Making School Unmissable: Schooling that makes sense
About this ebook
Making School Unmissable explores a pressing challenge in modern education: too many students, parents and even staff no longer see school as compelling or even interesting. Despite the transformative power of education, rising absenteeism, disengaged students and families and a stressed workforce reveal a disconnect that threatens learning, development and community. Drawing on research, case studies and real-world insights, this book examines why school can too often feel 'missable'and how that perception can be reversed.
The authors introduce a framework built around five essential senses: Purpose, Belonging, Success, Empowerment and Adventure. These senses provide the foundation for an education that is engaging, inclusive and meaningful not only preparing learners for the future but making school fulfilling in the present. Through practical strategies, exercises and thought-provoking questions, educators are invited to reflect on their own settings and explore how to foster these senses for students, staff and families alike.
From school leaders to classroom teachers, this book offers a flexible approach to developing a culture where school is not just compulsory, but compelling. Optimistic and actionable, it equips educators with the tools and mindset to make every school day count, ensuring that learning is experienced as vibrant, relevant and unmissable.
A must-read for teachers and school leaders in any setting.
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About the author
Rachel Macfarlane is the Director of Education Services at Herts for Learning and has previously served as head teacher at three contrasting schools over a sixteen-year period. Between 2009 and 2018 Rachel was project director of the London Leadership Strategy's Going for Great (G4G) programme, which involved working with leaders of outstanding schools to share good practice and produce case studies for dissemination to London schools.
Paul Jenkins has worked in education for over 25 years. Trained in English, Drama and Media Studies, he has taught a range of subjects up to A-level. As a leader, he worked as Head of VI Form, Deputy Head, Headteacher and Executive Headteacher. He currently works as an educational consultant for standards and curriculum. He has mentored and trained new headteachers and written articles and award-winning scripts for theatre and television.
