Education is one of the most judged professions: the behaviour and results of the children; the WhatsApp groups of their parents; the support & challenge of governors; the book scrutinies, lesson observations and classroom drop-ins; staffroom whispers, open days, results days, press reports, social media and of course the inspections, both for schools, and soon for trusts. It is high-stakes, high-pressure, high-profile.

Welcome back! I hope that you were able to make good use of the summer break, enjoying rest, recreation and reconnection in whichever ways work for you. In the same way, transitioning back to our “work self” is a highly personal experience: some will be chomping at the bit to get back into routine and crack on with the fresh challenges and opportunities of the new academic year; others will be reluctant and low, sad to leave their “summer self” behind as they start to feel the pressures of...

As the academic year slips towards the post-exam reflection and planning space, many of us will be taking stock of  what  has worked,...