Head of Year - Teaching Expertise

Can music have beneficial effects in the classroom? Teachers in a Warwickshire school set out to test theories that Mozart’s music stimulates learning, as Dr James Haughton reports

Planning, coordinating, managing, sustaining, networking and facilitating; these are all key aspects of an extended school manager’s role. Fran Shelley discusses these different aspects of her role as extended schools manager at Downside Middle School in Newport

How do you create (and demonstrate) an ethos where high achievement is valued? Bob Cox visits a school with a strong commitment to ‘ambition and educational achievement’

Can the Teacher Learning Academy double the number of teachers it has enrolled by 2011? What are the benefits of signing up? Four teachers describe their involvement with the academy read more

In a bid to help students raise their achievement and know success, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust initiated Raising Achievement Transforming Learning (RATL). David Crossley explains the school-to-school mentoring scheme which allows teachers to learn from the success of others

At some schools, individual cases of underachievement can be masked by overall good performance. Liz Allen tells how her school in Bromley overcame this by redesigning its whole approach to teaching and learning

Employers looking to prevent and defend claims of stress, and employees who are suffering from stress at work, should make time to read the complex litigation involved, urges Tamara Ludlow

Is this the last year for SATs? Sam Derby discusses a possible end to SATs, and looks at the opinion that the exams are “too stressful” for young pupils read more

An educational ‘road system’ for individual gifted and talented children is needed, says Deborah Eyre, so that they can construct their own unique learning journeys read more

Meditation can help create calmer and more relaxed classes as well as help a school achieve great SAT scores, says Kevin Hogston

How can eradicating detention lead to a decrease in challenging behaviour? Geraldine Rowe describes how her discovery of choice theory caused her to rethink her approach to discipline

In March 2008, a four-year investigation into whether Glaxosmithkline had withheld negative information about the effects of Seroxat on under-18s ended with a decision that there was insufficient evidence to mount a successful prosecution. Special Children reports read more

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

An new report on child deaths and serious injury examines the problems of inter-agency working. Jenni Whitehead looks at some of the implications for schools read more

Children’s views on bullying are discussed in a new report, which sends a clear message that adults must be careful not to ignore or inadvertently encourage bullying

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 read more

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

Multi-agency working to support vulnerable young people can be an important strand of extended school provision, says Lisa McClarence, who gives an overview of the counselling work she does in schools

How would you feel about a student critiquing your teaching style and lesson plans? Involving students in the teaching and learning process can promote agendas relating to student voice, believes Trevor Brittain

As interest in gifted and talented education grows and expertise develops, so does the vocabulary associated with it. This is the first installment of a ‘copy and keep’ glossary for readers to collect over the coming months

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

Jason Wood describes a groundbreaking project in which two Cornish schools carried out research comparing the views of SEN students and their peers on ECM outcomes read more

Developing a common understanding of pedagogy is intrinsic to ensuring continuity and progression along all stages of an individual’s learning journey, advises a recent DCSF booklet

Thinking skills can never be crossed off a teachers ‘to do’ list, argues David Leat. Here he challenges some emerging dogmas about objectives and lesson planning

Counselling services need to be made a normal part of school provision, as new research into UK school counselling shows

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

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

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 read more

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 read more

Pirates, munchkins and football; can you think of interactive ideas to make your lessons more creative? David Morley explains how themes like this can allow you to plan and take ownership of your curriculum, particularly with themed creative events

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

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

What can be achieved by SEAL over three years? Educational psychologist Cate Summers takes a look at results in the London Borough of Westminster read more

Invite your pupils to become published music critics with the Bachtrack Young Reviewer programme read more

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

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 read more

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

Deputy head Betty Port discusses how she looked at restructuring lessons to transform and advance learning across her school

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

Many schools are happy to leave assessment of health and safety on work experience placements to outside agencies, but does this allow them to properly exercise their duty of care? Ruth Bradbury examines the problems and provides practical advice on how schools can play a more active role in the process read more

The work of school nurses should bridge health, education and social care boundaries

Eamonn Farrar, chief executive and former head of Hurworth Comprehensive School in Darlington describes how he developed unique systems of mentoring to transform a low-performing school into one of today’s top performers read more

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 read more

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

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

Who are the parents who evade all forms of contact from schools and why do they choose to exist at the fringes of their child’s education? Jo McShane investigates

It can be daunting and isolating for children with few English language skills to start a new school. Education writer Dorothy Lepkowska reports on a new programme designed to help them achieve their potential

Ingrid Sutherland outlines controversial new guidance on the provision of sexual health services in schools

A study conducted by Pam Qualter and her colleagues at the University of Lancashire explores the role of emotional intelligence in supporting students as they move to secondary school

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