Poor school attendance is a symptom, not the cause. To address this issue, we must tackle underlying roots by supporting children and parents. They need assistance, not fines.

“50 bits of advice to help you as a school leader” by HeadteacherChat headteacher-chat.link/leader-tips

Anon post: I have a Y3 pupil who has told parents they want to transition. Parents are keeping us informed. I’m looking at Mermaids for guidance – are there other organisations/resources schools should know about?

Anon post: I am in need of advice on great performance management proformas and schedules for all staff! Can anyone help?

"When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do." Walt Disney

We know school leaders are busy. That’s why we created Ask Charlie, our AI Agent. Whether you need: Advice on managing workload A quick link to resources Clarity on the latest updates Charlie is here to make life easier, so you can focus on leading your school.

October half-term: should it be two weeks?

Thousands of school leaders use our planners every year. Why? Because they work. Every page is designed with your role in mind — from meetings to safeguarding notes. Join the community of leaders staying organised. Order yours here: headteacher-chat.link/planners25

Our planners aren’t just diaries. They’re trusted tools for headteachers: Structure your week Track priorities Reduce workload stress Keep everything in one place Plan smarter, lead with confidence. headteacher-chat.link/headteacher...

Only a handful of our Headteacher Planners remain. They’re built to save you time, reduce stress, and keep you organised all year. When they’re gone, they’re gone. Grab yours today: headteacher-chat.link/ht-plan-252...

We’d love to see you at Leading with Impact in London and at the Tes SEND Show in October. Come and chat with us, connect with peers, and take away ideas to support leadership and SEND strategy.

You know you're truly a teacher when a child mistakenly calls you "mum" or "dad."

Last Chance Planners Only a few 2025 school leader planners left – most designs are already sold out! Remaining: • Headteacher: Contemporary, Forest, Coastal • Deputy: Contemporary, Coastal • SENCO: Coastal, Forest When they’re gone, they’re gone:

Ofsted Updates: New Handbook & Framework Big shift from Sept 2025: Ofsted moves to a 5-point scale + colour-coded report cards. Safeguarding = separate “Met/Not Met”. Here’s what leaders need to know: headteacher-chat.link/ofsted-guide

DfE Updates – 5-Minute Briefings This month’s essentials, distilled: Pupil Premium: 5-step equity model RISE Initiative: tackling disadvantage AI & Data: risks, compliance, safeguards Catch up in 5 mins here: headteacher-chat.link/htc-comm

Leadership tools to support you ✅ Updated Ofsted checklist & toolkit ✅ DfE digest briefings ✅ Editable CPD/meeting templates ✅ Replay library of webinars Plus “Ask Charlie” – your AI assistant. Explore Premium: headteacher-chat.link/htc-community

Spotlight: Book of the Week Making Every PE Lesson Count. Not “just” a PE manual — but a call to treat PE with the same rigour as maths, English, and science. Why this matters: www.schoolleaderbooks.com/books/revie...

If we’re serious about helping children “level up”, they don’t need slogans. They need: Sure Start centres Libraries Swimming pools Properly funded services like CAMHS

DfE’s new strategy: Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life. Focus on: Reducing disadvantage Strengthening early language & literacy Smoother school transitions Full briefing → headteacher-chat.link/dfe-beststart

The new Ofsted Handbook (Sept 2025) is out last week. ✔️ Key framework updates ✔️ New call questions ✔️ Inspection templates for members Join our briefing webinar, Thurs 18 Sept, 2pm → headteacher-chat.link/ofsted-news1

School leaders, this one’s for you. The brand-new HeadteacherChat™ Planner is now 50% OFF. ✔ Designed by school leaders, for school leaders ✔ Brings clarity and focus to your week ✔ Helps you manage meetings, planning, and wellbeing ⚠ Limited stock – once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Only 20 Deputy Headteacher Planners left! Get yours today with 50% off before they sell out. Be quick → headteacher-chat.link/PLANNER50

Book of the Week That Behaviour Book by Stephen Baker. Simple, practical truths about teaching children. Perfect for new teachers, middle leaders & SLTs. Read our review headteacher-chat.link/behavior-book

Why school leaders love the HeadteacherChat™ Planner: ✔ Clear structure for meetings and priorities ✔ Helps balance workload and wellbeing ✔ Designed by school leaders who get it Right now: 50% OFF. www.schoolleaders.shop/discount/PL...

