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Leadership and Management

School leadership and management teams need to be honest and boldy introspective, to examine their own practices and ask themselves if they are really doing all they can to create the conditions in which highly effective work can take place at all levels, at all times. These articles span the wide range of leadership skills and management functions which enable the school to achieve a 'high-performance culture'.

Time to start trusting teachers | School Leadership & Management

How can we go about building trust into the education system? Here we look at the NAHT's Commission of Inquiry into Assessment and League Tables

The changing aims of primary education | School Leadership & Management

After a long standing struggle between learner-centred and standards-led aims for primary education, two papers for the Primary Review note the emergence of a hybrid

How to handle allegations against a member of staff | School Leadership & Management

If a child makes a vague allegation is it OK to ask questions? How should an allegation against a member of staff be treated? Jenni Whitehead discusses some of the concerns facing managers when coping with these issues

Empowering teaching assistants to raise standards | School Leadership & Management

Muriel Thomson explores the most effective use of teaching assistants, and describes the team that she has built up in her role as director of continuing professional development and self-evaluation at Brixham College, Devon

Reinstating an excluded pupil | School Leadership & Management

Michael Segal explores a school's legal position in implementing a reinstatement order, and how far they are obliged to enforce it

Meeting the community's needs | School Leadership & Management

How can outreach work effectively engage hard-to-reach community members? Partnership working and forward thinking has been successful in breaking down barriers to participation, as Nazia Hussain, project manager for Keighley extended schools cluster in Bradford, explains

Admission appeals: how to avoid litigation | School Leadership & Management

Admissions authorities and statutory appeal panels can avoid potential litigation from parents by using tactical decision making, says Yvonne Spencer

Every Child Matters: challenges and opportunities for CPD | School Leadership & Management

What impact will Every Child Matters have on CPD in schools? According to Steven Coombs and Mike Calvert, it will be huge; and schools need to be ready

Secondary school partnerships: the role of governors | School Leadership & Management

Schools and colleges that work in partnership provide a better offer to their students, make faster progress and improve their performance, says Robert Hill

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: how it will affect your school | School Leadership & Management

Chris Webb-Jenkins walks you through the new vetting and barring regime, which comes into effect in autumn 2008

A mature governor reflects on 40 years in the education system | School Leadership & Management

After celebrating her 80th birthday, Joan Sallis looks back and makes a plea for stability

Extended schools: learning from the past | School Leadership & Management

The idea of extended schools has a long history, says Pam Woolner, and we can learn from ideas that have been tried in the past

Historic abuse claims become easier to manage | School Leadership & Management

A key judgement means claimants need prove only abuse − not employer's negligence. But this could be good news for schools writes Dai Durbridge

Helping hands: making best use of TAs | School Leadership & Management

To allow full use of teaching assistants, curriculum managers need to ensure both TAs and teachers have the support they need. This involves quality line management and a clear understanding of how to plan for effective learning, Lynn Maidment explains

Assisting the assistants: CPD for teaching assistants | School Leadership & Management

Are schools rising to the challenge of CPD for the whole workforce? Elizabeth Holmes investigates what schools need to do to ensure everyone receives professional development

The International School Award | School Leadership & Management

Chris Fenton discusses the benefits of working towards the International School Award, and how it can be used to build teamwork in improving schools and impact professional development

The NCSL and you | School Leadership & Management

The NCSL is doing much more than training the next generation of heads, as Crispin Andrews discovers when speaking to Paul Bennett

The key to effective leadership | School Leadership & Management

What are the essential characteristics for a school leader? Roger Smith reflects on what leadership is and what makes it work

Headteachers and small schools | School Leadership & Management

Angela Youngman talks to heads of small schools around the country and gains an overview of the challenges and pleasures of the job

Learning from our European neighbours' education systems | School Leadership & Management

Our European neighbours do education differently - with different starting ages, reading levels, varied approaches to the curriculum and assessment, extremes of class size and funding. What can we learn? Dave Weston shares his experience

Building a curriculum for confidence and responsibility | School Leadership & Management

Staff at Park View Community School, Chester-Le-Street, describe how introducing a competence-based curriculum has enabled students and teachers to begin a learning journey

A digital environment can raise school performance | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Simon Uttley explains how he transformed a 'notice to improve' school to one of international status with 'exceptional leadership' with help from a sophisticated digital environment

Examining senior leadership roles | School Leadership & Management

Analysing how critical leadership roles are being performed in your school can be a worthwhile exercise, says Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)

SEAL: good for teachers, schools and students | School Leadership & Management

The responsibility of SEAL and the development of emotional intelligence ultimately lies with the school, argues headteacher Neil Berry, and can have a real impact on school improvement

Health and safety at a school event | School Leadership & Management

Health and safety is not only essential, it can also be a very useful planning tool if approached sufficiently far in advance of a school event

How to reinvigorate your G&T provision | School Leadership & Management

Deputy headteachers Paul Ainsworth and Josephine Smith consider how school leaders can reinvigorate their G&T programmes so they are an integral part of their school's success

School business managers: utilise your advanced fundraising skills | School Leadership & Management

Business managers and bursars are ideally placed to help their schools develop more robust approaches to fundraising, argue Paul Ainsworth and Josephine Smith

Promoting healthy early years settings | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update looks at the National Healthy Schools Programme and the key issues it aims to address

Effective target setting for school improvement | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Kim Sparling explores how targets in schools can be used most effectively

The financial side of becoming an academy | School Leadership & Management

Have you ever been attracted by the financial freedom of academies but wondered what the drawbacks are? Gary Dawson guides you through the issues

Building an effective childcare team | School Leadership & Management

Discover how to manage the dynamics of a balanced and well-organised childcare team

