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