Here’s three things worth knowing this week if you are a school middle leader.

* Ask your students, ‘Do you like coming to school?’ Culture is at the core of the Ofsted framework section on attendance and behaviour. There is not much change here from the previous framework but it emphasises that leaders should understand their cohort and have policies which are appropriate to them. The best way to test this is to ask the question, ‘Do you like coming to school?’ The responses and your data on behaviour and attendance will indicate whether the things you are doing are creating a community students want to be part of or not. A couple of other things worth noting are; 1. preparing case studies to illustrate impact and 2. be clear about your mobile phone policy, what is it supposed to achieve and does it work?

* December and January are the worst months of the year in school. According to Teacher Tapp, if you ask staff the same question as the student, ‘Do you like coming to school’ the responses will be significantly more negative in December and January. This is worth knowing if you are feeling the strain as is the fact that all the months after January are the best of the whole year. A few useful suggestions which might make the lowest point of the year a little easier to bear; asking people only to complete small tasks, setting deadlines for January (where possible), sharing resources which will reduce workload and of course, handing out chocolate always helps too.

* How we say something often matters more than what we say. These are the words Pooky Knightsmith talking about my new favourite educational term, ‘demand avoidant learners’, I think I have met a few of these. As we enter the hardest few weeks of the year it is tempting to allow irritation to get the better of us so Pooky shares 4 ideas that enable calm communication:

* Speak softly, slowly and low so your voice makes students feel safe

* Ask don’t tell, invite rather than instruct to reduce pressure and offer control

* Use indirect language e.g. let me know when you are ready rather than ‘do it’

* Hold your ground with calm compassion, your job is not to win but stay steady

Her simple advice to begin with is to notice your tone and remember:

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