Features

4 min read: The past year has seen the rise of The Three Marketeers: Covid, Consultancies and Conundrums. Tim Hands, Headmaster of Winchester, reflects on choosing schools in the new normal.

3 min read: It is a rare parent who never needs to complain. So how can you complain in a way which is constructive for everyone – parents, pupils and teachers? Attain's Editor talked to Jeremy Banks of Caldicott and Claire Belk of Bellan House, Oswestry School.

3 min read: HMC asked 800 educators for their views on both the current curriculum and models of assessment. Dr Simon Hyde, General Secretary of HMC, looks at the findings of this survey and why the majority of respondents want to see reform happen urgently.

4 min read: It's time to stop seeing Latin as a 'dead language', argues Dominic Hodgkinson, Head of Classics at Dauntsey’s School, and instead see it as a humanity that can enhance our understanding of the world today.

4 min read: Ensuring the governing body of a school is diverse, inclusive and reflective of pupils is increasingly important for schools. Ceri Jones, Headmaster of Caterham School, outlines why his school has created a Shadow Board of ten alumni, aged under 30.

4 min read: A bursary can completely change a disadvantaged young person's life. John Towers, Headmaster of Homefield Preparatory School in Sutton, explains how his school set up a programme to help children in care – and how other schools can do the same.

3 min read: There has no doubt been a seismic shift in environmental awareness recently. Matthew Smith argues that for independent schools to really lead on environmental awareness, parents will need to play their part.

4 min read: Are schools doing enough to promote diversity, tolerance and equality? Jason Whiskerd, Headmaster of Brentwood Preparatory School, explores what is being done to make sure the lessons learnt in school last a lifetime.

4 min read: The real abilities of pupils can be overlooked due to the standardised hoops they need to jump through to gain entry to senior school. Simon Larter-Evans of St Paul's Cathedral School takes a deliberately provocative look at Cognitive Ability Tests.

20/10: Joining Matthew this week is Stuart Douch and David Buckingham from Sompting Abbotts Prep School in West Sussex. We discuss how spending time learning about wildlife can be hugely beneficial for children, not just as a learning opportunity but also to help boost pupil wellbeing.

13/10: Joining Matthew this week is Emma Goldsmith of The Dragon School and Kate Reynolds of the Royal High School Bath GDST. We discuss school communications – how to ensure parents are always in the loop but don't feel overwhelmed by the quantity of information coming home.

06/10: Joining Matthew this week is Richard Backhouse, Principal of Berkhamsted Schools Group and Chair of HMC. Independent schools have once again found themselves in the political spotlight – we discuss charitable status and Labour's tax plans.

29/09: Joining Matthew this week is Jason Whiskerd of Brentwood Preparatory School and Irfan Latif of DLD College and a founder member of the Inclusion and Diversity Group of the Independent Schools Council. We discuss diversity, tolerance and equality in the independent sector.

22/09: Joining Matthew this week is William Goldsmith, Vice Chair of IAPS, and Head Master of St George's School, Windsor. In a wide-ranging interview, he discusses the pressure on schools and teachers during the pandemic and why the role of prep schools should be reimagined.