
Show Notes
Behaviour and attendance are not separate problems. They are reflections of adult practice. I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure.
It begins with a short strategic assessment.
If eligible, this leads to a full review process including:
• On-site school visit • Detailed, school-specific report • Follow-up strategy session • Practical leadership tools
Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/
In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore why behaviour and attendance improvement starts with consistency, relationships and leadership. Across UK schools, leaders face increasing pressure to improve behaviour and attendance. While systems, policies and processes matter, sustainable improvement happens when adult responses become calm, consistent and predictable. This episode explores three key shifts: • Consistency is the foundation • Knowing the child changes the response • Relational practice at scale We discuss the influence of relational practice, the importance of strong pastoral systems, SEND leadership, multi-agency collaboration and why students respond to environments that feel safe, fair and predictable. Sustainable improvement is not built through stronger sanctions alone. It is built through consistent adult behaviour and strong relationships.
Timestamps 00:00 – Behaviour and Attendance Start With Adults 02:17 – Why Behaviour and Attendance Remain Challenging 02:54 – Systems vs Student Experience 03:14 – What Relational Practice Really Means 03:53 – Consistency Is the Foundation 04:29 – Why Behaviour Systems Often Fail 04:46 – Stability Creates Improvement 05:02 – Data Describes Patterns, Not Causes 05:18 – Knowing the Child Changes Everything 05:38 – The Role of SEND and Pastoral Leadership 05:55 – Why Multi-Agency Working Matters 06:13 – Relational Practice at Scale 06:58 – Why Students Attend Schools Where They Feel Safe 07:13 – The Problem With Quick Fixes 07:33 – Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask 07:52 – Behaviour and Attendance Are Reflections 08:10 – Leadership Shapes Adult Practice
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