Headteacher - Teaching Expertise

The squeeze on the time available for PSHE is just one reason why its provision is variable across schools. In this article, education consultant Adrian King looks at the arguments for and against making PSHE a statutory element of the national curriculum

Students enjoy school and are pleased with the education they receive — a welcome message for curriculum managers, and one that flies in the face of common opinion. read more

Schools in England and Wales are finding it increasingly difficult to appoint headteachers

Detailed guidance on fire safety in school building design has been published, in draft form, by the DfES. read more

Both the main headteachers’ organisations have called for the powers of independent appeals panels on exclusions to be reduced in submissions to the government’s leadership group on behaviour and discipline. read more

The government has given further encouragement to schools to set out on the path to providing extended services with the publication of a ‘prospectus’ on extended schools.

Walsall assistant heads Mike Swan and Keith Sydenham report on a secondment activity. read more

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 read more

CPD Update takes a look at the SEF: the self-evaluation form (secondary version). read more

The secretary of state for education and skills, Ruth Kelly, has announced to the Labour Party Conference that government has agreed that in city academies 'as with other schools, all teachers will be registered with the General Teaching Council because those children deserve the best'. read more

GTCE chief executive calls for new approach to testing. read more

Fundraising for school activities is nothing new. Only now with the pressures of workforce reform and initiatives such as extended schools and specialist status, many schools are reviewing the way they have to raise funds. read more

In our governing bodies we blithely talk about ‘team-building’. And in our more serious moments we may even think about ‘group effectiveness’ and ‘the quality of our decision making’. read more

One of the hardest jobs in teaching is to differentiate materials and teaching among pupils of differing abilities in the same class. So is grouping by ability right for your school and for your most able pupils? Jane West examines the pros and cons. read more

Professor David Jesson of the University of York has expressed concern that talent is 'going to waste' because state schools fail to develop the potential of more-able students read more

Single inspectorate for children and learners. read more

Cliff Jones looks at the principles involved. read more

The Secondary Heads Association has called for improved contracts for headteachers to make it more expensive and more difficult for governing bodies and LEAs to sack them. read more

Neil Short looks at methods for supporting colleagues more effectively in the performance management process. read more

The Association of Children's Hospices (ACH) – the national voice for children's hospice services – asks schools to celebrate 25 years of children's hospice care through the Butterfly Swimathon. read more

Quality standards are the new buzzwords in school self-evaluation for G&T coordinators. But what’s the difference between an audit and self-evaluation – and how do you do it? Jane West explains. read more

Former headmaster Neil Short examines the first stage of the PM cycle – planning. read more

Writer and consultant Barry Hymer explains why he thinks G&T education needs to rethink some commonly used policies. read more

All policies should be discussed with those who will be involved in carrying them out and should be easy to understand so that they are not interpreted in different ways. Here we look at how to write an effective behaviour policy

Rina Barkol shows the importance of mentoring for women’s careers through her case study of Nira, an Israeli principal, who inspired a dozen teachers to become independent principals. read more

Whether you're writing your first G&T policy or need to update your current one, what do you need to include? G&T Update editor Jane West explains read more

Gifted and talented strand coordinator Sue Sayer describes her work as leader for G&T and creativity for her excellence cluster and explains how a Classroom of the Future has influenced the teaching and learning of pupils in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth Success Zone read more

Primary strand coordinator for G&T Joy Blaker explains how schools in Rotherham approach the issue of identifying their most able pupils. read more

Carole Farrar, an experienced early years headteacher, takes you through the process of appointing new staff members

What are our responsibilities when asked to give medicine to children? Mary Mahoney examines this issue, with a focus on working with younger children

Neil Short looks at the second and third stages of the PM cycle: monitoring and review. read more

Sally Eaton examines the benefits of CPD and the line manager’s role in implementing it. read more

Did the referee mean to praise the candidate or warn you off? Is a string of previous jobs a negative factor? Headteacher Carole Farrar looks at how to weigh up the information when appointing early years staff. read more

Bob Jelley, former head and now supply teacher, argues that success in improving school attendance lies in the hands of the encouragers, persuaders and mentors. read more

Most schools have not kept up with what management information systems can do for them, says education writer and former headteacher Gerald Haigh. Here he illustrates how they can make more of equipment they already have in school. read more

Teacher absences can cause financial difficulties. 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