: It’s not just the marking pile. It’s something far more draining. Let’s talk about the real reason so many teachers are running on fumes by Fridayevening. Most people think it’s all down to the workload—planning lessons, marking books, attending meetings.

AI in Education: Stop Blaming the Tool and Start Teaching the Process

AI in Education: Stop Blaming the Tool and Start Teaching the Process

The buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) in education has taken a sharp turn. A recent study on the use of GPT-based tutors in high school mathematics revealed that while generative AI tools improved student performance during practice, they led to poorer outcomes on independent exams when removed.

Why Experienced Teachers Should Still Write Lesson Plans

Why Experienced Teachers Should Still Write Lesson Plans

Think you’re too experienced to bother with lesson plans? Think again. A well-crafted plan isn’t just nice to have—it’s the key to turbocharging your workflow and cutting down on wasted time. Lesson planning isn't just for new teachers; it’s the ultimate tool that allows you to focus on what matters most:

Reclaim Your PPA Time: From Efficient to Truly Effective

Reclaim Your PPA Time: From Efficient to Truly Effective

PPA (Planning, Preparation, and Assessment) time isn’t just another block on your timetable—it’s your secret weapon for staying ahead, protecting your well-being, and elevating your teaching. But maximising this golden slot takes more than just a plan; it takes strategy.

The Perfectionist’s Guide to ‘Good Enough’ Teaching

The Perfectionist’s Guide to ‘Good Enough’ Teaching

If you’re a teacher who spends hours refining lesson plans, tweaking resources, and making sure every detail is just right, this guide is for you. Today, I’ll show you how to shift your mindset and adopt a ‘good enough’ approach—without sacrificing quality teaching.

The Causes of Burnout in Teaching

The Causes of Burnout in Teaching

Teacher burnout is a growing crisis that’s impossible to ignore. From overwhelming workloads to systemic inflexibility, the pressures on teachers have reached critical levels. This isn’t just an individual problem—it’s an institutional one, deeply affecting educators, students, and the wider school community.

Supporting Teachers: Choosing Wellbeing Without Leaving the Profession

Supporting Teachers: Choosing Wellbeing Without Leaving the Profession

Reading recent reflections of an Educator of the Year winner made me feel a mix of admiration and sadness. He wrote, 'I put everything and everyone before myself, and it had a detrimental impact on my mental health,' which struck a chord with me. I remembered my struggle with constantly prioritising work over my well-being, and how it led me to a similar breaking point.

Have you ever felt like you’re falling behind?

Have you ever felt like you’re falling behind?

Returning to teaching after having kids, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stuck in the past while the profession had raced ahead without me. The energy, passion, and confidence I once had felt like distant memories.

Sir Martyn Oliver and the Summer Holiday Debate

Sir Martyn Oliver and the Summer Holiday Debate

Last week, Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, suggested that it may be time to rethink the length of school holidays. Speaking on LBC radio in response to a listener’s question about why England’s school holidays are ‘so short’...

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