Hey there Teacher Tappers!
Goodness me, does anyone remember what it felt like to be on holiday? Apparently, August was 9 days ago, but it certainly feels more like 90. Well done to you all for getting stuck into the first term, and we hope it’s all going well.
If you are a new Tapper who signed up because of the school INSET, please do write in and let us know! So far, a primary school in Chelmsford is in the lead with the most write-ins and is due to receive a delivery of Teacher Tapp goodies 🥰.
Teacher Tapp Reward Store
Last week we released our BIGGEST app update for a long time…introducing, the Teacher Tapp Reward Store!
Every question you answer earns you one point, and then you can exchange those points for Teacher Tapp goodies. We have classic Tapper merch like badges and mugs, PLUS special offerings from Greggs and Costa! If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check it out.
Right – onto this week’s findings!
How do teachers feel about Ofsted single word judgements?
When the news that Ofsted was dropping single-word judgements was released, Teacher Tappers felt optimistic about the change, but when we checked in with teachers now that the change has come into effect, support has dropped by more than 50%.
Those who ‘strongly support’ dropped to 2% from 17% in January 2025, and ‘somewhat support’ dropped to 19% from 39%.
More teachers now ‘neither support nor oppose’ (50% up from 31%) and ‘slightly oppose’ 15% up from 7%, and ‘strongly oppose’ (14% up from 6%).
Why has there been such a big shift? Partly, this can be attributed to the fact that when the question was asked the first time, no one knew what the scorecards would look like; it’s really hard to judge an idea when it’s just based on what you think it ‘could’ or ‘should’ be. Now teachers have seen them working in action; their feelings about them can be based on reality and their experiences of being inspected using them, or seeing them used elsewhere.
Tes has written about these results; you can find the article here (it may require a subscription).
A Teacher Tapper asked…trainers
After six weeks of picking your own footwear, the return to school might have you reaching for the blister plasters, now you have to wear ‘proper’ shoes again. But is that true for every teacher?
Excluding PE teachers, 81% of primary and 26% of secondary teachers work in schools that allow trainers as part of their dress code. For primary, this is UP compared to 65% in 2023 and 77% in 2025. Although it’s less common in secondary, it is also on the rise, from 15% in 2023 to 23% in 2025.
Dress codes for students are taking a similar (if slightly less dramatic) trajectory, with more primary schools permitting trainers to be worn as part of their normal school uniform in both primary (49% in 2026 UP from 45% in 2025) and in secondary (29% in 2026 from 27% in 2025).
And when it comes to the opinion teachers have about whether students should wear formal shoes or trainers, 48% of primary and 45% of secondary teachers say they have ‘no preference’ when it comes to footwear. In primary, trainers are favoured over formal shoes (31% vs 21%) and in secondary, formal shoes were picked more than trainers (36% vs 19%).
If you have a question you would like Teacher Tapp to check, get in touch and let us know! England@teachertapp.co.uk 📧
Submitting lesson plans
This year, 10% of primary and 1% of secondary teachers told us they are expected to submit either some or all of their lessons in advance of teaching them.
Compared to last year, this is unchanged in secondary, but DOWN in primary (previously 12%), and when we check back, it’s part of a downward trend that started at 22% in 2017, and year on year has dropped off to the 10% reported this year. In secondary, it’s only been reported by 1% or 2% of teachers every year since we started asking in 2017.
Should we ask more questions how submitting lesson plans works? Maybe you submit them and have them checked, or perhaps you have to submit to share for other teachers to be able to use? Suggest some questions by emailing: England@teachertapp.co.uk 📧.
Ups and Downs…teacher tech
⬆️ UP teachers with school-issued laptops (72% UP from 55% in 2018)
⬇️ DOWN: teachers with tablets (18% DOWN from 28% in 2018)
↔️ NO CHANGE: teachers with a phone (2% in 2026 vs 0% in 2018 vs 2% in 2019)
Daily Reads
The most-read tip was all about leadership and ‘closing your rings‘.
There are so many great blogs out there, and we love featuring them on Teacher Tapp. If you have a blog you think we should feature, please email us at england@teachertapp.co.uk, and we will check it out!