An inside look at an Ofsted inspection | School Leadership & Management

Would you like to be a fly-on-the-wall at your own Ofsted inspection? Paul Williamson, assistant head of Greenbank High School, shares the insights he gained from doing just that

How to tackle a bad Ofsted report | School Leadership & Management

What is your next step if you're given a poor Ofsted report? Angela Youngman discusses this, and talks to one headteacher who took over a school in the 'notice to improve' category

Indicators, targets and the decline of education? | School Leadership & Management

Setting targets is no way to improve educational standards, argues former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Richard Bird

A different approach: teaching through the arts | School Leadership & Management

Gallions Primary School teaches the entire curriculum through the arts, with fantastic results. Co-heads Paul Jackson and Emma McCarthy explain how it's done

Governors and performance management | School Leadership & Management

Michele Robbins asks what issues arise most frequently in governor training sessions, and looks at how governors are responding to changes in performance management

In search of solutions for excluded pupils | School Leadership & Management

Recent government legislation has created new opportunities for multi-agency working in addressing and reducing exclusions from schools, says headteacher Neil Berry

Growing leaders in your governing body | School Leadership & Management

Is there a lack of leadership initiative in your governing body? David Marriott looks at the importance of leadership development for governors

RTIs: what can you expect? | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Kim Sparling shares her school's experience of the revised reduced tariff inspection, and explains why she found it less stressful than the previous framework

Governor participation: getting to know your school | School Leadership & Management

Can individual governors really make a difference? Joan Sallis looks at how and why governors should get under the skin of their school

Self-evaluation forms: going departmental | School Leadership & Management

Anne Clarke, principal of Benton Park School, discusses the value of departmental SEFs

The Children's Plan: raising emotional literacy | School Leadership & Management

What does the Children's Plan have to say about shaping up a more emotionally literate education system?

Making the most of your staff | School Leadership & Management

Roger Smith considers ways in which headteachers can help their staff make the most of their careers

The road to a creative curriculum | School Leadership & Management

Have you taken ownership of your curriculum yet? David Morley examines how to break free, particularly with themed creative events

Bridging the home-school divide | School Leadership & Management

The role of family link workers is to encourage parents' participation and interest in school life. Fiona Taylor shares her school's experience in the benefits of developing this role

School security: keeping children safe | School Leadership & Management

Angela Youngman explores the problem of achieving maximum security in schools whilst maintaining a pleasant environment

Restraining pupils: guidance on the use of force | School Leadership & Management

The new guidance on restraining pupils is essential reading. Jenni Whitehead discusses the powers it gives and some of the dilemmas it poses

NLE programme: leadership support for struggling schools | School Leadership & Management

The NLE programme, which provides additional leadership to schools in difficulty, is now in its second year. Crispin Andrews meets an NLE headteacher and discusses the role his school is playing

Planning and funding environmental improvements to your school grounds | School Leadership & Management

A number of resources are available when funding school grounds improvements, explains Gill O'Donnell

Extended services across a cluster | School Leadership & Management

Some of the key success factors in the development of extended schools provision across a cluster are discussed by Dave Dunkley, headteacher at Coleshill Heath Full Service Extended School in Solihull, and Ruth Shand, lead officer for extended services at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Working with parents to raise additional funds for your school | School Leadership & Management

The parental fundraising team is a fanstastic resource. Paul Ainsworth and Josephine Smith look at how to maximise the work it does

Reviewing your school complaints procedure | School Leadership & Management

Michael Segal explains why a clear school complaints procedure is vital

Effective management and deployment of support staff | School Leadership & Management

Effective management of support staff depends on a set of basic systems being in place. Ruth Bradbury looks at how to build teams, define roles and establish effective performance management

Evaluation of the full service extended schools initiative | School Leadership & Management

Colleen Cummings examines the evaluation of the the DCSF full service extended schools initiative and some implications for extended schools

How the school business manager can affect Ofsted | School Leadership & Management

The support of a school business manager can make all the difference to your next Ofsted inspection, explains Nina Siddle

What is the Early Year Professional Status? | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update looks at the opportunities available for practitioners to gain Early Years Professional Status

The Children's Plan: key points for early years | School Leadership & Management

The Children’s Plan was launched by Ed Balls in December 2007, but what are the government's objectives for this initiative?

Good leadership and management in early years setting | School Leadership & Management

In the first of new series on managing people, Early Years Update looks at the distinction between leadership and management

Support for all: extended and outreach services | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Bernadette O’Brien describes the core themes of extended provision at Priory School and Sports College

The new codes for admissions and appeals explained | School Leadership & Management

It is vital to know the new changes to the law — especially if your school is its own admissions authority, writes Ingrid Sutherland

Children's stress and anxiety | School Leadership & Management

Is the pressure of school life too much for young children? Roger Smith investigates

Investing in e-books for children | School Leadership & Management

Ensuring that all pupils can read by the time that they leave primary school is a priority for headteachers across the country. Ben Barton looks at how new technology might make this easier

Making transitions easier | School Leadership & Management

Starting and changing schools are big transitions. Former headteacher Lynn Cousins shares advice on handling these and less common times of change that children experience

Providing difficult feedback to staff: What to say and how to say it | School Leadership & Management

Deputy headteacher David Morley examines how best to provide feedback, how to prepare for it and how to train others to do it

The Primary Capital Programme | School Leadership & Management

A £7bn programme will transform 8,000 primary and special schools over the next 15 years. Crispin Andrews looks at some of the innovative projects being planned in the pathfinder schools

Sustainable nursery schools: Environmental review at EYFS | School Leadership & Management

