Teacher Autonomy Where Has It Gone and Why We Need It Back

Introduction: This Is Only the Beginning

1. Autonomy and Teacher Wellbeing

2. Teaching and Learning

3. Accountability

4. The children

5. Digital Autonomy

6. Autonomy in action

The Future: The Revolution Begins Here

Biography

Sophie Smith-Tong has over 15 years’ experience as a primary teacher and is the founder of Mindfulness for learning. A passionate advocate for teacher wellbeing, she frequently speaks on the topic, including at the Institute of Education. In addition to her work as an educator, she is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead and Early Years Specialist, a family wellbeing consultant and hosts a regular podcast on education and family wellbeing.

"Sophie Smith-Tong is one of the Play People and now she’s crafted her first book, a paean to teacher autonomy and a powerful declaration of why it needs to be reclaimed and how. Teachhood is just as fragile as childhood and both need embracing and liberating from the clownery that keeps coming from the political dogma that grows the Nonsense Tree...One day, that tree will get chopped down and all the spreadsheetism and tomfoolery of ego and power will get fed into the woodchipper: Sophie’s book signposts the way to get there…" 

Greg Bottrill, Author and Childhood Advocate.

 "What an absolute masterpiece. Sophie has collected and collated everything possible in a really digestible way. It’s magnificent!!" 

Tina Farr, Head Teacher, St Ebbe's Primary School, Oxford. 

“The US and England have experimented recently with top-down, government-mandated control of what teachers and their students can do in the classroom and how both are evaluated. The results have been disastrous. Kids dislike school at record rates, meaningful learning has declined, and mental disorders among kids have skyrocketed. Please read and act on Sophie Smith-Tong’s impassioned and practical guide for bringing teacher autonomy and sanity back to schools.”

Peter Gray, Research Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College, USA.

"Although teacher autonomy matters a great deal, this book is so much more than this. It is about what education means, and how children learn. This is a brilliant book, it is comprehensive, powerfully written with numerous case-studies and commentaries. It deserves to be read by everyone who cares about the future of education, our children and their teachers."

Sue Roffey, Honorary A/Professor UCL, Director of Growing Great Schools Worldwide and author of ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All.

“You need to read this book. It is thought provoking, relevant and necessary to the conversation around teacher retention and recruitment. What has happened to teacher autonomy? Sophie Smith-Tong examines in detail how we have reached this point, what is happening now and what the future holds. Drawing also on a range of voices across education, Sophie presents the case for our educators to have autonomy and agency, to take responsibility and not to be shoehorned into the narrow confines of faceless prescribed lesson plans and soulless policies. Autonomy doesn’t mean being off the leash, it is about professional progress and professionalism, personal development and personality. Whether teacher or leader, you need to read this book. You won’t regret it.”

Andrew Cowley, Wellbeing Consultant, Speaker, Author and Coach.

"Teacher Autonomy is a masterclass in balancing research with the voices and experiences of teachers. Sophie has written a book that is a must-read for policy-makers, school leaders and teachers all around the world!"

Adrian Bethune, Founder of Teachappy, Teacher, Author and Speaker.