February 2012

The know zone

  • Fault lines
    As keen readers of this column know, ‘vicarious liability’ is the legal doctrine that makes employers answerable for the actions of an employee in the course of his or her employment. But how does this translate to extra-curricular school activities? Richard Bird explains. More
  • Stay in touch?
    Teacher contact ratio is a topic of perennial importance but attempting to work out what the ideal figure should be is always a frustrating business, says Sam Ellis More
  • Lead vocals
    Quotes from Confucius, Douglas Adams and Aristotle More
  • Action man
    Until this spring, Graeme Hornsby is assistant principal (business management) at Lutterworth College, Leicestershire, a school with a £10m budget, 400 staff and 2,000 pupils where he has worked since 1989. A keen triathlete, he regularly undertakes a 600-mile round trip to see his beloved Celtic FC play. More
  • E-safety first...
    Online safety is in the spotlight throughout the world in February. More
  • Adding value
    A simple answer to saving money More
  • A level playing field
    UCAS has proposed allowing students to apply to university after they receive their A level results, even though it means moving the A level teaching period and shortening the exam window. Is it the best way to improve the admissions system? What are the implications? Members share their views. More
  • Leaders' surgery
    Healthy outlook provides food for thought & Early retirement calculations More
  • Old challenges for a new year...
    While the ongoing pension negotiations were high on the agenda of last Council, on 8-9 December, intelligent accountability was also a hot topic, with discussions in various committees on Ofsted, local authorities and the role of governors. More
  • Failing to plan...?
    The National Curriculum Review’s expert panel report, published in December, concurred with ASCL’s view that it is pointless to change the curriculum until we’ve agreed what purpose the curriculum is expected to serve. This debate has not happened, says Brian Lightman. More
  • Podium panic!
    Keeping the guest speaker sober and on-message while peppering your own presentation with song titles and wondering what some of the gongs are actually for – all concerns as prize-giving ceremonies loom large… More
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LEADERS' SURGERY

The antidote to common leadership conundrums...

Healthy outlook provides food for thought

Q My new year’s resolution is to eat more healthily, rather than resorting to chocolate and coffee to keep me going to the end of a long day. Are there certain foods I should bulk up on to help me concentrate and keep energy levels up?

A Complex carbohydrates are good foods for sustained energy and a lunch rich in nutrients will feed the brain and help you concentrate. Fruit and vegetables, whole grains, beans and pulses, are all complex carbohydrates which will release glucose into your bloodstream slowly, providing sustained energy to help you tackle the demands and stresses of your busy working day.

Omega 3 is essential for proper brain functioning, and is in poor supply in a typical western diet. Good sources are oily fish, ground flax seed, soya products, and walnuts – so a wholegrain tuna sandwich can be a good choice.

Beans are a great source of potassium which helps to reduce blood pressure and aids clear thinking by sending oxygen to the brain. Bananas, jacket potatoes, and leafy greens are also rich in potassium.

Antioxidant-rich foods include colourful berries and leafy greens. They support clear thinking by keeping the arteries clean, improving blood flow to the brain, and reducing oxidative stress. They mop up free radicals which cause cell damage and cognitive decline.

Finally, eating small and often is a good way of keeping blood sugar levels steady, so a healthy mid-morning/mid-afternoon snack may be something to consider if you feel your energy levels slipping between meals.

Early retirement calculations

Q Our senior team has gone through restructuring and I dropped from deputy to assistant head. My safeguarded salary ends in August 2015. If I retire after this date will my pension be based on my then reduced salary? To keep my pension benefit should I consider early retirement?

A Changes to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme are scheduled to come in on 1 April 2015. While we don’t have the details of the final scheme, the government has said that pension accrued as of that date is protected and will be calculated on the salary at that time. If your salary went above this at the end of your career the higher salary would be applied. If, as is the case for you, your salary will drop, the higher 2015 salary will apply. This also applies to teachers who want to scale down their working commitments or go part-time as they near retirement.

After 1 April 2015, the new pension will be based on the salary you receive each year. The first year, 2015-16, will include five months at your protected salary and seven months at the lower salary. The following years will be at your then-current salary.

We are advising against making important decisions such as early retirement until the final details of the new scheme have been decided. Early retirement is extreme as it denies you additional years of ongoing salary. In some circumstance, a better option may be to opt out of the pension scheme but continue in work.

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