February 2011

The know zone

  • Crashing the system
    The difficulties that can ensue when a member of staff will not accept the authority of managers are highlighted in a startling case involving a school and an IT technician, says Richard Bird. More
  • Hotline
    The ASCL hotline is a completely confidential service available to answer members’ questions on issues that arise in school/college. More
  • Shedding pounds
    With the forthcoming pay freeze and funding constraints, there are challenging times ahead for school budgets. Ministers must base their decisions on more than just a diet of anecdotal evidence, says Sam Ellis. More
  • Lead vocals
    Quotes from Babe Ruth, Anthony J D'Angelo, Harold Wilson, Samuel Johnson, Albert Einstein. More
  • An eminent role?
    A former geography teacher and a head for nigh on 20 years, Lindsay Roy is MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife, a seat he originally won for Labour in a by-election in 2008. He’s a former president of Schools Leaders Scotland (previously Headteachers Association of Scotland) and an executive member of the International Confederation of Principals. More
  • Adding value
    The UK workforce took 180 million sick days in 2009, according to the latest CBI/Pfizer Absence and Workplace Health Survey. That’s the equivalent of 6.4 days per person. More
  • Teach the world
    Education charity Think Global helps schools to examine world poverty, climate change, sustainability and other matters of universal importance. More
  • No such thing as a free lunch?
    The pupil premium is intended to help disadvantaged children but is it the best strategy for raising a achievement and helping to level the funding playing field? School leaders share their views. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    The antidote to common leadership conundrums... More
  • Curriculum focus
    Anyone who expects 2011 to be any less packed with changes to the education system than 2010 is living under an illusion, says Brian Lightman. Where the curriculum is concerned an increasingly polarised debate could have dire consequences for young people. More
  • United we stand...
    EM Forster once urged us to 'only connect' – make connections between experience of life’s emotions and how those around you are suffering too. Rupert Tillyard has devised a quiz to test just how ‘connected’ you are. More
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Leaders' surgery

The antidote to common leadership conundrums...

A constructive chat

Q I have responsibility for student voice. We have an active student council and I would like to take this to the next stage by involving students in lesson observation. When I suggested the idea last year, it met with opposition from a small but vocal group of staff. Do you have suggestions for introducing this without causing uproar?

A In an age of inspections and targets, it might seem strange to some for schools to add to the already immense pressure, especially when those creating the extra pressure are students. The key to successful student voice and lesson observations is to present them not as a way of further examining teachers and schools, but rather as an aid to them. Student-led lesson observations, unlike other inspections, are able to truly evaluate day-to-day teaching and learning when they are carried out by trained, objective, non-threatening students. And after all students should be able to feed back their views just as they do in other areas of society.

The secret for successful observations is to build trust between students and staff. Allow people time to organise and structure the process, then recruit conscientious volunteer students and provide appropriate training. Take small steps; undertake a pilot project with willing staff, evaluate the pilot and feed back to the whole staff. When the programme rolls out, make it optional and stress that staff will not be graded.

The progression of student voice to lesson observations can be achieved by student representatives presenting their views to staff at training days, which allows for a free and open discussion. It might be worthwhile for students and teachers from other schools who are accustomed to undertaking lesson observations, or even full inspections, to share their experiences.

  • ASCL is running a course, ECM: The Student Voice, on 28 June in Leicester. Further details at www.ascl.org.uk

Prevention is better than the cure

Q Our school has been hit hard with the flu virus going around this winter, and our supply budget has taken a real hit. I'm wondering if we could be investing more in preventative measures to help keep staff healthy. Is there anything you can suggest we do, other than pay for flu jabs?

A According to NHS guidelines, promoting cleanliness is the key way of reducing the risk of catching flu. Encouraging regular hand washing is the obvious one to prevent the spread of germs but you may want to assess how stringent ensure classrooms and work stations are as hygienic as possible.

For example, how regularly are keyboards cleaned? There are other considerations that may be easy to implement. Are windows regularly opened to freshen the air? How adequate are hand washing facilities for staff and students?

As you point out, there are a number of preventative measures you could consider to try to improve the overall health and welfare of the staff:

  • Negotiate reduced membership rates at a local gym
  • Run whole school sessions on healthy eating, fitness training, and stress management strategies during training days
  • Provide fruit and bottled water at reduced rates for staff
  • Consider investing in health screening/health checks (blood pressure checks etc)
  • Review work life balance strategies to reduce the risk of ill health
  • Offer access to confidential support helplines

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