From teaching advice and useful links to opinions and ideas on the latest secondary teaching topics, our secondary education blog has it all. Brought to you by the people behind the secondary teaching resources at Beyond, our teaching blog provides articles written by teachers like you, for teachers like you. So, push that marking to one side, pour your beverage of choice, and check out the latest secondary blog topics, written exclusively by Beyond.
- Halloween Around the World
Have you ever wondered about the origins of Halloween around the world? It’s not all costumes and sweets… - Funny Teacher Stories (or Horror Stories)
Educating young people is not easy. Sharing our funny teacher stories is a great way to show fellow teachers that we’re not alone! - Beyond Debate Topics for Students: The Inside Scoop
Beyond lifts the lid on our debate topics for students, detailing how exactly you can use them in class and form time to develop core skills. - COP26 in Schools with Beyond
If you watch the news or follow social media, chances are you have heard of COP26. Read this blog to learn more about what it is, why it is happening and how you can get your students involved. - Setting the Tone in the Classroom
Setting the tone in the classroom is not what some might lead us to believe. These 7 tips should help you in creating your ideal environment. - Building Your Teacher Network
If connecting with like-minded professionals sounds good to you, here is an online teacher network or two that you should check out! - KS3 Curriculum Maps with Beyond
Every school is required to follow the National Curriculum’s guidelines but creating a full KS3 curriculum map can be very daunting! - KS3 Baseline Assessment with Beyond
The quickest and simplest way to find out where your pupils are in their learning is to have them complete a KS3 baseline assessment! - Famous Literary Locations from GCSE Texts
You know the authors and you’ve read the books, now it’s time to visit the famous literary locations where they are set, with Beyond! - Films to Watch This Summer Now You’ve Got Some Time
Our cine-literate team has compiled a list of extraordinary films to watch this summer! So, sit back, relax and grab some popcorn… - Things Teachers Don’t Want to Hear During Summer
Now that August has finally rolled around, there are just some things that teachers don’t want to hear during summer… or ever again…ever! - Top 5 Teachers on TikTok
Beyond has created a list of our top five favourite teachers on TikTok to keep you laughing this summer. - Beyond Secondary YouTube Playlists
Beyond Secondary’s YouTube playlists consist of short, informative videos that are perfect to use as part of classroom learning and revision. - A Level Results Day 2021: Why Results Day Can Be a Source of Chaos
Does A-Levels results day 2021 and Clearing processes cause students to make poor decisions about their future? - 10 Teacher Films to Watch This Summer
We’re here to offer our top 10 teacher films that you should watch this summer! We have chosen a selection of classic teacher-related flicks that will take you on a cinematic journey. Relax and enjoy your old favourites or tuck into something you’ve never watched before. - 7 Things We Won’t Miss about Teaching in the Pandemic
Amid the chaos of this year, Beyond thought it would be fun to think back to the things we won’t miss about teaching in the pandemic. - Teacher Stereotypes and Buying New Clothes
Teacher style can serve as a useful tool for sussing out what role and personality type a teacher has and even the subject they teach. Beyond has come up with a few funny teacher stereotypes based on clothing styles that you’ve probably noticed at work. - Secondary Classroom Display Ideas with Beyond
The school environment can have a massive influence on your mood and motivation. This means your classroom displays directly affect how your students feel in your lessons. We all know that young people aren’t always the easiest to motivate but … - 5 Things All Teachers Should Do In The First Week Of The Summer Holidays
The wait is over, the summer holidays are here! Here’s a virtual high five to you for making it through one of the most bizarre years in teaching – ever. Here are our top 5 suggestions to help teachers relax. - International Friendship Day
The United Nations officially recognised the 30th of July as International Friendship Day in April 2011, with the hope that it would inspire friendship between people, countries and cultures and rebuild broken bridges. Read the blog to find out more… - 5 Summer Wellbeing Tips for Teachers
If you’re in need of real rejuvenation try one or more of these tips to enhance your wellbeing during this summer break. Here are five summer wellbeing tips to keep you on top of your mental health in the sun. - Books for Teachers to Read this Summer
How long has it been since you tucked into a really good book? Reading for pleasure becomes a distant memory when you’re knee-deep in work. The summer break gives you time to enjoy a book for enjoyment’s sake. Beyond has come up with ten awesome reads that you can sink your teeth into this summer! - Teacher Summer Holiday Bucket List
Don’t underestimate the difference filling your day with fun experiences and activities can make to your wellbeing! We all need a teacher summer bucket list for inspiration! - End of Year: Clear Your Classroom to Clear Your Mind
With just a couple weeks left, summer is well and truly around the corner and we are all exhausted, drained and hobbling to the finish line…and that’s before we’ve considered packing up our classroom at the end of the year! We’ve come up with some simple, easy ways you can start decluttering your classroom starting today! - A Level Online Resources with Beyond: Advanced
Beyond does not stop at KS4, we go further! Support your KS5 students’ academic success with Beyond: Advanced and our A Level online resources. - Harry Potter Resources: Warner Bros Studio Tour
Explore the wizarding world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros Studio Tour and immerse yourself in its magic with our Harry Potter resources. - Are Teachers Undervalued in The Media?
