June Newsletter
We’ve made it to June!
Between the relational fatigue of the summer term and the high-stakes pressure of finalizing next year’s curriculum, it’s incredibly easy to drop into pure survival mode.
But June is actually where the magic happens. It is the bridge where your grand strategic intent meets next year’s classroom reality. If we want next year to feel different, the work starts now—not in September.
In this, my first monthly newsletter, I’ll highlight some key developments and practical touchpoints across my core frameworks to help you navigate this transition smoothly. From keeping teachers out of “reactive” mode during end-of-term stress, to embedding true intellectual equity into your reading policies, here is what is on the horizon...
Functional Fluency
My book, The Functionally Fluent Teacher came out on 12 May! I am now working hard to maximise the number of school leaders who are aware of it. My aim is to get 10 schools to engage with the book during June, whether that involves having a virtual coffee chat with me, discussing its ideas at an SLT meeting or planning wholesale implementation. If you would like your school to be one of the 10, please get in touch.
Coaching
June will bring several coaching sessions with headteachers - a privilege and a highlight of each term.
Burnout and staff turnover continue to be massive drains on school resources. So are middle leaders who do not fully understand what it means to lead.
Targeted coaching is a form of support that can make a huge difference to how supported colleagues feel. I have a range of programmes and can create tailored approaches. Read the details here or get in touch to discuss your specific needs.
The Ambitious Years
I continue to lead on Mary Myatt’s The Ambitious Years and the pace of unit completion is accelerating. The range of units already available for geography, history and RE is fabulous - genuinely challenging and engaging - this really is intellectual equity in action! The things these pupils will know and be able to do by the time they get to KS4 is inspiring. If you want to know more, get in touch.
Meanwhile, Mary has written a new book entitled The Ambitious Years which is published on Tuesday 2 June. A “call for clarity, coherence and ambition, for every pupil” there is much to learn here about intellectual equity as the book sets out an ambitious yet practical approach to teaching in Years 7-9. This is the intellectual underpinning for the Ambitious Years work - highly recommend.
Read Aloud
The Read Aloud training programme that I have devised with public speaking expert and ex-teacher, Simon Day, is now live. It consists of 9 video units which take you through the theory behind why reading aloud is a key pedagogical strategy. It then gives you practical advice on how to actually do it effectively, so that all your pupils thrive. Get started now so that you and your classes can start feeling the benefits in September.
Available for a discounted “early bird” price of just £90 until 1/9/26, this training can provide the pedagogical CPD to underpin your school’s engagement with The Ambitious Years - check it out!
Rooted in Reading
Traditional summer reading lists can be elitist and widen the equity gap. Why not embrace Rooted in Reading and create high-agency, choice-driven summer reading challenges?
Now is the time to order your Transition Passports to ensure that the personal reading journeys of your Year 6 pupils are captured so that you can build on them in September and give the start of KS3 an injection of rocket fuel.
Consultancy
I am looking forward to working with English teachers in the Bolton English Hub later this month.
As the details of next year’s timetable and staffing are being finalised, I still have a small amount of capacity for consultancy work in July - if your school would benefit from an audit of its literacy structures before September, get in touch.
The National Baccalaureate Trust
We are planning another free face-to-face meeting in Milton Keynes - I will be circulating the agenda and booking details this week. If you would like to know more about how your school can get involved, drop me an email.
Ready to Connect?
07862 756308
steve@swillshawconsulting.co.uk