Anne Humble describes the benefits to be gained for nursery schools from participating in the Eco-Schools scheme

Achievements and failures of 'local management' | School Leadership & Management

School governor and former headteacher Peter Downes takes the long view on what 'local management' set out to achieve 25 years ago and where he believes it has gone partially wrong

Measuring school performance | School Leadership & Management

While measuring school performance is important, it is vital that the data used is properly understood and that the broader picture is not lost, says headteacher Peter Kent

Collaboration and unity: the rewards of 100% specialist status | School Leadership & Management

The advantages of being part of a local authority where all schools have specialist status are enormous, as education writer Crispin Andrews found out when he spoke to headteachers in one of them – Plymouth

International links for leadership and learning | School Leadership & Management

There is a great deal that schools in difference countries can learn from each other about the problems and successes that different approaches to integrating ethnically diverse pupils into schools can offer, says headteacher Neil Berry

Teaching religion: the duty to be impartial | School Leadership & Management

What are the legal restrictions on how we should teach religious studies in school?

The role of the SENCO in improving ECM outcomes | School Leadership & Management

At times the collaborative partnership process for SENCOs and senior leaders in schools can be challenging and time consuming. Rita Cheminais looks at how to establish effective partnerships, and describes a new ECM self-evaluation tool that will help to strengthen partnership working

Elective home education: parental rights and constraints | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher David Dixon takes a close look at the philosophy behind elective home education, enshrined in a recent consultation document on guidelines to cover this parental option

The role of risk taking in school improvement | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Anne Clarke reveals how her personal experience of taking a risk as a headteacher led to success and highlights why risk taking is often vital to school improvement

Transitions in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update looks at ways of making transitions an enjoyable and exciting experience for children and parents

Early Years Marketing 5: Running a campaign | School Leadership & Management

In this final article in our series on marketing and promotion Early Years Update looks at planning and running a marketing campaign

School business managers: Building your professional profile | School Leadership & Management

From taking assemblies to sharing your professional expertise, there are many ways for business managers to raise the profile of their work. Paul Ainsworth and Josephine Smith explain how to make a bigger contribution and climb the career ladder at the same time

The importance of data security | School Leadership & Management

School data is an exceptionally valuable asset and schools are not doing enough to safeguard it. Mark Hoyland talks us through the issue

Embracing Every Child Matters for inspection | School Leadership & Management

Ofsted is using the five ECM outcomes as key points in primary school inspections. Dave Weston looks at how schools are supporting the outcomes and gives advice on preparing for inspection

'Racism' challenge to exclusion decision | School Leadership & Management

When is exclusion for serious misconduct justified, and how careful must a headteacher be in excluding a pupil?

SEN past the age of 16: where do limits of responsibility lie? | School Leadership & Management

Who gets the final say in deciding when a statement of SEN comes to an end? David Ruebain, Chris Barnett and David Wolfe unravel a complex new case

Legal basics for teachers: Health and safety limits of liability | School Leadership & Management

A headteacher was fined £12,500 after a boy died at school. What does this mean for educators? Hazel Padmore investigates

Academies: independence and freedom — or state control? | School Leadership & Management

While academies have some characteristics of maintained schools, they retain independent status in law. So which rules apply? Richard Gold clarifies

Creating partnerships | School Leadership & Management

Ann Briggs, professor of educational leadership at Newcastle University, examines the issues surrounding the current policy drive towards creating 'partnerships'

The power to search: a gift to schools? | School Leadership & Management

Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), looks at the wisdom of using the power to search in schools and concludes that there are often better options

Extended schools: facing up to technological challenges | School Leadership & Management

Steve Smith, former deputy headteacher at a technology college and now business development director for education at ICT specialist Ramseys, looks at the technological challenges and opportunities that extended service schools present

Alternative pathways into the world of work | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Brian Rossiter outlines his experience of seeking to take advantage of the variety of alternative qualifications available to boost his school’s headline statistics, while at the same time preparing individual pathways into the world of work for his students

Facing the challenges of HR management | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Neil Berry takes a look at the vital part that human resource management plays in a school leader’s working life

New exclusion rules (part 2): governors and appeal panels | School Leadership & Management

A raft of small changes add up to important new duties for all parties to the exclusion process. Ingrid Sutherland runs through what you need to know, in part two of this series

School uniform policy and religious belief | School Leadership & Management

How can a school best strike a balance between its uniform policy and its pupils' right to manifest their religion or belief?

Primary homework | School Leadership & Management

Having found himself in a governors' free-for-all on the subject of homework, Roger Smith describes that experience and shares his own thoughts and that of researchers on the subject

Old style 'school trips' | School Leadership & Management

Former headteacher Bob Jelley remembers a time when 'school trips' were a lot more straightforward

Legal basics for teachers: pupils in care | School Leadership & Management

Yvonne Spencer looks at a broad scheme to improve outcomes — and explains its effect on local authorities and schools

When can employers specify religion or sexual orientation? | School Leadership & Management

The genuine occupational requirement defence to a discrimination claim allows schools to set conditions on whom they employ. Tamara Ludlow explains

Community learning in action | School Leadership & Management

Providing an extended schools service with a community learning centre brought about unexpected synergies for Mitchell High School. Shaun Morgan describes the changes

Raising achievement through extended schools | School Leadership & Management

Principal Ian Johnson describes how an extended school day and a high level of community involvement are central to the strategy for raising achievement at The Marlowe Academy in Ramsgate

Early Years Marketing 4: Promotional material | School Leadership & Management

The importance of producing accurate and attractive promotional material about your school or setting