In 2019, Ofsted asked teachers to take part in a research study exploring the challenges of the profession. The results showed that 61 per cent of senior leaders felt that teachers are undervalued and that the profession was held in low esteem. - Sports Resources: The Summer of Sport with Beyond
Kick-off the summer’s sporting events by bringing the excitement of global tournaments into your classroom with Beyond’s sports themed resources! - Olympics Teaching Resources with Beyond
Bring a taste of the 2020 Olympics to your classroom with Beyond’s new selection of Olympics teaching resources for KS3 & GCSE. - 3 Impressive New Skills To Add To Your CV After Teaching through a Pandemic
Though the disruption of a global pandemic was not bookmarked in our diaries, all has not been lost. We have come out of this tumultuous year with a new outlook and a new set of impressive skills to add to our CVs. - Why Teachers Quit Teaching: 1 in 3 Teachers Plan to Quit, Says National Education Union Survey
Many teachers say if teaching was just about teaching they’d be able to keep going. Sadly, it’s way more complicated than that. Teachers are reportedly leaving the profession in droves and it’s high time we hear their stories. Let’s explore some of the reasons why teachers quit… - Teacher Stress: Why Are So Many Teachers Experiencing Burnout?
The teaching profession has always been heavy-laden with excessive workloads and teacher stress. The global pandemic arrived and made an already dire situation – worse. More exhausted teachers are experiencing burnout than ever before. - Teacher Pay Increase: 5 Reasons Why Teachers Should Be Paid Bucketloads More
We’ve all heard about selfcare, yoga and mindfulness but one substantial contributor to teacher burnout that hasn’t been prioritised is compensation and a teacher pay increase! - RSE Day 2021: The Face of RSE with Beyond
As RSE Day approaches, Sadie, one of Beyond’s very own RSE content writers, has taken the time to interview the organiser of RSE Day. - Is There Ever a “Grey Area” When it Comes to Sexual Harassment?
Can we tackle safeguarding in secondary schools and sexual harassment if nude pupil pictures are regarded as a non-issue? Ofsted’s chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, has confirmed she does not regard male pupils sending naked photographs of themselves to female classmates as a safeguarding issue in schools. - UK Free School Meals Policy: Number of Children Eligible for Free School Meals Soars
Figures show an increase from 17.3% to nearly 21%, in the last year. Meaning, 1.74 million children are now eligible for free school dinners under the UK free school meals policy. - Things Teachers Say vs What Students Hear
Teachers give clear instructions, right? Beyond explores the things teachers say VS what students think that means…strap yourselves in. - Effective Classroom Management: Ways to Take Your Classroom From Chaotic to Calm
Effective classroom management: the most elusive of concepts. This blog aims to provide techniques to help bring calm back to the classroom. - Safeguarding Failures: MP Maria Miller Slams Ofsted Over Sexual Abuse in Schools
Tory MP harshly criticises Ofsted after publication of sexual abuse reports in England’s schools amid massive safeguarding failures. - School Bans Skirts For Being “Far Too Revealing and Inappropriate Attire”
A Welsh school bans skirts because they are “far too revealing”. He claims to have received “frequent” complaints about inappropriate attire. - 5 Tips for Building LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in the Classroom
We’ve come a long way in supporting the LGBTQ+ community but there’s still room for improvement – starting with inclusivity in the classroom. - Active Listening Techniques for Teachers
Beyond explores some active listening techniques to help Secondary teachers become better listeners in and out of the classroom. - Sir Kevan Collins Resigns Over School Catch Up Funding Dispute
Sir Kevan Collins resigns! The school catch-up tsar has resigned after the government failed to meet up to the £15bn required for Covid catch-up funding. - Longer School Days Still on the Cards
Recommendations for longer school days is still under government review, says the Home Office minister. Extending the school day is still up for consideration to support children in recovering lost learning after the Covid-19 pandemic. - Code Switching: What Teachers Need to Know
