Oracy as a curriculum priority: what it means for school resource planning
Oracy is becoming a growing curriculum priority as schools recognise the role spoken language plays in learning, confidence and academic success. This article explores how school leaders can prepare for future oracy expectations by creating communication-rich classrooms, supporting teacher development and ensuring resources, environments and curriculum planning work together to develop pupils' speaking and listening skills.
Jack Clarke
Falling pupil numbers: financial pressure into advantage
Falling pupil numbers are creating financial pressures for many schools, but they can also present opportunities to strengthen provision and improve educational outcomes. This article explores how school leaders can respond strategically through smarter resource planning, efficient procurement, clear communication and a renewed focus on delivering high-quality learning experiences despite changing demographics.
Chris Leonard
Recycling in your school Practical Ways to Create a More Sustainable Future
Recycling is one of the simplest ways schools can reduce waste, lower their environmental impact and build sustainability into everyday school life. This guide explores practical ways to improve recycling, reduce single-use plastics, make procurement more sustainable and engage pupils and staff in creating a greener, more environmentally responsible school community.
Chris Leonard
Eco classroom ideas: creating a sustainable school environment
Creating a sustainable classroom does not require expensive equipment or major environmental projects. By reducing waste, improving resource management, making thoughtful purchasing decisions and embedding sustainability into everyday routines, schools can create eco-friendly learning environments that support both environmental goals and budget efficiency. This guide shares practical ideas to help primary schools build a culture of sustainability that lasts.
Chris Leonard
Sustainability in primary schools: the DfE strategy explained
Sustainability in primary schools is now part of a wider national education priority. The Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, first published in April 2022, sets out how schools and education settings in England can prepare children for a changing world, reduce environmental impact, become more resilient to climate change and improve the natural environment around them.
Chris Leonard
Reading records for primary schools: what to buy and how to use them
Reading records remain one of the simplest and most effective tools for supporting reading development in primary schools. Used consistently, they help teachers track progress, encourage home-school communication and build positive reading habits. For school business managers, they are also a relatively low-cost resource that can support whole-school reading strategies when chosen carefully and used well.
Rachel Pangburn
Teacher wellbeing in 2026: practical workload resources for school leaders
Teacher wellbeing in 2026 is no longer a “nice to have” staff benefit. Across the schools, trusts and education settings that Findel supports, leaders are increasingly recognising that staff wellbeing, retention and workload are now strategic priorities rather than separate conversations. With Education Support’s Teacher Wellbeing Index 2025 reporting that 76% of education staff experience stress, the focus for school leaders is shifting from wellbeing initiatives alone towards practical changes that make everyday school life more manageable.
Rachel Pangburn
Ways to Tackle Mental Health in School: Building a Whole-School Approach to Wellbeing
Supporting mental health in schools requires more than awareness days or standalone initiatives. The most effective schools take a whole-school approach by embedding wellbeing into relationships, leadership, learning environments and everyday school life. This guide explores practical ways to support pupil and staff wellbeing through positive school cultures, emotional literacy, physical activity, inclusive environments and early intervention strategies.
Natalie McMunn
Eco school ideas: how to make your primary school more sustainable
The Eco-Schools seven-step programme is the UK's most widely used sustainability framework for schools, with more than 19,000 registered settings. Primary schools can begin by forming an eco committee, completing an environmental review, creating an action plan and linking projects to learning. Themes include energy, waste, biodiversity, water and transport, with Green Flag accreditation often achievable within one to two academic years.
Natalie McMunn
MAT procurement: how to simplify ordering across multiple schools
MAT procurement becomes easier when trusts standardise core supplies, keep local school input visible and use ordering tools that reduce duplication, chasing and manual admin. For MAT finance directors, the goal is not to centralise everything for the sake of it. It is to create a system that gives the trust better control while helping individual schools get what they need, when they need it.
Rachel Pangburn
How to save water at school: ideas and resources for primary schools
Saving water at school is one of the simplest ways primary schools can reduce environmental impact while helping pupils develop lifelong sustainability habits. Small changes to daily routines, classroom activities and site management can significantly reduce water use over the course of an academic year, while also supporting the sustainability goals outlined in the Department for Education's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy.
Chris Leonard
How to create cost and time efficiencies in procurement
School procurement is about more than finding the lowest price. By improving processes, strengthening supplier relationships and using digital procurement tools, schools can reduce administrative workload, improve financial visibility and create both cost and time efficiencies. This guide explores practical ways for School Business Managers to streamline procurement while maintaining strong governance and value for money.
Natalie McMunn