Providing 'value for money' secondary education | School Leadership & Management

Kim Sparling, headteacher of Oldfield School in Bath, explores the concept of 'value for money' in a secondary school context and outlines some suggestions on ways to achieve it

Education and business working together | School Leadership & Management

Creating and delivering productive links between business and the school curriculum can benefit everyone's future, argues headteacher Martin Ainsworth

The New Relationship and SIP | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Neil Berry describes his experiences of being on both sides of the SIP process and concludes that the New Relationship has improved LA and school accountability

Building Schools for the Future: the ICT outsourcing route | School Leadership & Management

As part of the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative initiative it is recommended that schools work with a managed service provider to procure, manage, maintain and refresh their ICT infrastructure and equipment. Steve Smith explores ICT outsourcing and highlights the potential cost savings

Is it time to consider online recruitment? | School Leadership & Management

Paul Howells considers the changing nature of recruitment in our schools, and encourages you to consider how you can best save time while also getting best value

Building partnerships to boost creativity | School Leadership & Management

Becky Swain from Creative Partnerships explains the initiative's aims and how it works with schools to help develop contexts for effective creative learning

All in the name of duty: seeking sponsorship | School Leadership & Management

Dough balls and garlic bread...why does an assistant head find herself negotiating event sponsorship on a Saturday and why are schools having to attract sponsorship to gain specialist status in the first place?

Achieving a fully inclusive school: Brampton Manor | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Neil Berry explains how Brampton Manor in East London – described by Ofsted in December 1999 as having 'serious weaknesses' – was turned into the fully inclusive, successful school it is today

Learning from business leadership - Jack Welch | School Leadership & Management

Jack Welch became one of the best-known business leaders in the world when, in the 20 years between 1981 and 2001 he turned round the fortunes of General Electric in America, adding four hundred billion dollars to its share value. Here former head Gerald Haigh looks at how his principles can be applied to leadership in schools

The secrets of engaging parents | School Leadership & Management

Anne Clarke, principal of Benton Park Technology College, shares her thoughts on the problems of engaging parents in secondary schools

Making school a safer place | School Leadership & Management

Patrick Ferguson, headteacher of De la Salle Humanities College, Liverpool, looks at the important role effective security plays in school improvement

Exclusion of a violent pupil who has SEN | School Leadership & Management

Legal Surgery answers a question about exclusion of a violent pupil who has SEN

New exclusion rules (part 1): the head teacher's decision | School Leadership & Management

Amid a deluge of new discipline and behaviour provision, the updated exclusions guidance has taken effect. Ingrid Sutherland outlines the changes

How to gather and manage personal data in your school | School Leadership & Management

Data protection law sets firm boundaries around what information you can collect. Educators retain excessive data at their peril, writes Simon White

Effective use of primary school data | School Leadership & Management

We live in a data-rich age where almost every aspect of childhood is quantified! School improvement partner, Dave Weston, helps you see the wood from the trees

The importance of reading in primary schools | School Leadership & Management

Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, urges us to make reading our biggest priority

Managing allegations against staff: your area's procedures | School Leadership & Management

Jenni Whitehead examines the new procedures for allegations against staff, which have been in force since January 2007

Leading CPD in schools | School Leadership & Management

Alison Kitson, programme leader in CPD at the TDA, discusses the kinds of questions that you might wish to ask if you were beginning to draw up a role specification for a leader or director of professional learning

Every Child Matters - environmental wellbeing | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update looks at the importance of environmental wellbeing in supporting the five outcomes of Every Child Matters

Early Years Marketing 3: Promoting your setting | School Leadership & Management

In this third article on marketing and promotion, Early Years Update looks at creating a range of promotional material to make potential customers aware of the services you provide

Achieving strategic ICT delivery at Le Rocquier School, Jersey | School Leadership & Management

In 2003, Le Rocquier school had no ICT strategy, no ICT replacement programme, no staff ICT training programme...but by 2007 that had all changed, and ICT is now integral to teaching and learning throughout the school, writes John McGuinness

SLICT: how to integrate ICT in your school | School Leadership & Management

Chris Comber from Leicester University offers curriculum managers exclusive insights into the findings, outlining key factors to integrate ICT throughout teaching and learning

Self-evaluation and PE | School Leadership & Management

Penny Cottee offers some top tips on self-evaluation and the teaching of school sport

Providing quality PE in primary schools | School Leadership & Management

Crispin Andrews talks to assistant headteacher Karen Collinswood about the role of school leadership in developing high-quality PE in primary schools

Coping with stress: situations and contexts | School Leadership & Management

In his final piece on living with the 21st century’s number one killer, Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, considers the cognitive dimension – the way we perceive and relate to stressful situations

What happens when the headteacher is away? | School Leadership & Management

The headteacher is absent: every deputy head's nightmare or a chance to show your true potential? David Morley looks at what to do when a headteacher is away from school 'for a short while' or 'for the foreseeable future'

How green is your school? | School Leadership & Management

Climate change is in the headlines every day. What are schools doing about this issue? Angela Youngman looks at the Eco-Schools programme

Promoting governor and parent partnership | School Leadership & Management

Former headteacher and current chair of governors Mike Walton argues that a closer relationship between parents and governors will benefit the whole school community

Improving teaching and learning | School Leadership & Management

Roger Smith considers tried and tested ways of improving teaching and learning and a few new ones

A pupil's right to privacy | School Leadership & Management

Which is more important — a pupil's right to privacy, or the public interest in education?

