Most teachers have been preparing for half-term this week, with secondary and FE teachers rushing to finish off their teacher-assessed grade assessments and marking.

If classroom life has meant that you haven’t had a chance to read the latest Tes news and features, fear not. Here are some of the highlights, in one handy list.

News

• Exclusive: 8am-6pm extended school day on the table

Tes reveals that the government has been weighing up whether to opt for a mandatory extra 30-minute extension or to fund a longer, voluntary 8am-6pm school day to help with Covid catch-up.

• Exclusive: Teacher training providers may face DfE cull

The Department for Educations’s market review of initial teacher training could lead to a significant reduction in provider numbers, sources reveal.

• Amanda Spielman stays as Ofsted chief for two more years

Chief inspector will continue at Ofsted until the end of 2023 to oversee the bedding in of the new curriculum-focused inspections.

• GCSEs 2021: ‘Massive pressure’ on teachers over grades

Reports of stressed-out students show the ‘swirling uncertainty’ caused by the government’s late GCSE and A-level plans, warn heads.

• Exclusive: Teachers ‘in the dark’ over early career changes

Three-quarters of teachers do not feel ‘well-informed’ about the new Early Career Framework launching in September, a poll finds.

Features

• How to liven up school assemblies

Too often, school assemblies begin with a monotonous drone of ‘Goooood morrrrrning’ from pupils. Here one headteacher explains how she managed to get them to deliver a more upbeat greeting - and why this matters.

• Five ways you can quit with dignity

Moving on from a school can be tough - so here are some practical ideas on how you can ensure that your transition goes smoothly.

• Retrieval practice: four tips to do it well

Low-stakes quizzing can transform a classroom - but are you designing your questions to optimise the forgetting curve? One teacher shares his tips.

• Can books teach empathy?

Empathy is an important skill we would like all students to have. But can it be taught via reading books? These experts share their advice on choosing the right texts to do it.

• My Best Teacher podcast

Shappi Khorsandi is a comedian and author, and in this podcast she tells the story of a teacher who helped her to settle into the UK after her family fled Iran.

• Three ways to better tackle racism in schools

This week marked the anniversary of George Floyd’s death, and former headteacher Viv Grant says the past 12 months have offered hope for the future.

Videos 

WATCH: Three tips for encouraging questions in class

WATCH: The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill explained