School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

When Shame Looks Like Defiance

Why do some pupils smile, deny what happened, blame someone else or become angry when they're challenged about their behaviour? Sometimes, what looks like defiance

Why Some Pupils Never Ask For Help

Some pupils never put their hand up. They never admit they’re stuck. But then they fall behind while everyone assumes they’re coping. In this episode of School Behaviour

How To Keep The End Of Term Sane

The final week of term should feel positive - but when routines disappear, emotions rise and pupils realise the year is ending, behaviour can quickly start to unravel. I

What School Leaders Need To Know About SEMH Right Now

School leaders are facing increasingly complex SEMH needs, rising pressure around behaviour and inclusion, and more uncertainty about what effective support should look l

When Pupils Use Friendships As A Weapon

Some behaviour problems don’t start with defiance, disruption or poor emotional control. They actually start when pupils use relationships to humiliate or exclude another

How To Support Pupils Who Are Anxious

Have you noticed some pupils seem more anxious, avoidant or dysregulated at this time of year - even when nothing obvious has changed in the classroom? In this episode o

Teaching A Tricky Class? This Is The First Thing To Fix

Got a tricky class that feels harder to teach than it should? Sometimes the problem isn’t one big behaviour issue - it’s the smaller repeated issues that drain everyone’

Why Some Pupils Fall Apart After Lunch - And What Schools Can Do

Have you ever had a pupil come back from lunch looking fine - only to refuse work, argue, shout or completely fall apart minutes later? In this episode of School Behavio

When Behaviour Strategies Work… But Make Things Worse

Have you ever used a behaviour strategy that worked brilliantly in the moment - only to find the same behaviour came back again the next day? And the next? In this episo

Are We Mistaking Compliance For Regulation? (And Why It Matters)

Are the quiet, compliant pupils in your classroom genuinely regulated - or just holding everything together? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore the

Why Pupils Say “I Don’t Care” - And What To Do Next

What should you do when a pupil looks you in the eye, shrugs and says, “I don’t care”? It’s one of those classroom moments that can easily pull adults into a power battle

When Behaviour Seems To Come Out Of Nowhere: Understanding Stress Stacking

When a pupil explodes over something small, it can look like their behaviour came out of nowhere. But what if that “tiny trigger” wasn’t really the cause - just the fina

The Hidden Causes of Attention-Seeking Behaviour

Why do so many sensible school strategies fail, even when staff are trying their best? In this episode, you’ll learn why attention-seeking behaviour is often a misleadin

Why Good School Strategies Fail - And How To Fix Them

Why do so many sensible school strategies fail, even when staff are trying their best? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, we explore one of the biggest challen

How Executive Function Can Trigger Student Dysregulation

What if a pupil’s dysregulation isn’t just about behaviour - but about hidden executive function demands they can’t yet manage? In this episode of School Behaviour Secre

SEND Reform Is Coming: What It Means For Behaviour And SEMH In Schools

The government’s new SEND reform paper proposes major changes to how schools support pupils with additional needs. But what does it actually mean for mainstream schools,

Why The Students Who Need Your Help the Most Are the Ones Who Reject It (Understanding Avoidant Attachment)

Some of the pupils who need the most support are the ones who refuse it. They say they’re fine. They push adults away. They avoid check-ins, mentoring and pastoral suppo

Why Social Media Makes Children’s Behaviour Worse (And How To Help)

Why do children sometimes say things online they would never say face to face? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why social media can make behavi

Emotional regulation is not a curriculum – and treating it like one backfires

Emotional regulation is not a curriculum - and treating it like one backfires. Many pupils can explain their emotions, name calming strategies, and talk confidently abou

Kids Aren’t Less Resilient - We’re Training It Out Of Our Students

More children are struggling to cope with small setbacks in school. Mistakes feel overwhelming. Frustration escalates quickly. And learning grinds to a halt. In this ep