Confiscation, retention and disposal of pupils' property | School Leadership & Management

Seizure of personal effects can interfere with pupils' human rights, so you need to make sure it's done lawfully, writes Ingrid Sutherland

Trust schools: the benefits, the law and the future | School Leadership & Management

The option to collaborate with outside partners is under-used — but it offers benefits that educators would be wise to take note of, as Richard Gold explains

Early years: role of the key person | School Leadership & Management

Aisha Ashante of Langtry Children's Centre describes the thinking behind the centre’s approach to quality provision for young children

Early Years Marketing 2: Knowing your customers | School Leadership & Management

In this second article on marketing and promotion, Early Years Update, looks at how to use market research to find out more about the customers who use your services

The statutory requirements of the EYFS | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update highlights the key management issues contained in the EYFS Statutory Framework

Early years - an end to mediocrity | School Leadership & Management

The steering group of the NQIN has produced a set of overarching principles designed to guide the future development of quality improvement processes and quality assurance schemes

Learning federation case study | School Leadership & Management

Martin Ainsworth, headteacher of Wellfield Business and Enterprise College and chairperson of South Ribble Learning Foundation explains how group working has helped 14 educational establishments reduce isolation and increase effectiveness

Is your SLT brittle, blocked, blended or blind? | School Leadership & Management

The advantages of having a ‘blended’ senior leadership team are explained by Ray Chatwin and Maggie Turner, directors of school leadership and management training specialists SISU Professional

Heads welcome flexibility of the new Key Stage 3 curriculum | School Leadership & Management

Education writer and former head Gerald Haigh talks to Dr Keith Bothamley, deputy head (curriculum) at Horsforth School, and Richard Brown, principal of Minsthorpe Community College in Wakefield, about the new KS3 curriculum

The Key Stage 3 review | School Leadership & Management

Primary headteacher David Dixon applauds many of the changes that the Key Stage 3 review heralds, arguing that many of them will bring about practices already embedded in the best primary schools

Identity, religion and uniform | School Leadership & Management

Heads must know, but not exceed, their powers when it comes to decisions on school dress, says Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant of the Association of School and College leaders (ASCL)

Engaging effectively with outside agencies | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Anne Clark looks at why it is so important for schools to establish effective links with outside agencies

Settling disputes in school | School Leadership & Management

Jeremy Cunningham shows how schools can ensure 'just' disciplinary procedures

Leading authentically | School Leadership & Management

John Jackson looks at a new approach to leadership that puts the emphasis on integrity

Dealing with teacher absence | School Leadership & Management

There is no easy solution to the problem of supply cover costs, but more effective management can reduce negative impacts. Ruth Bradbury shares her advice

Case study: bringing about school improvement | School Leadership & Management

Roger Whittall, Headteacher, The Westwood School, Coventry explains the school improvement strategies that have raised attainment and standards at his school

School improvement partners | School Leadership & Management

School improvement partner (and former headteacher) Trevor Arrowsmith explains what the role involves, how schools can benefit and what difference the initiative has made

The importance of healthy eating for young children | School Leadership & Management

Jenni Clarke discusses the important role early years practitioners can play in helping young children to develop good eating habits

Early Years Marketing 1: Creating an image | School Leadership & Management

In the first part of a series on marketing, Early Years Update looks at the vital area of creating an 'image' as part of marketing and promoting your organisation

Finding your way around the Early Years Foundation Stage framework | School Leadership & Management

Early Years Update provides a guided tour of the documents in the new EYFS package

When parents disagree about a child’s school | School Leadership & Management

Michael Segal investigates how far a school can intervene when divorced parents disagree over an educational matter

Physical support in games and PE | School Leadership & Management

Kris Lines surveys this highly litigated area — and suggests a step-by-step approach to safety within the law

Uniform and religion: is your school policy watertight? | School Leadership & Management

Cultural diversity calls for comprehensive policy. But what if it doesn’t cover the case at hand? Use common sense and consultation, says Michael Brotherton

Promoting disability equality | School Leadership & Management

All primary schools must have a disability equality scheme in place by December 2007. Margaret Collins offers some practical suggestions to help you meet the challenge

Coping with stress: school leaders | School Leadership & Management

Time is a strictly limited resource – we all have 168 hours in a week. The fact that some people seem to manage to get things done and have time to relax is not down to how they manage their time – it is down to how they manage themselves, argues Steve Mynard

Creating your professional development portfolio | School Leadership & Management

Many school leaders don’t have professional development portfolios. David Morley looks at the benefits of creating one for yourself and the pitfalls to avoid

Cyber-bullying of teachers | School Leadership & Management

Cyber-bullying is on the increase and cannot be ignored, says Patrick Nash, chief executive, Teacher Support Network

Leadership handover | School Leadership & Management

Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) looks at the part that the old head can play in helping the new head to be successful

Developing 'citizenship-rich' schools | School Leadership & Management

School leaders need a national strategy for citizenship education if they are to build on the excellent practice of those who have grasped citizenship as a tool for school transformation argues Tony Breslin, chief executive of the Citizenship Foundation

Vertical tutoring and the personalisation agenda | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Peter Kent and deputy Annabel Kay describe how vertical tutoring has moved them towards the extended, cross-age family ethos that they seek to develop within their school

Requirements to teach excluded pupils | School Leadership & Management

Maintained schools in England are now responsible for providing full-time education for excluded pupils from the sixth day of their exclusion

Special needs, education and the local authority duty | School Leadership & Management

Question: How must a local authority assess the special educational needs of a child in its area? What is the extent of the duty?

