March 2012

The know zone

  • All's fair...
    In the case of investigations of misconduct, what is ‘fair’ and what actually constitutes unfairness? Richard Bird explains the basics that every investigating officer should know. More
  • Mean numbers
    Class sizes are one of the key drivers of budget decisions so you need to have a good grasp of them. Which is easier said than calculated, as Sam Ellis explains... More
  • Lead vocals
    Quotes from Dwight D Eisenhower, Catherine the Great, Mary Kay Ash, Dennis Peer, Sun Tzu More
  • Free reign?
    Thomas Packer is head of West London Free School, the first free school to be set up by a group of parents and teachers under the government’s controversial scheme. It opened last September and is operating out of a temporary site until it moves to a permanent facility in 2013. More
  • Reading boost
    National charity Unitas runs TextNow, a literacy programme for secondary schools in England and Wales More
  • Adding value
    2012 energy market update More
  • Failing to deliver?
    Just how effective has the 16-19 bursary scheme been? Has it affected post-16 numbers? And if the scheme isn’t working, what should replace it? Leaders share their views. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    Facebook face off & Considering phased retirement More
  • Heavyweight tactics?
    Untold damage will be inflicted on education if Ofsted continues its culture of attacking good school leaders rather than working with them, says Brian Lightman. More
  • The sky is falling down...
    We live in an age when the separation of truth and illusion seems beyond the judgement of Solomon. What chance do the rest of us stand, asks Alistair Macnaughton? More
Bookmark and Share

Adding value

2012 energy market update

After almost 18 months of continual price increases, the markets finally saw a reduction in wholesale energy costs at the back end of 2011 which, depending on contract renewal dates, your school or college may or may not have been able to take advantage of. However, the industry expects there to be an inevitable return to cost increases over the medium to long-term.

The fundamental reasons for this are the large investment required in the distribution network, the huge government appetite for renewable energy, and the costs to build and encourage it; and the fact that the UK’s existing generating plant and resources are due to close or run out before the end of this century all means that at present the network will start to get tight from 2015.

In the short-term, wholesale prices are always much more difficult to predict as they are driven by the weather. Events such as the Japanese tsunami, unrest in the Middle East and political financial global pressures create events that are simply unpredictable. So if your energy contracts are due for renewal this year, now is a good time to take advantage of the current lower wholesale costs.

  • ASCL’s Preferred Supplier for utilities brokerage is Zenergi. To see if they can get a better deal for your school or college visit the website at www.zenergi.co.uk or telephone 023 8028 6300.

One of the benefits of ASCL membership is discounts and special rates on a range of personal and educational products and services. There are healthcare products, online staff well-being systems financial advice and self-evaluation surveys. Check out the full list at www.ascl.org.uk

LEADING READING