Those of us of a certain vintage remember a time when schools weren’t influenced by social media. Many of us have even managed to resist the lure of Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

But, of course, this isn’t a practical position for most teachers in schools today.

Despite my Luddism, and despite the damage it can do to pupils and mental health, there is a lot to be said for the impact of social media on teaching. At the touch of a button, teachers can now have a dialogue with any teacher across the UK.

It has become central to much teacher professional development. Free online networks and curriculum groups proliferate; you name it, there is now a group online to support you as a teacher.

When I first joined the profession, I often felt isolated in the classroom, whereas my modern-day equivalents can share ideas, and issues and enhance their teaching in real time.

In the 21st century, classroom wizards can quickly share the latest ideas and talk about what works well and what doesn’t - they can even share their love of teaching. It seems it was needed: as recently as 2012, a national survey of teachers found that only 4 per cent regularly collaborated with teachers outside their school.

The stress of late-night emails

But with every yin there is a yang, and the flipside of the wonder of social media is the hold that emails have in schools.

Let’s take, for example, all the information and advice that needs to be imparted to new teachers. In the old days (notice I did not say good old days), this would be done face-to-face. Not any more. Today, far too many teachers have this material supplied by the dreaded email.

Too many senior leaders do all school communication though this forum. Emails arrive late at night, which can cause anxiety and anguish, creating the feeling that the teacher is not working hard enough, and can ultimately affect wellbeing. Sending emails at this time will only damage the many teachers already feeling vulnerable as result of pressure and workload.

I have even heard (many times) of staff receiving feedback from their Ofsted inspection via email. This is just not acceptable on any level, in any context.  

In my day, the biggest complaint was the endless meetings, and while these appear to be fewer than they once were, it would be a tragedy if we had replaced them with death by email.

Colin Harris led a school in a deprived area of Portsmouth for more than two decades. His last two Ofsted reports were ‘outstanding’ across all categories

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