Discipline: changes to the law reflect tough times for staff | School Leadership & Management

Get set for a raft of changes to legislation and guidance — including rules on use of force, searching and confiscation, writes Ingrid Sutherland

School federations: the law on how to set them up | School Leadership & Management

Joining forces brings benefit, but there are implications for governance, employment, and leadership, writes Mark Blois

Searching pupils for weapons | School Leadership & Management

Headteachers have new powers to screen search pupils for offensive weapons and they can delegate them to staff. Jenni Whitehead looks at recent draft guidance explaining how the new powers will operate

Your responsibilities for administering medicines (part two) | School Leadership & Management

Special needs consultant Patti Turner details the actions you need to take to ensure your school is fully meeting the medicinal needs of all children

Making the most of school profiles | School Leadership & Management

Your school profile communicates essential information to parents. Roger Smith gives tips on how to present that information in a positive way

Coping with stress: the long-term impact | School Leadership & Management

What is the impact of long-term stress on your physical and mental wellbeing? Steve Mynard, editor of Primary Headship, reports

The rise of the career deputy headteacher | School Leadership & Management

David Morley, a deputy headteacher for the last five years, examines the challenges facing deputy heads in the 21st century, how the role of deputies has changed in recent years and why fewer deputy heads are moving on to headship

Coping with stress: the physical and mental effects | School Leadership & Management

Teaching regularly features in the top five most stressful occupations. Former headteacher Steve Mynard explains how to harness the positive effects of stress and prevent it causing physical and mental burnout

Developments in child protection – movement of progress? | School Leadership & Management

The Bichard report has been followed by a flurry of legislation and statutory guidance. Richard Bird looks at what’s changed and what still needs to happen in the world of child protection

Risk management: are you still doing it? | School Leadership & Management

Recognising and minimising risk in the school environment is a vital part of a headteacher’s management role, says former head Roger Smith

Putting wellbeing at the centre | School Leadership & Management

Yeading Junior in Hayes has evolved its strategy for putting emotional health and wellbeing at the centre of the curriculum. Headteacher Carole Jones describes how

Primary assemblies guidance part two: the assembly leader | School Leadership & Management

Gerald Haigh continues his three-part series on primary assemblies by looking at the role of the assembly leader

Promoting Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) | School Leadership & Management

Judith Harwood, senior regional adviser on the secondary strategy for school improvement, reports on the breadth of the pilot work being undertaken in secondary schools to promote Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL).

A classroom of the future? | School Leadership & Management

The CPR Learning Space is a building with a 'wow' factor, providing services to schools and the wider community. Jane West looks at its development

Playground fights: duty to contact parents | School Leadership & Management

Could the school be held liable for negligence if it doesn't tell parents after an incident?

Health services in extended schools: new legal liability? | School Leadership & Management

What are the legal implications of greater collaborative working between education and health care professionals, asks Amelia Newbold

Dealing effectively with complaints | School Leadership & Management

How do you respond if a parent starts complaining about your setting or your staff? Steve Mynard advises that you start with prevention

Including disabled children | School Leadership & Management

A useful update on the current law regarding discrimination is provided by Patti Turner

Nursery franchising | School Leadership & Management

There are pros and cons of chosing to take the franchise option to expand. Angela Youngman reports

Observing classroom assistants | School Leadership & Management

How can you make judgements about the performance of your assistants when they are in the room working alongside a teacher/ practitioner? Kevin Bullock provides one solution

Coping with stress: the body's responses | School Leadership & Management

Being more aware of mind and body is the key to managing stress says Steve Mynard

Making the most of your TAs | School Leadership & Management

The relationship between teachers and teaching assistants is a changing one. Angela Youngman investigates and offers guidance to ensure effectiveness

Your responsibility for administering medicines | School Leadership & Management

Does your school have an effective policy on the administration of medication to children? Special needs consultant Patti Turner looks at some of the problems that can arise and the ways to avoid them

How inclusive is your school? | School Leadership & Management

Vision into Practice – Ensuring Every Child Matters is a self-evaluation tool for inclusive learning. Trish Lowson, school link officer for Inclusive Learning at Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, explains

Working with the media | School Leadership & Management

Schools' relationships with the media are increasingly important. Brian Rossiter, headteacher of Valley School, Worksop, North Nottinghamshire describes his approach

18 months of the new relationship with schools | School Leadership & Management

What affect has the new relationship with schools (NRwS) had to date on schools and school improvement? Headteacher Trevor Bailey takes a critical look at its impact

Teachers' relationships in the workplace | School Leadership & Management

The relationship of teachers in the workplace is an under-researched area. Educational psychologist Kairen Cullen discusses her study

Building a learning organisation | School Leadership & Management

A learning partner can help you influence your organisation to move in a more emotionally literate direction, as Peter Sharp, director of learning for MouchelParkman, explains

Speaking school finances: extended schools | School Leadership & Management

I have just got back from the SFM annual conference in London: a long journey for me, but definitely worth it – not only because it gave me the opportunity to present a couple of sessions, but also because it is encouraging to see the quality and variety of business management professionals who are now working in our schools.

Becoming a bank account school | School Leadership & Management

We begin a series of best practice advice features with a look at the implications of a school having its own bank account

Moving forward with falling numbers | School Leadership & Management

Sharon Wallwork provides comprehensive advice on dealing with a decline in student numbers. She argues that, far from being something that only schools in specific circumstances should be concerned about, all educational institutions need to assess the risks of declining numbers and the huge financial implications this can bring

A key role in raising school standards | School Leadership & Management

The school business manager’s role goes beyond simply managing finances, says Hilary Morrison

Cutting and controlling utility costs | School Leadership & Management

Donald Maclean outlines some of the latest techniques and new technologies being introduced to help school finance staff keep utility costs under control

Unfair dismissal: what evidence is allowed? | School Leadership & Management

Q: Can an employee who secretly taped a disciplinary hearing use the tape as evidence at a tribunal?

