September 2013

The know zone

  • Checks and balances
    Inadequacies have emerged in the procedure for issuing enhanced criminal records certificates. It should give schools pause for thought, says Richard Bird. More
  • ‘Fair’ but not ‘fit’
    In a complex world, schools should be funded according to their present and future needs, not by the requirement to appear ‘simple and transparent’, says Sam Ellis. More
  • Inspectors under scrutiny
    Amid criticism of inconsistency in Ofsted judgements, Jan Webber examines the claims that some inspectors are not fit for purpose and suggests what could be done to restore confidence in the system. More
  • Fighting for better pay and conditions
    ASCL exists to reflect and promote the views of its members, which is why ASCL Council is so important. ASCL Council is made up of 148 elected representatives and is the association’s policymaking body, meeting four times a year. Council members represent ASCL at meetings with government officials and other organisations. It is from Council that national officers, including the president, are elected. In each edition of Leader this year, we will spotlight the work of a particular committee of Council. This month, it is the turn of the Pay and Conditions Committee. More
  • How is ASCL policy made?
    Council, ASCL’s policy-making body, meets four times a year and each of the 148 elected Council members serves on one of its main committees: Education, Pay and Conditions, Funding, Professional, and Public and Parliamentary, where future policy is discussed in detail. More
  • Could you be an ASCL Council member?
    Council membership is often described as the best in-service training that members can have. More
  • ASCL PD events
    "Curriculum Planning: Balancing the Vision Against the Funding" and "Conversion to a Multi-Academy Trust – the Options" More
  • Are you new to SLT?
    If so, then you will doubtless have richly earned your promotion and hardly be new to the concept of effective leadership. More
  • Presenting with impact
    What makes a great presentation? We all know when we have heard one. More
  • Stimulating physics
    The Stimulating Physics Network (SPN) is managed by the Institute of Physics (IOP), in partnership with the national network of Science Learning Centres. More
  • Adding value
    Understanding performance More
  • Direct action?
    ASCL members in some areas of the country are raising issues with recruitment on to the School Direct programme for teacher training, although in other areas it seems to be successful. Here members share their experience of how School Direct is working in their schools. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    The antidote to common leadership conundrums... More
  • Best supporting ‘actor’
    There is bound to be uncertainty when a school leader moves on... not least for the replacement who is given the strange title of ‘acting head’. But what does the job actually entail? More
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ASCL PD events

In each edition of Leader, we will share useful tips and advice that could help with your professional development – together with details of the latest courses and training opportunities (see left) you can access through ASCL Professional Development (PD).

ASCL PD offers high-quality, relevant, up-to-date and competitively priced courses. In the last academic year, delegates graded 97 per cent of our courses as good or outstanding and 100 per cent of our consultancies were graded good or outstanding. Our training is delivered by a team of skilled trainers and consultants who are experts in their field and almost all have been headteachers or senior school leaders. Each year we offer:

  • more than 200 training courses in England and Wales
  • information conferences, half-day seminars and one-day conferences, for the latest updates
  • in-house consultancy service
  • leadership and business manager appointment services
  • DVD-based training materials

Curriculum Planning: Balancing the Vision Against the Funding 

Thursday 17 October 2013
Wakefield

This course aims to provide senior leaders and governors with a working overview of current curriculum requirements and current financial constraints. It will provide delegates with approaches and practical strategies to support their own institution in determining the cost for different areas of their curriculum and help them to plan and organise their curriculum content.

Conversion to a Multi-Academy Trust – the Options

Tuesday 19 November 2013
Birmingham

The multi-academy trust (MAT) model is becoming more prevalent within the education sector and is the most formalised collaborative structure available for academies. This course brings together a range of experts to provide information, support and guidance, including the personal experience of a business management professional who has worked through the process. This session will examine the specific characteristics of the MAT structure, investigating the options available in aspects of governance, legalities and financial management, and will provide guidance on the process of creating a multi-academy structure.

For a full list of courses and events visit www.ascl.org.uk/pd

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