The national curriculum aims for every pupil to learn how to use Standard English in writing and verbal communication. Teachers need to know that treating the features of non-standard dialects as if they are “errors” does not guarantee that pupils will suddenly start speaking or writing in standard English. - The Ultimate Guide for Using Beyond Teaching Resources
Whether you’re stocking up on a unit’s worth of teaching resources or looking for a single worksheet, we hope this guide to Beyond will help! - Reading Aloud Benefits: 5 Reasons Why You Should Definitely Read Aloud in Class
There are numerous reading aloud benefits that give your pupils the opportunity to listen to others read, become confident public readers and build their stamina for reading and enjoying texts. You should definitely encourage reading aloud in your classroom! - Unions Unite To Demand Release of Data on Covid Variants in Schools
A group of unions have sent a joint letter to the Department for Education demanding the “immediate” release of data on covid variants that have been linked to schools and colleges across the UK. - MPs Confess Department for Education Had No Covid Plan
Members of the parliamentary committee have revealed that the Department for Education (DfE) had no covid plan to manage the effects of the pandemic. - Teaching Digital Time: Can We Forget About Analogue Clocks?
If the future is digital, do young people need to learn how to read an analogue clock? We investigate the classic old VS new conundrum and explore whether we should just be teaching digital time… - 10 Hilarious Teacher Essentials We All Need
Honestly, life is hard and serious enough so any way we can add more joy we say do it. Embrace your sense of humour with these hilarious teacher essentials. - Closing the Attainment Gap Strategies: Physical Activity
Researchers at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge found that children who do more physical activity are likely to have stronger self-control, which could influence your closing the attainment gap strategies! - GCSE 2021 Grading: New Ofqual Evidence Reveals Assessment Bias
New evidence reveals assessment bias against boys in teacher assessments, according to Ofqual, England’s exam regulator. - Workload Reduction Toolkit: 5 Ways to Reduce Marking Workload For Teachers
GL Assessment’s survey of more than 800 school staff, found that “marking and data collation continues to be a major source of concern and stress for teachers in England”. Bearing that in mind, Beyond shares our workload reduction toolkit for teachers! - Millions Pound Funding Boost For Mental Health Initiatives in Schools To Tackle Effects Of Covid-19 Pandemic
The education secretary believes the next few months are ‘crucial’ in supporting mental health initiatives in schools. - Teacher Skills List: 5 Amazing Skills All Teachers Have
Amid the hustle and bustle of teacher life it’s rare we get the chance to appreciate the teacher skills list we’ve been able to develop. It’s no secret that young people can be pretty unappreciative so as teachers, we need to give ourselves a pat on the back from time to time. - School Catch-up Plan Will Cost £13.5bn
£1.7bn is not enough. ‘Significant investment’ is crucial to ensure Prime Minister’s promise that ‘no child is left behind’ via the school catch-up plan. - Teacher Friends: Why Fellow Teachers Are Best Friends
Teaching is a profession that has so many misconceptions. A lot of people who conveniently aren’t teachers believe the career is stress free and easy peasy. But those of us who are living the teaching life everyday know that’s a complete lie. There’s no way we could cope on our own that’s exactly why we need our fellow teacher friends. - Millionaire Teachers: Those Who’ve Made it Following their Passion
In her innovative book The Next Millionaire Next Door, Dr. Sarah Stanley Fallaw found that teachers were amongst the everyday working people who were most likely to become millionaires. How is it possible that the arguably most underpaid and overworked professionals have the most potential to gain financial freedom? Let’s lift the lid on millionaire teachers… - Covid Catch-up Tuition Failing “Woefully” says Shadow Secretary
Beyond explores the recent Shadow Secretary criticism of the “woefully low reach” of the catch-up tuition scheme in post-covid education. - Public Sector Pay Freeze: A Third Of Teachers Plan to Leave
It might seem like teachers are pretty well paid but when you really add up all the unpaid hours does it check out? 1 in 3 teachers plan to leave the profession within five years owing to the public sector pay freeze for 2021. - 3 Ways to Create an Inclusive Classroom