Looked-after children: new law improves education rights | School Leadership & Management

Schools will have to be more aware of these particularly vulnerable children when they review policy and practice, writes Ingrid Sutherland

Legal basics for teachers: Charities Act 2006 update for independent schools | School Leadership & Management

Proving public benefit will be essential if you want to retain tax exemptions, write William Colacicchi and Mark Blois

Extended services call for a rethink of occupier's liability | School Leadership & Management

As schools open their doors to new categories of visitor, they must take an audit of risk and danger on the premises, writes Sarah Freeston.

Speaking school finances: Should managers become heads? | School Leadership & Management

Can - and indeed should - someone from a background other than teaching become a school leader? Join this growing debate

Appointing heads remains a crucial role | School Leadership & Management

School governors can play a crucial role in safeguarding the future leadership of schools by taking a more systematic approach to the recruitment and appointment of headteachers.

Study calls for reform of governing bodies | School Leadership & Management

An independent report compiled for the government has suggested that a number of key aspects of school governance need to be reformed.

Community cohesion - will history help? | School Leadership & Management

‘Community cohesion’ is now a legal obligation on school governors and we must make the best of it, says Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL). He asks how teaching of history could contribute to this objective.

Managing your image | School Leadership & Management

Working to promote a positive image for your school can be a powerful tool for school improvement and can provide a focus for staff efforts on many fronts, argues Brin Best, education writer and director of Innovation for Education Ltd.

Secrets of a high achieving school | School Leadership & Management

Kim Sparling, headteacher at Oldfield School in Bath, analyses the ingredients of her school's high achievements

Supporting low-attaining schools | School Leadership & Management

Sue Pidgeon, National Strategies primary senior regional adviser, and Karen Jarmany, National Strategies primary regional adviser, explain how the Intensifying Support Programme works to raise standards in low-attaining schools.

Fundraising: a force for change | School Leadership & Management

Fundraising should be seen as a powerful means of school improvement, rather than an isolated activity carried out by the Parent Teacher Association, argues Brin Best, education writer and director of Innovation for Education Ltd

How inclusive is your school? | School Leadership & Management

Trish Lowson, school link officer for inclusive learning at Calderdale metropolitan borough council, introduces Vision into Practice – Ensuring Every Child Matters, a self-evaluation tool for inclusive learning.

The evolving role of the headteacher | School Leadership & Management

David Dixon adds his voice to the debate about the role of the headteacher in today's schools and suggests that ‘fast-track’ and non-teaching heads may be the poorer for missing out on the daily detail of school life

Governors and the new financial management standard | School Leadership & Management

Nina Siddle explains how her school is working to improve the effectiveness of the governing body with respect to the new financial management standard for schools.

Making medical consultations work | School Leadership & Management

Malcolm Rigler and David Loshak outline strategies to improve young people’s health.

Fire safety for all: alarm systems | School Leadership & Management

Gill O’Donnell argues that schools need to take a proactive approach to fire alarms if they are not to fall foul of the new disability discrimination legislation.

Training and support with new government initiatives | School Leadership & Management

Government initiatives should be accompanied by more training and support, says Geri Skwarek.

Financial resolutions for 2007-08 | School Leadership & Management

Ruth Bradbury provides some practical advice for how you can stay ahead of the game.

Managing sickness absence | School Leadership & Management

Ruth Bradbury outlines the cost of staff absence to schools and explains how a range of practical measures can help staff to maintain a better attendance record for the benefit of themselves and the school.

Integrating children's services through schools | School Leadership & Management

Professional teams can make the agenda for change work, says Dr Nick Johnson OBE.

Investors in People in primary schools | School Leadership & Management

Nina Siddle explains how one school in East Yorkshire found widespread benefits from engaging with the Investors in People programme

The work-life balance of heads | School Leadership & Management

Pat Barnes, education consultant and former head, urges headteachers to take a fresh look at their work-life balance.

Male teachers: role models in the classroom | School Leadership & Management

Bob Jelley argues that success is essential since, for many youngsters, a teacher may be one of the most significant male role models in their lives.

When can a bullied child stay off school? | School Leadership & Management

Q - SOMETIMES a child suffers so badly from bullying that parents keep her at home. But is this legally justified?

Engaging parents: developing equal partnerships to support learning | School Leadership & Management

A Case Study: Anita Brown, Deputy Headteacher, Ponteland Community High School, Northumberland.

Counselling: a powerful but limited tool | School Leadership & Management

Counselling is often touted as a solution to challenging behaviour and as a way of meeting needs that are beyond the scope of a school’s pastoral care mechanisms. But is it? Adrian King, independent health education consultant and qualified counsellor looks at what it can realistically deliver.

School excellence and Investors in People | School Leadership & Management

Working to meet the standards laid down by Investors in People (IIP) is an effective way of raising standards and improving staff morale, argues former head Roger Smith.

Case study: working with parents at Casterton Business and Enterprise College | School Leadership & Management

Casterton Business and Enterprise College (CEBC) is one of three truly comprehensive Rutland secondary schools with 800 pupils on role in Years 7-11.

Pupil registration: the new regulations and guidance | School Leadership & Management

New rules call for closer cooperation between local authority and school, giving increased protection to children at risk, writes Ingrid Sutherland.

School visits abroad: invaluable to pupils and staff | School Leadership & Management

Headteachers Anne Clarke and Annabelle Guyver analyse the benefits that trips abroad bring to participating pupils and to the staff leading them.

New headship: taking on the role | School Leadership & Management

Bringing school and community expectations into line with national priorities and targets is just one of the many challenges facing new heads. Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), charts the road to success.