Only 7 copies left of the Deputy Headteacher Contemporary Planner 2025-26 Get yours now: Deputy Headteacher Planner 2025-26 headteacher-chat.link/deputy-plan26

Our notes from the OFSTED Webinar headteacher-chat.link/ofsted2025

BBC 500 Words Competition launches TODAY! It’s the UK’s largest writing competition for 5-11-year-olds and a wonderful way to inspire budding young authors! Find out all you need to know here: tinyurl.com/2xcnkfuh #BBC500Words

Tools & Resources Meet Charlie, your AI assistant for school leaders - 24/7. headteacher-chat.link/school-aibot Plus: the 2025–26 Coastal Planner now shipping. Use code PLANNER50 for 50% off →

The HeadteacherChat Blog At HeadteacherChat, we’re passionate about supporting school leaders — and we know the best insights come from our community. We welcome contributions from members who want to share their experiences, advice, and stories.

School leaders! Introducing a new, safe space 🗣️just for you to connect and discuss leadership challenges, away from the noise of social media. We're facilitating to keep it supportive. 🤝 Sign up here: headteacher-chat.link/htc-comm #HeadteacherChat #schoolleadership

Improve your parental engagement with @Evisense! Bringing all communication with parents into a single system including newsletters, home-school diaries - sign up to try it out. #parentalengagement #teachersofx #evidenceoflearning #ad evisense.com/evisense-tr...

Our 2025 leadership planners are almost gone. Styles selling fast: Headteacher: Coastal, Forest, Contemporary Deputy, SENCO: Limited stock Principal, AHT, SBM - All sold out! Start term calm, clear & organised. Grab yours now → Add the code ShippingFree for free shipping.

DfE Writing Framework 2025: What school leaders need to know The updated framework is designed to make writing progression clearer, more actionable, and better aligned with curriculum intent.

Special Offer for School Leaders We know how busy school leadership can be – endless meetings, planning, and the pressure to keep improving. That’s why we created the HeadteacherChat™ Planner, designed by school leaders for school leaders.

Here’s a snippet from last week’s webinar: The Vital Role of a School Inspection Nominee. If you’d like to watch the full session, you can catch it here: headteacher-chat.link/V4gaidS

Anon post: I’ve got governors tomorrow and need to write my headteacher’s report. What should I be including for September? We’re only three weeks into term and I’m unsure what’s expected at this stage. Admittedly, I’ve left it until the last minute — it’s just been such a busy start!

Short on time? Our Five-Minute Briefing Notes break down KCSIE 2025 into clear, ready-to-use updates. Perfect for staff briefings or governors' meetings. Read In the School Leader Community - headteacher-chat.link/kcsie2025 #KCSIE #DSL #safeguarding

Book review: Making Change Stick by Dr James Mannion See this week’s tools: headteacher-chat.link/change-stick

What’s on for school leaders: 22 Sept | Pupil Wellbeing 23 Sept | Apprenticeship Levy 24 Sept | Innovation in First Aid 29 Sept | DfE Writing Framework 3 Oct | Staff Wellbeing headteacher-chat.link/htc-webinars

headteacher-chat.link/newhead-tips Discover essential leadership tips and practical guidance for new headteachers. Expert advice on school management, staff relations, and building successful educational leadership from day one.

Generative AI in schools — what the DfE is saying (and not saying). Read our 5-min briefing: headteacher-chat.link/ai-edu-uk

Are you searching for healthy lunch ideas that require minimal effort, time, and thought? ‍ headteacher-chat.link/easylunch

Don't Miss Out! Only 8 SENCO Forest Planners Left! Our exclusive SENCO Planners are nearly gone! We only have 18 remaining. Secure yours now before they're all gone: headteacher-chat.link/senco-planner #planners #senco

Last Chance Planners Only a few 2025 school leader planners left – most designs are already sold out! Remaining: • Headteacher: Contemporary, Forest, Coastal • SBM: Coastal • Deputy: Contemporary, Coastal • SENCO: Coastal, Forest • Principal: Contemporary When they’re gone, they’re gone:

Place your order now for quick delivery! School Leader Planners are currently available for delivery, just in time for the start of term. Order here: headteacher-chat.link/headteacher...

🌟 Leadership Doesn’t Have to Be Lonely 🌟 School leadership can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to face it alone. 💬 Inside our community, you’ll find: ✅ A safe space to share challenges without judgment ✅ Templates and resources written by experienced school leaders

Last Chance Planners Only a few 2025 school leader planners left – most designs are already sold out! Remaining: • Headteacher: Contemporary, Forest, Coastal • Deputy: Contemporary, Coastal • SENCO: Coastal, Forest When they’re gone, they’re gone:

#Headteacherchat is a place where we can support each other in this challenging time. Ask questions and we will share it with our network. Like, retweet, and comment using the hashtag and follow others! #supporteachother

“A bad curriculum well taught is invariably a better experience for students than a good curriculum badly taught: pedagogy trumps curriculum. Or more precisely, pedagogy is curriculum, because what matters is how things are taught, rather than what is taught.” ― Dylan Wiliam