Blog Guidelines

The BELMAS blog has been developed to raise the profile of the Society and to provide a place of discussion for those interested in Educational Leadership, Management and Administration.

Submissions are open to both BELMAS members and non-members. Click here to read what’s currently on the blog.

We welcome blogs in your own language in addition to the English version.

Do you have an idea you wish to write about in relation to Educational Leadership, Management and Administration? You might find the following Research Interest Groups and themes helpful to consider

We invite submissions of up to 800 words (excluding any references) on topics that are related to one of our Research Interest Groups (RIGS):

• Critical Educational Policy and Leadership Studies
• Governance and Governing
• Doctoral Research
• Post 16 Education Leadership and Management
• Gender and Educational Leadership
• Structural Reform
• Leadership Preparation and Development
• Parental Engagement and School Leadership
• Race and Leadership
• Leadership in Early Years Education
• Reflective Practice
• Inclusion
• International and Comparative Education

We also welcome blogs on topics related to the informal education sector and leading learning.

What to write about

Blog posts can include the following:

• Short reports or summaries of research
• Experiences as a practitioner
• Reports on BELMAS events
• Opinion pieces
• Commentary on news and current affairs
• Responses to other BELMAS blog articles

How to submit

Prospective contributors could submit their ideas for blog posts to info@belmas.org.uk.

If you have an idea that you are keen to share, we are happy to support you to develop your work further.

How to write a blog

You might find the following guidance helpful when developing your blog. Please keep in mind the intended audience as the BELMAS blog is for everyone to read.

Think about how you would try to engage with someone who has no experience in your field. Ask yourself the following questions: Why is this important? What do I need to explain? How can I sustain their interest?

Prospective articles could:

• Include a catchy title
• Have a conversational tone
• Avoid jargon and dense language
• Explain complex ideas where applicable
• Provide links to sources where possible

Please make sure that your work reflects your own original views and work. Make sure you acknowledge any other sources that informed your work. If English is not your first language, the editorial team will provide full support to help you to refine your work.

After submission, the editorial team will aim to respond to your blog post within 10 days.

Blogs are required to be stand-alone, substantial pieces focusing on the chosen theme.

All blog posts are double peer reviewed. Although the editorial team’s decisions are final, we offer formative feedback to enable you to refine your blog for future publications.

Prospective contributors could also aim to write their articles using the ‘inverted pyramid’ structure as seen below: