Leadership and Management - Teaching Expertise

With an increasing number of schools placing business managers on the senior leadership team, Lindsey Lester offers some of her own experience to others who are about to embark on this role

Are you familiar with the details surrounding this vital piece of legislation? Claire Anderson explains to educators what they need to know regarding the basic legal implications of when they are able to use force with pupils

Primary headteachers should strive for a consistent approach to school improvement. Jane Golightly explores this process, explaining why you need to consider Who, What and How when following your vision

The demands of the SENCO role should not outweigh its attractiveness, warns a nasen-funded study. Sue Pearson reports on her research

How does it feel to end a long period as headteacher? After 18 years in the role, secondary headteacher Anne Clarke describes her feelings as she approaches the end of her career and considers what she will, and will not, miss

This assembly examines our relationship with Christmas, challenging listeners to ask themselves why they might be celebrating during the Christmas season and how far their celebrations match up with their own beliefs

Once implemented, VLEs can be used as an integrated tool to improve students' progress and school administration. School business managers and bursars are key to this development, in terms of sustaining the VLE

Academic standards can only be raised when behaviour is improved. Awaiting an Ofsted visit, headteacher John Viner continues his series on how staff at Drapers Mills Primary have worked together to raise standards

Do you know your way around educational employment law? Does your school's pay and remuneration package meet or exceed minimum standards? Tamara Ludlow gives a legal overview of essential information for both leadership teams and staff

What is different about academies, and what is it about these schools that provokes such a diversity of feelings in education professionals and parents alike? Susie Roome focuses on this hot topic, which has recently seen much press interest and community debate generated by the government’s expanding programme

This Christmas assembly explores the story of the carol Silent Night, and also its power to bring people together. There are various stories and legends about how the carol came to be written; this assembly tells only what’s known as fact

This assembly for key stages 3-4 looks at the meaning of Christmas as a festival which brings people together. It suggests that students compare the preparation of a Christmas pudding with the social and spiritual ingredients needed for a successful Christmas!

We've been collecting your stories about the inspiring and encouraging experiences you’ve had at work during 2008. Here is a collection of the leadership and management themed responses you sent to the question, What has been your most positive experience at work this year?

The Christian period of Advent is the focus of this primary assembly, suitable for all religions, which then examines the emotions of anticipation, patience and excitement that come with waiting for a notable event

What is your vision for your school? Jane Golightly discusses the factors important in developing a real, responsive vision for your school, and explains how a clear vision can help to create a common purpose

Do you share good news as well as bad? This assembly encourages students to share good news as well as bad, using Saint Andrew as an example (Saint Andrew’s day is celebrated on November 30th)

What does it mean to be alone; does it necessarily mean the same as lonely? This assembly considers the determination 16 year old Michael Perham will need when he sails around the world, and also explores why it can be difficult to be alone, away from family and friends

This case study showcases a school that uses management information systems (MIS) and data analysis to equip staff to take teaching and learning to the next level

Management information systems (MIS) and the analysis of data can lead to significant improvements in teaching and learning - as long as curriculum managers analyse and apply the findings effectively when considering pupil achievement, says Anthony Powell

What sort of humour is acceptable and what might be seen as bullying or discrimination? This assembly by John Coutts considers the question in the light of a recent sporting event

What are your responsibilities and obligations towards pupils at your school who are disabled? Mark Blois discusses the relevant legislation and explains what you need to know and do

A chicken has taken up residence and become a local celebrity in a busy suburb of Madrid. This primary assembly uses this news story to raise the issue that some people have to work hard to survive in difficult surroundings

School improvement can be a challenging aspect of primary headship. The first issue of our e-bulletin Primary Leadership Focus gives primary headteachers practical suggestions and takes a common sense approach to school improvement

Consent is required for many aspects of school life but it is not always clear what form this must take. Kate Mills looks at the issue of consent; when it is required, who needs to provide it, and how a school should go about getting it

Who happens to all the money we give to charity? What kind of thing do charities raise money for? This assembly for primary schools looks at the ethos of fundraising for others, in particular BBC Children in Need, as well as looking at some of the wackier ideas of people raising money

Do any of your students have dyslexia? This secondary assembly is about Dyslexia Awareness Week (November 3rd to 9th 2008). It invites students to consider what it’s like to be affected by dyslexia, encouraging empathy within the learning community

This case discusses the dilemma of weighing a child's wellbeing against the need for that child to give evidence in court, in order to provide a fair trail for the defence

Is accessing a grant to fund educational improvements to your school something that interests you? Gill O'Donnell explains the scope of the Foyle Foundation and how it could benefit your institution

This resource offers a number of theoretical case studies where child protection could be a concern, intended for staff discussion. It then follows each scenario with suggested points for consideration

Some believe that a fashion for school staff "clean-outs" when new headteachers take over is resulting in experience and knowledge being lost from the system. Former headteacher and now legal consultant to the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), Richard Bird, discusses

What steps should you take when you believe that a pupil is displaying symptoms that are deliberately induced or fabricated? Jenni Whitehead summarises revised guidance for how schools should deal with this type of abuse, and stresses the importance of inter-agency communication

Having an in-school social worker offers informed on-hand support to children and families all year round, says headteacher Neil Wilson, who here discusses the multi-agency teams that his school uses

Michael Segal looks at a legal case where the parents' religious beliefs demanded that their children have home schooling

This assembly focuses on the life and poetry of Laurence Binyon, who wrote the famous poem For The Fallen, which is read in many Remembrance Day services. It also discusses the continuing work of the Royal British Legion and how we can each show our support by wearing a poppy

Schools that are properly prepared for employment tribunal hearings can minimise cost and maximise their likelihood of success, writes Tamara Ludlow

This secondary assembly examines Hallowe’en and questions how much we know about why it is celebrated. It challenges listeners to consider how important they think it is to maintain customs and traditions, and to what extent we should understand what they mean before we observe them

School business managers and bursars can play a key role in ensuring their schools establish efficient and effective visual learning environments

Problems with behaviour can be managed by building a pastoral team, with the help of an excellence cluster. So discovered headteacher John Viner in his second article in a series on bringing Drapers Mills Primary school out of special measures

Sarah Erwin-Jones discusses the growing problem of cyberbullying towards both pupils and staff, and looks at schools' legal obligations

How do you create meaningful and sustainable relationships with parents? Dr Jean de Rijke, developer of the Effective Partnerships with Parents (EPPa) strategy, shares her expertise

Delivering different pathways within your core curriculum can enable pupils of varying abililties and skills to follow a personalised learning route, say deputy headteachers Paul Ainsworth and Josephine Smith

Does your governing body help your school remain accountable, and therefore more efficient? Stephen Adamson looks at how this should be done

Bringing your school catering in-house can have benefits for your school finances while at the same time creating a better experience for students

Since April 1 2008, local authorities are no longer obliged to place children's names on a child protection register that they deem to be at risk of harm. This article explores the reasons behind this change as well as the potential consequences

Jo McShane invite readers to consider multi-agency or multi-professional working with schools from the perspective of an enthusiastic apprentice, who realises the value that 'joined-up thinking' offers

This Legal Expertise examines schools’ legal obligations in the area of internet usage, offering ideas for managing the risks involved