Inclusion has become a buzzword in education but what exactly is it? Beyond explores 3 ways to create an inclusive classroom at Secondary. - Tips For Coping With Sunday Anxiety
Sunday anxiety is real! We all react differently to anxiety, so it is important to find some coping mechanisms that work well for you. - Education Recovery Plan: An “Intuitive” Look Towards Longer School Days
School Minister Nick Gibb says “One way of securing catch up is more time”. The Education recovery tsar is looking at a longer school day proposal “very seriously” to make up for Covid disruption. Beyond explores this newly proposed education recovery plan… - Ofqual Grading 2021: Chair Tells Teacher to Grade GCSEs “Dispassionately”
Among the Ofqual grading 2021 advice, teachers are told not to let sympathy for their pupils affect the way they decide final grades. - Student-Teacher Relationship: 7 Ways Teachers Are Exactly Like Their Pupils
We teachers spend a lot of time moaning at our pupils for doing these things but can we admit we can be just as bad! Teachers and pupils are way more similar than we’d like to admit. Here are some examples of the teacher-student relationship and ways we are exactly like our pupils… - Sir Kevan Collins, The Catch-up Tzar, Sheds Light
Earlier this week, Sir Kevan Collins appeared at the Schools North East Curriculum Conference and spoke about the need to strengthen catch-up efforts with “billions” in government funding. He said the current £1.7 billion government catch-up funding was “nowhere near enough” and “does not do this job”. - Ofqual Exams 2021: Plans For Appeals Process & Quality Assurance
The examinations regulator, Ofqual has published draft guidance on how the appeals process will work for teacher assessed grades this summer. Beyond reports on the Ofqual exams 2021 appeals process… - New RSE Resources at Beyond
Brand-new RSE resources are coming your way, courtesy of Beyond! In this blog, we outline what you can expect from Secondary RSE with Beyond. - Meeting Guidelines: Could This Meeting Have Been An Email?
Have you ever sat in a meeting, completely disengaged, fake smiling and periodically nodding while questioning your life choices? Yeah, me too. Department, year team, pastoral, SLT – do the meetings never end? Here are three meeting guidelines to live by! - 3 Game-Changing Ways You Can Avoid Teacher Burnout
Teachers can’t give their best when they are running on an empty tank! Save yourself from teacher burnout by implementing these 3 game-changing tips. - Liverpool Secondary School Teacher Banned for Changing Coursework
Beyond investigates a Liverpool teacher that’s been banned for changing coursework, potentially impacting student grades. - Teacher Secrets: 5 Types of Parents We Can’t Stand
Young people achieve more when there’s a healthy collaborative effort between teacher and parent. Most parents are supportive and happy to work with teachers but the ones that aren’t making quite an impression. Beyond shares some of our teacher secrets, based on things we know teachers can’t stand! - 10 Inspirational Teaching Quotes To Remind You Why You Chose To Teach
Beyond explores 10 inspirational teaching quotes to remind you why you chose to teach and to provide a dash of encouragement to teachers. - Gavin Williamson says “far too many” teachers leaving the profession
Gavin Williamson told NASUWT that the government needs “to go further, faster” to improve the professional training offered to teachers to “ensure every teacher benefits”. Teachers are leaving in record numbers but who is to blame? - School claims to stop bullying by banning unsupervised games and play at break times
A London school claims they have almost eliminated bullying by banning unsupervised competitive games and sports at break times. - What Teachers Really Think: 5 Things Teachers Think But Can’t Say Out Loud
Teachers have self-control that surpasses all other professionals. No one does censorship quite like us. Bearing this in mind, Beyond explores what teachers really think but can’t say out loud… - Post-Easter Resources for a Successful Return to the Classroom
Before you jump into your stretchy PJs remember Easter break still calls for preparation. It’s time to sort out our post-Easter resources so we can actually unwind and enjoy some rest this festive holiday. - GCSEs 2021: MPs Fear Wild West Grading Fiasco
Following the cancellation of the 2021 GCSE exams teachers are responsible for deciding final grades. MPs warn about the risk of inconsistent, wild west grading that puts poorer pupils at an unfair disadvantage. - Teachers Could Buckle Under ‘Catch-Up’ Plan Pressure
