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School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

School Behaviour Secrets with Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton

Beacon School Support 276 episodes Nov 9, 2026

This podcast offers research-backed strategies for teachers, SENCOs, and school leaders to support students with emotional and behavioral challenges. Hosts Simon Currigan and Emma Shackleton share practical classroom management techniques and insights for working with special needs like autism, ADHD, and attachment disorder. Each episode features interviews with education thought leaders and evidence-based approaches to help educators manage tricky classes and unlock student potential.

Episodes

Should Every Teacher Respond to Behaviour in the Same Way?
Should Every Teacher Respond to Behaviour in the Same Way? Nov 9, 2026 18:41 What happens when two teachers respond completely differently to the same pupil's behaviour - and both believe they're doing the right thing? One teacher follows the school's behaviour policy and issues a warning. Another offers additional support because they believe the pupil is struggling. So who's right? And how can school leaders create consistency without taking away teac
Why Some Pupils Avoid Work (And What To Do About It)
Why Some Pupils Avoid Work (And What To Do About It) Nov 2, 2026 22:30 Have you ever taught a pupil who seems perfectly capable of completing their work, but spends half the lesson finding ways to avoid getting started? It's easy to interpret this behaviour as laziness, defiance or a lack of motivation. But sometimes, avoidance is a way of escaping discomfort or stress caused by underlying needs. And if we misunderstand what's driving that behaviour, our at
What To Say To A Pupil After A Behaviour Incident
What To Say To A Pupil After A Behaviour Incident Oct 19, 2026 23:43 After a difficult behaviour incident, how do you rebuild your relationship with a pupil who's sworn at you, become aggressive or stormed out of your classroom? And whose responsibility is it to make the first move? In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you'll discover why repairing adult-pupil relationships isn't just important for the child - it's also in your own profe
5 Behaviour and SEMH Statistics That Made Me Stop And Think
5 Behaviour and SEMH Statistics That Made Me Stop And Think Oct 12, 2026 23:42 What do the latest behaviour, SEND and attendance statistics actually tell us about what’s happening in schools?In this episode, you’ll explore five recent figures that raise important questions about suspensions, SEND support, attendance and the pressures facing school staff. You’ll hear why headline data can hide what’s really happening underneath, why pupils on SEN Support may need closer atten
5 Ways To Stop Group Work Descending Into Chaos
5 Ways To Stop Group Work Descending Into Chaos Oct 5, 2026 16:12 Does your class work well independently, but the moment you put them into groups, the noise goes up, chairs start scraping and everything begins to unravel?Group work places more demands on pupils than we sometimes realise - from moving around the room and managing resources to remembering instructions, negotiating with other pupils and switching attention.In this episode of School Behaviour Secre
Co-regulation: Why Speaking Calmly Can Make Things Worse
Co-regulation: Why Speaking Calmly Can Make Things Worse Sep 28, 2026 17:28 Ever used your calmest voice with an upset pupil, only to find it winds them up even more? You’re trying to help, but somehow your calming strategy is making things worse.In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll explore the difference between sounding calm and helping a pupil feel understood. Through a familiar classroom scenario, you’ll hear how well-intentioned responses can add press
Why Locking School Toilets Won’t Stop Internal Truancy
Why Locking School Toilets Won’t Stop Internal Truancy Sep 21, 2026 16:19 If pupils are marked present, but still spend large parts of the school day hiding in the toilets, wandering corridors or visiting the medical room – have you solved your internal truancy problem, or just moved it somewhere else?In this episode, you’ll learn about emotionally based internal truancy, or EBIT - an informal way of thinking about pupils who make it into school but struggle to access t
Why Tiny Mistakes Trigger Big Reactions
Why Tiny Mistakes Trigger Big Reactions Sep 14, 2026 22:01 Have you ever taught a pupil who produces excellent work most of the time, but becomes overwhelmed, angry or tearful after making one tiny mistake? Perfectionism can look like a positive quality from the outside, yet it may be hiding intense anxiety underneath.In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn why some perfectionist pupils are more vulnerable to dysregulation and how to dis
When Shame Looks Like Defiance
When Shame Looks Like Defiance Sep 7, 2026 24:50 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 or a lack of remorse may actually be a defence against shame.In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you'll learn:- The important difference between guilt and shame - and why it matters for behaviour- Why shame doesn'
Why Some Pupils Never Ask For Help
Why Some Pupils Never Ask For Help Aug 31, 2026 15:13 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 Secrets, you’ll learn why asking for help can feel threatening for some pupils and the hidden coping strategies they use instead - from copying others’ work to trying to become invisible in the classroom.You’ll also discover the si
How To Keep The End Of Term Sane
How To Keep The End Of Term Sane Jul 13, 2026 23:21 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.In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll learn how to keep the end of term calm, structured and meaningful without removing all the fun. We’ll look at why pupils often become silly, emotional or unsettled before the holida
What School Leaders Need To Know About SEMH Right Now
What School Leaders Need To Know About SEMH Right Now Jul 6, 2026 18:55 School leaders are facing increasingly complex SEMH needs, rising pressure around behaviour and inclusion, and more uncertainty about what effective support should look like in practice.In this episode of School Behaviour Secrets, you’ll hear what schools are telling us right now about SEMH leadership, why it can feel so difficult, and what leaders need in order to move forward confidently with SE

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