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Deborah Maclaren, MD of LoveReading4Kids, explores why it is crucial that diverse and inclusive books are normal for every pupils, not niche.

Alison Tarrant is the Chief Executive at the School Library Association and a dedicated school librarian passionate about the ever evolving nature of libraries.

It is unusual for challenge to be at the heart of a teacher’s reading experience, but for school library staff, this is the routine state of play. School library staff aim to build a collection to support learning and personal development; with resources not entering by ‘default’. Instead, each item has to justify its place as part of the library collection.

Writing a piece exploring the opportunities inclusivity offers seemed like a pretty straightforward task. Find some stats, look at some research, read up on a few ‘experts’ and write an article littered with percentages and data…easy! 

That is what Inclusivity has now become after all - a series of research, a plethora of experts and survey after survey churning out a load of stats, repeating the message over and over again that “We need more Diverse books”. 

Whether it’s teacher-tutor or pupil-tutor, there is a myth that due to technology and communicating through a screen, solid relationships can’t be built but as tutors, teachers and pupils will testify, this definitely isn’t the case. 

If you imagine an engineer – or, better still, do a Google image search – virtually every picture features a hard hat, overalls, hi-vis and men. Almost exclusively men.

Do the same with designers, and there are sewing machines, fabrics, colour swatches and women.

Inside the climate-conscious schools: from supporting local biodiversity to running eco-clubs and energy saving initiatives, new research reveals the steps the country’s schools are taking to help protect the planet. However, with curriculum pressures threatening progress amidst an escalating climate crisis, leading learning company Pearson has partnered with the likes of IEMA, the Met Office, University of Reading and the Eden Project to help put students at the heart of finding solutions.

Technology, new software and the need for devices, can often, unnecessarily, put teachers off, but in just two steps, you and your learners can be ready for their online sessions with ease - a smooth, stress-free process for all.  

It’s a warm Thursday afternoon and the air in the D&T classroom is stuffy. I’m designing packaging for a shoe brand, pen on paper, with my Body Shop canvas bag stuffed under the desk. It’s 2001 and I don’t have a mobile phone. My idea of being a designer is to work in graphics or in fashion. I know that designers create things, products, packaging, buildings. But I also know that there is too much waste, people are going hungry, and that global warming is being mentioned. What are my studies in design and other subjects teaching me about changing that? Honestly, nothing really.

James Pembroke, Data Analyst at Insight/Sig+, analyses the changes and impact of assessment, post-COVID, on schools and pupils.

Diane Lee, English Teacher at Stowmarket High School , shares powerful first-hand examples of the importance of teaching empathy and the impact this can make.