Beyond explores the pressure placed on teachers in light of the recent proposals regarding the catch up plan for secondary students. - Easter Break Ideas: 5 Things Every Teacher Should Do This Easter
Getting back into the swing of things is no easy feat but it’s time for a break! Here are 5 Easter break ideas for a much-needed rest. - 3 Things Students Always Want to Know About Their Teachers
At some point in your teaching career, you will encounter super curious students who want to know all about your personal life. Get ready for the nosey questions because they are coming…they just can’t help themselves! Here are 3 things students always want to know about their teachers. - Blurting Revision: The Technique that Actually Works
With the cancellation of the 2021 GCSE exams confirmed many schools are opting to replace them with mock exams. Exam revision is just as important as it was in former years. So why not add blurting revision to your teacher tool box? - 5 Things Students Do To Annoy Teachers Throughout Covid-19
Teaching young people has always had its challenges but adding a global pandemic to the mix comes with a new set of unique irritants. Beyond explores 5 things students do to annoy teachers throughout Covid-19… - The Catch-up Narrative: What Not to Say During the Classroom Return
Beyond explores the toxicity of the catch-up narrative for GCSE and A Level, taking a closer look at how this kind of language can be harmful to students. - Returning to School: Was it a Political or Pastoral Decision?
Beyond explores whether returning to school was in the best interest of the pupils? Teachers’ unions certainly don’t think so… - GCSE Exams 2021: Finding the Headspace to Offer Students Your Best
Now that we know the shape that the GCSE exams 2021 are going to take, Beyond is here to offer assistance to Secondary teachers! Here we make some suggestions of how you can use Beyond resources to aid the situation. - Behaviour Management in Secondary Schools for a Post-Lockdown World
As we step hesitantly towards our return to the chalkface, our thoughts naturally turn towards behaviour management in Secondary schools! Join Sarah from Beyond as she explores top-tips for behaviour management in a post-lockdown world. - Women in STEM with Beyond
In honour of International Women’s Day, Beyond interviewed a selection of inspirational women in STEM to readdress the gender imbalance! - Making a Case for Anita and Me in GCSE English
The Beyond English Team makes the case for including Anita and Me into the GCSE English text pantheon. Try something new with Beyond… - GCSE Exams Cancelled: Surviving Without an End-Point
Near the start of the “new normal,” we wrote a requiem for coursework. Almost unbelievably, the time now feels ripe for a requiem to exams, in light of the GCSE exams being cancelled… - January Exams 2021
In light of the recent news of the January exams 2021 cancellation, Beyond offers their support through a range of resources. - Christmas Resources for KS3 Lessons
Beyond presents our latest Christmas resources for KS3 lessons, providing a range of new, 2020 material for English, Maths and Science as well as our partnership with Save the Children for Christmas Jumper Day 2020. - Chemistry Week 2020 KS3 & GCSE Teaching Resources
See how we can help you engage your students about the amazing world of chemistry during Chemistry Week 2020. - “Rigorous” A Level Mock Exams 2020/2021Beyond: Advanced explores recent educational news, specifically the “rigorous” A Level mock exams that have been discussed for 2020/2021.
- The Black American Experience in Literature for KS3 English
Beyond explores The Black American Experience in Literature for KS3 English as part of our seminal world literature unit. - Black History Month KS3 Resources
Explore our Black History Month KS3 resources for Black History Month 2021 and provide a platform for celebration and discussion, with Beyond. - National Poetry Day 2020 with Beyond
To see a world in a grain of sand and KS3 National Poetry Day resources in an hour. English teachers rejoice: National Poetry Day 2020 is nigh! - GCSE English Syllabus 2021: Time to Bar the Bard?
“Who ever loved, that loved not at first sight?” Beyond English makes the case for binning the Bard from the GCSE English syllabus 2021. - GCSE English Literature 2021: Facing Some Tough Choices
Beyond explores the recent news for GCSE English Literature 2021, taking an objective look at what’s best to drop from your lessons.