Beyond Wiping Noses carefully navigates the paths through the pastoral life of a school leader and weaves theory with practical suggestions for a wide scope of issues a including bullying, behaviour systems, the pastoral curriculum and character education, as well as many other relevant and contemporary pastoral issues. Stephen Lane explores the pertinence of educational research but acknowledges its limitations, especially when applied to truly human contexts. He is also insightful in his appreciation of contextual differences and the challenges that these may present. Although the text is often grounded in the debates and discussions seen on edu-Twitter, this need not alienate those who do not tweet, for the issues raised in Beyond Wiping Noses are pertinent and the Twitter debate is often reflected in areal life staffrooms nationally. This book is detailed, thoughtful and very human; theres a sense of the person behind the writing, and an appreciation of the human behind the eyes of the reader. Sarah Barker, English teacher, Orchard School Bristol, writer and blogger Beyond Wiping Noses is a book that is refreshingly readable and actionable but also evidence-based and rigorous. As Stephen says, the journey of becoming more informed a aof moving away from mere practice towards deliberate, thoughtful praxis a is an interesting and intelligent one. Professor Samantha Twiselton, Director, Sheffield Institute of Education, and Vice President (external), The Chartered College of Teaching Beyond Wiping Noses is a comprehensive exploration of what pastoral care is in schools.
It also offers a detailed and balanced examination of how a pastoral curriculum could become an evidence-informed provision in schools, something which is often neglected in discussions around pastoral provision. There is an increasing focus on evidence-informed teaching and learning strategies, but this doesnt extend to pastoral provision. Too often, school leaders, when faced with the question of how to ensure pastoral provision is evidence-informed, do not know where to start. This book outlines the various ways that schools could approach this and provides an excellent starting point to further explore research in this area Too often, evidence focuses solely on teaching and learning and neglects the pastoral. This book very effectively bridges the two: showing how research evidence can be applied in pastoral care, while also exploring a range of interesting sources of research that all pastoral leaders need to know about. This is a must-read for anyone working in or aspiring to pastoral leadership. It is also important reading for anyone aspiring to senior leadership, where a balanced and nuanced understanding of pastoral provision is essential. Amy Forrester, Director of Pastoral Care a Key Stage 4, Cockermouth School Beyond Wiping Noses is a much-needed and wonderfully refreshing, thought-provoking and uplifting read.
Such a careful and intelligent explication of the theory, philosophy and policy that lie behind pastoral practice is an essential resource for any school leader, and indeed all staff, involved in pastoral work.Lane weaves together strands from key thinkers such as Dewey, Biesta and Foucault to present a model of pragmatic pastoral praxis a providing substance to an often ill-defined area, giving shape to what research-informed pastoral work might look like, and offering an inspirational and deeply human call to aextend beyond the utilitarian to develop a hopeful optimism. In this unhiding of the pastoral curriculum, Lane challenges us to reflect on the nature of our assemblies, form time, everyday interactions with pupils, the curricular links between these elements, and the links with other subjects such as PSHE and SMSC. The reflective, intentional and integrated approach manifested throughout Beyond Wiping Noses is an invaluable contribution to the education literature and will undoubtedly contribute to something of a revolution in the way pastoral work is thought about and enacted in our schools. Ruth Ashbee, Assistant Head Teacher a Curriculum, The Telford Priory School a Provides secondary school leaders and teachers a guide to support all members of school community. a Explores many contemporary problems and challenges that are faced by students, offering guidance and strategies to support issues faced. a Alongside bullying, the book covers issues around wellbeing, mental-health and attachment, behaviour and delivering character education. a Practical suggestions throughout to promote greater levels of school well-being.
a The book is a must for teachers or school leaders who want to explore pastoral role within the school community. Colin Hill - UKEd Chat Amongst the clamour and noise surrounding cognitive science, evidence-based practice and knowledge-rich curricula, little to no mention has been made of the pastoral dimension to education. Despite the slow emergence of the academic side of teaching into the light of research and evidence, pastoral work seems rooted in folk wisdom and gut instinct. This remarkable work by Stephen Lane bridges that gap, tying together these different worlds in a clear and well-researched book. Lanes breadth of reading is truly impressive, and he writes with authority on a range of thinkers and academics, distilling with ease ideas from Foucault, Biesta, Kirschner, Counsell and more. Beyond Wiping Noses should be the starting point for everyone involved in pastoral work a and, accepting the argument that Lane makes from the outset, that means all of us. Adam Boxer, Head of Science, The Totteridge Academy Before reading Beyond Wiping Noses I was completely in the dark about the research available to help teachers inform their pastoral practices in school. This book helps to cut through the confusion and mixed messages over the kind of pastoral care that schools can and should offer, and places it into a wider context of curriculum and pedagogical thinking that teachers and school leaders may be more familiar with.
Stephens knowledge and experience of these matters, along with his genuine desire to see all children flourish in school, really shines through the pages of this book. He writes with compassion but also with an eye to the bigger picture. Beyond Wiping Noses needs to not only be read by pastoral leads but by all teachers and school leaders who play a role in helping the children in their care through the trials and tribulations of school life. Mark Enser, Head of Geography and Research Lead, Heathfield Community College, TES columnist and author of Teach Like Nobodyas Watching Drawing on his wide-ranging research and practical experience at the chalkface, Stephen Lane has produced an all-embracing text on how schools can develop their practice to care more effectively for their learners. Stephen makes very effective use of his research to inform the reader of relevant current research topics, published papers and legislation. I personally found the sections on relationships and sex education, wellbeing, mental health and attachment, behaviour, and bullying extremely relevant. The depth of discussion and critical analysis illustrates the authors awareness of key intervention strategies. The section on behaviour is recommended since it raises many issues which have already been highlighted as key problem areas for teachers at all levels, especially as they work to address the emotional and learning barriers facing students during the period of the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Beyond Wiping Noses is primarily aimed at schools, I would suggest that its content is also very relevant for staff in further education colleges, training centres and universities too, where the issues of pastoral support for students is often an overlooked issue. John T. Morris, Director, MOTIV82ASPIRE Pupil behaviour and learning outcomes are inextricably linked. In order to maximise the learning outcomes for children and young people, teachers cannot look at pastoral care strategies and teaching and learning strategies as being mutually exclusive. In Beyond Wiping Noses, Stephen Lane outlines the need for teachers to become research-informed pastoral practitioners. In each chapter he explores key themes and ideas based on almost two decades of his own reading, research and experience in schools. An engaging and thought-provoking journey through the multifarious aspects of pastoral provision, offering readers a plethora of practical suggestions which may support classroom teachers to promote higher levels of school wellbeing. Sarah Mullin, Deputy Head Teacher, Priory School, and author of What They Didnat Teach Me on My PGCE Stephen Lane gives hope and strength to anyone who feels that schools can sometimes forget to relate to the whole child, or leave some children behind in the drive for academic results.
He approaches a fundamental but somewhat neglected area of school life, and shines a light on these vital issues with rigour, sensitivity and reference to evidence-based practice. In doing so he has created a bible for any teacher or school leader whose concern is the wellbeing of their pupils. A particular strength of the book is the way he marries a comprehensive overview of the theory with practical suggestions for day-to-day school life. I would urge all schools to have a copy of Beyond Wiping Noses in their staffroom. Peter Nelmes, school leader and author of Troubled Hearts, Troubled Minds: Making Sense of the Emotional Dimension of Learning Stephen Lane has rightly identified the paucity in research on the pastoral side of working with children in todays schools. In Beyond Wiping Noses he shepherds us through a wide-rangi.