Managing your image | School Leadership & Management

Energy awareness: the European connection | School Leadership & Management

Involvement in European energy awareness projects can bring a multitude of benefits to the pupils and staff of schools, as well as to the planet, says headteacher David Dixon.

Personalisation as a core principle | School Leadership & Management

How can personalisation work in practice? Headteacher Paula Allen spoke to Bob Cox to explain how it’s done at Dorney Combined School.

Family-friendly working: do you know the rules? | School Leadership & Management

New maternity and flexible working rights mean employers must brush up on the law, says Derek Eccleston.

Exclusion from independent schools | School Leadership & Management

No matter how watertight the contract with parents, schools must implement it correctly and fairly if they want removal of a pupil to be upheld, says Mark Blois.

Achieving true parental involvement | School Leadership & Management

Reticence to engage with parents on the part of schools can be deep-seated. Teachers may not be aware of the benefits that parents can bring to the learning experience and the students may not realise that they will benefit too. Julie McGrane looks at how parental engagement can be initiated and how schools can find the forms of engagement that work best.

Leaving the scene: but the play must go on | School Leadership & Management

Richard Bird, former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), analyses the vital role an outgoing head has to play in the succession process.

Clarifying values | School Leadership & Management

Graham Haydon argues that we must go beyond vague references to values.

Welcoming and integrating new teachers into our schools: part 2 | School Leadership & Management

In the second of two articles exploring what helps new teachers feel welcome in a school, teacher Colin Smith looks at how social relations and the delivery of lessons impact on their experience.

Report shows way forward for curriculum development | School Leadership & Management

Learners tend to have a narrow view of the relevance of the curriculum and their enjoyment of it decreases across the key stages. These are two of the key findings of an NfER review of the research on pupils’ experiences of and perspectives on the curriculum published in the UK between 1989 and 2005.

It's harder to stop than to start! | School Leadership & Management

A proposed change in the law would raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco. Peter Downes discusses the implications for schools.

Creativity in the curriculum | School Leadership & Management

A school with creativity at the heart of the learning process will benefit by increasing the motivation of staff and pupils, says former head, Dave Weston. In this article and case study, he shows the way to more imaginative approaches to curriculum planning.

The impact of extended schools on G&T students | School Leadership & Management

Casterton Business and Enterprise College (CBEC) is the hub of local learning, offering 11-16 education by day and a wide range of recreational and academic activities for young people and adults in the evenings and at weekends

Extended schools: what impact on G&T? | School Leadership & Management

What does ‘extended school’ mean to politicians, teachers and parents and what will it mean for more able pupils? Deputy head Paul Ainsworth explains

Gifted and talented in Northern Ireland | School Leadership & Management

Until recently G&T education was piecemeal and largely ignored in Northern Ireland. David Ryan describes the start of a strategy for G&T education at Belfast’s Education and Library Board.

Getting the best from classroom observation | School Leadership & Management

Former headteacher Roger Smith examines the impact of performance management guidelines – in particular the changes to classroom observation – and how they can be made to work.

Exclusions: guidance and legislation from the top | School Leadership & Management

Exclusion is now one of the main ways of dealing with extreme behaviour. Headteacher Suzanne O’Connell examines recent guidance and legislation on the subject.

Seeking strengthened leadership and capacity | School Leadership & Management

Headteacher Trevor Bailey explains why Worle Community School and Westhaven Community Special School, both members of the Weston-Super-Mare Federation, have jointly entered the Trust School Pathfinder programme and what benefits he hopes becoming trust schools will bring.

A new language for learning | School Leadership & Management

Former headteacher Tim Small, a member of of ViTaL Partnerships, introduces some excerpts from his colleague Ruth Deakin Crick’s new book on learning power and the effective lifelong learning inventory (ELLI).

Primary teaching: will it always be a woman's world? | School Leadership & Management

Currently just 15.7% of all primary school teachers in England are men, yet 83% of parents would like to see more men in primary teaching. Why so few and why so great a desire for more? Former headteacher and education writer Steve Mynard finds out…

Assembly: a chance to stress your values | School Leadership & Management

In recent years assembly has been squeezed by the pressures of the curriculum but its importance in demonstrating what your school stands for should not be under-estimated, says former headteacher Gerald Haigh.

Cyber-bullying: protect your pupils and the school | School Leadership & Management

New technology can be a comfort or a threat. Vicky Lapins outlines legal duties on educators to keep children safe.

The veil case, employment, and religious discrimination | School Leadership & Management

What should employers do when faced with requests for allowances to be made at work on religious grounds? Helen Badger takes a look at the law.

The benefits and challenges of Victorian buildings | School Leadership & Management

Taking on an old building is a commitment that can pay dividends, says Angela Youngman.

Communicating with parents: formal approaches | School Leadership & Management

Carole Farrar highlights how you can make the most of formal communications with parents.

Guiding students to make informed curriculum choices | School Leadership & Management

The key change to the curriculum at Key Stage 4 has been to increase the breadth of choice. Alan Monks, Deputy Headteacher, describes the impact on Ellis Guilford School and Sports College, Nottingham.

Making the right choices at 14 and 16 | School Leadership & Management

Sarah Blenkinsop and Marian Morris examine young people’s decision-making patterns, the role their school plays, the skills they require and other influences on the choices they make at core points in their school career.

2013 and the age of entitlement | School Leadership & Management

Much remains to make the 14-19 vision into reality. Gareth Griffiths, 14-19 provision and attainment director at the Learning and Skills Council looks at progress in developing the diplomas and establishing collaboration between schools, FE colleges and training providers.

Performance management: all change? | School Leadership & Management

In November 2006, education writer and former head Roger Smith looked at the new draft performance management guidelines and what they might mean for schools.