Blog Posts

Benedict’s Law and the implications for schools

Thankfully, fatal anaphylaxis is rare, but, when it does occur, the consequences are devastating. Helen and Peter Blythe have been tirelessly campaigning for change following the tragic death of their five-year-old son Benedict, who died at school in December 2021 after experiencing anaphylaxis. Their efforts have highlighted critical gaps in how schools protect children with allergies. Although s

01/04/2026 Read more

Understanding the Experiences of Black Teachers in London: Why Mattering Matters

Introduction Understanding the experiences of Black teachers is essential if we are serious about improving well-being, retention, and professional fulfilment in education. Conversations about diversity in schools often focus on pupils, yet far less attention has been given to the psychological experiences of teachers themselves. One concept that offers a powerful lens for exploring this is m

01/04/2026 Read more

What do school governors need to know about DEIB?

School governors play a strategic, not operational, role in DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging). What they need to know can be grouped into purpose, legal duties, oversight, and culture. What DEIB means in a school context Governors should understand that: Diversity: The range of identities and experiences in the school community (e.g. race, ethnicity, gender, SEND, religion, so

01/04/2026 Read more

Holding Space Without Burning Out: Understanding Compassion Fatigue and How We Safeguard Ourselves

In caring professions – and in deeply relational roles, holding space for others is sacred work. Whether you are a therapist, coach, nurse, social worker, teacher, spiritual leader, or simply the person everyone turns to in crisis, you are entrusted with stories that carry pain, trauma, grief, and vulnerability. But holding space comes at a cost if we do not tend to ourselves. Compassion fatigue i

25/02/2026 Read more

Growing Up Between Boxes

What does it mean to grow up mixed-race in a world that is obsessed with tidy boxes and simple definitive answers, and what does a journey towards belonging look like? It took me a long time to understand that ‘belonging is not a destination – it’s a journey’. It was journalist and broadcaster Afua Hirsch that first shared this nugget of wisdom with me during an interview on my podcast 

25/02/2026 Read more

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 Consultation

On 12th February 2026, the Department for Education published a new draft of the statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges: Keeping Children Safe in Education.  Amongst other changes, the new draft guidance includes an amended section titled ‘Children who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual’; and a new section titled ‘Children who are questioning their gender’.  Since the draft

25/02/2026 Read more

Curriculum and Assessment Review Analysis

Steps in Evolution? The work of Becky Francis and her team should be commended. It is no small feat to be able to manage a volume of feedback and try to create something new. The Final Report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review is comprehensive. This analysis intends only to consider the evolution of diversity in the curriculum in the Final Report.  So what does the Final Report tell us?&

23/11/2025 Read more

Seen, Valued… and Able: Designing Classrooms for Social and Academic Belonging

Belonging isn’t separate from academic teaching. Strategies that build knowledge—when done correctly—also build belonging. A heartfelt card from reception (kindergarten) child to a headteacher, which says: “I love it how you always pay attention to me when I am talking.” I know the headteacher who received this on the last day of term. She kneels to students’ height, meets their eyes and listens w

23/11/2025 Read more

Disagreeing Well in The Age of Disconnect

It’s the interview question that every medical school applicant is expecting to be asked: “ Why do you want to be a doctor ?” All around the world, aspiring doctors like me somehow managed to say in one way or another: “ I want to help people .” Thankfully,  University College London (UCL) Medical School  gave me the chance to prove it. As a paediatrician, I played a crucial role in the

23/11/2025 Read more

Deficit Language: The Invisible Barrier We Do Not Talk About

We do not just describe people with our words – we define their possibilities. And sometimes, we unintentionally define them by what they lack. Too often, the language we use to describe communities puts the blame on individuals instead of the systems that fail them. This is what we call deficit language. Why is Deficit Language Problematic? As we strive to become more inclusive, we really need to

15/10/2025 Read more

Whose Values Are They Anyway?

This blog is based on a provocation I gave to the Practical Wisdom Network to the question of “Whose values are they anyway?” I approach the provocation through the character lens of practical wisdom.  Walk into any school or scroll through a Multi-Academy Trust’s website, and you’ll see them: Respect, Aspiration, Ambition, Integrity, Courage. Neatly framed, laminated and polished like a bran

15/10/2025 Read more

Belonging in the Classroom: responding to a divided world

It’s a Sunday morning—my favourite time of the week. Coffee in hand (with collagen and creatine, of course), I wander around the house while the kids are already asking for ice cream, Lego time, and the TV (yes, it’s only 8am). Usually, this part of the day comes with a little doom-scrolling, some memes, and a few oddly satisfying cleaning videos. But today feels different. As I scroll, I’m pulled

15/10/2025 Read more

Distorted Mirrors, Fogged Windows: A Call for Deeper Representation in Education

The concept of  “mirrors, windows and sliding doors,”  introduced by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, has become a foundational framework in conversations around diversity in children’s literature and multicultural education. In her metaphor,  mirrors  reflect readers’ own identities and lived experiences,  windows  offer insights into lives different from their own, and 

01/07/2025 Read more

Nurturing Student Growth

As educators, we often encounter students who challenge the structures and expectations imposed upon them. These students, who may not fit neatly into standardized molds, compel us to reconsider how we approach learning and behavior. Much like many of our students, there are times when we, too, long to respond with greater patience, understanding, and freedom from ingrained patterns. The complexit

01/07/2025 Read more

Why Black History Is More Than Just a Month: Embedding Legacy, Learning and Leadership All Year Round

As we mark five years since the murder of George Floyd, the question many of us in education and leadership circles are still grappling with is this: how do we move from reactive to proactive when it comes to race, equity, and inclusion? How do we ensure that Black history is not confined to a single month in October, but becomes a golden thread woven through every aspect of our curriculum, polici

01/07/2025 Read more