EMERGING LEADERS UPDATE	10/12/2010 Issue 007 December 2010
This is the newsletter of ASCL's Emerging Leaders Network, for ambitious middle leaders who have their sights on one day becoming senior leaders. You've received this because you are on the mailing list for the network. If you have obtained a senior leadership post, email info@ascl.org.uk and let us know. If you'd rather be taken off the mailing list, please email info@ascl.org.uk with 'unsubscribe ELN' in the subject line. This newsletter comes out twice a term. See www.ascl.org.uk/emergingleaders for details.
NEWS White paper updates The long-awaited schools white paper The Importance of Teaching contains government proposals for a whole range of areas including behaviour, the curriculum, reducing bureaucracy, school improvement and teacher training. To read the summary or the full document go to www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/schoolswhitepaper Education journalist Mike Baker has posted three eight-minute videos on his blog that analyse reform proposals in specific areas of the white paper. The videos cover teacher training, monitoring and accountability, and curriculum and assessment. Go to www.mikebakereducation.co.uk/new-films-on-the-schools-white-paper English Baccalaureate One of the areas of the white paper most concerning ASCL members is the proposal for the ‘English bac’, particularly the decision to include it in the January 2011 performance tables which report on last summer’s results. ASCL has told ministers that a retrospective performance measure is unfair and unhelpful for everyone. The other issue is the very narrow definition of what counts as a humanities qualification. To read what ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman has been saying about the English Bac, go to brianlightman.blogspot.com For the list of subjects that qualify as a modern language or humanity, go to www.education.gov.uk/Statement-of-Intent-2010-Addendum EMAs Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) will close to new applicants in England from 1 January 2011, so it is worth encouraging students to have their applications for EMAs in well before the 31 December deadline to make sure they don't miss out. Students who currently get the EMA will continue to receive it for the rest of this academic year, but not next academic year. Applications for EMAs can be made now for programmes that start at any time up to the end of the 2010/11 academic year, even if study doesn't commence until after 1 January. As long as the EMA application is in before the deadline of 31 December 2010, the student will be eligible. QDCA website QCDA has been instructed to remove from its curriculum website anything which is classified as guidance rather than factual information – including case studies and good practice guides - and this will happen gradually during the period leading to its close down. If you find the website useful, you would be well advised to start downloading materials now from www.qcda.gov.uk
RESOURCES Making your application stand out Are you thinking of applying for a new job this year? Even simple errors on your application can jeopardize your chances of getting to the next stage. ‘Apply yourself’, an article in this month’s Leader magazine from ASCL, shows you the common pitfalls to avoid and offers tips for making your letter and application stand out. See www.leadermagazine.co.uk/articles/apply_yourself CPD database This national database provides a quick and easy way of looking for appropriate training opportunities for all staff working in education. Training providers are invited to register their courses/programmes and training seekers are invited to provide feedback on any CPD opportunities that they have undertaken via the website. This should prove particularly useful to middle and senior leaders looking for specific CPD for themselves or for staff. Visit cpdsearch.tda.gov.uk to explore the site and register for more personalised features. Improve your decision making One of the most important functions of leadership is effective decision making. All staff with responsibilities are called upon to make decisions that will affect the future of young people for years to come. But what are the barriers? “Watch for the traps at decision time” is an article in the National College’s ‘Ldr’ magazine that will help you to identify potential pitfalls in the decision making process. Go to www.nationalcollege.org.uk/ldr-autumn-10-watch-for-the-traps Teacher resource bank Interested in reading articles and research about the education matters that affect you? The Teacher Training Resource Bank (TTRB) is a TDA supported website containing access to over 6,000 research and evidence-based articles that support teacher educators, ITT trainees, support staff, school based mentors, and teachers in all aspects of continued professional development. Each article is introduced by a short review, allowing you to assess if the article is relevant to you. Although the TTRB is awaiting news on future funding, the website continues to maintain easy access to all of its articles and guidance documents. Visit www.ttrb.ac.uk Your suggestions If you come across helpful resources that you think other emerging leaders would like to know about, please email Melanie Siddell at mjs@htcs.org.uk and she will compile them for the next edition of the newsletter.
EVENTS Effective behaviour management to support whole school improvement Monday 31 January 2011, London Monday 28 March 2011, Birmingham Course fee: £280 +VAT Click here for further details or book online ECM: the student voice Wednesday 9 February 2011, Stratford upon Avon Wednesday 25 May 2011, Reading Course fee: £280 +VAT Click here for further details or book online Towards deputy headship TWO DAY RESIDENTIAL COURSE Friday 4 - Saturday 5 March 2011, Kenilworth Course fee: £560 +VAT (includes accommodation on Friday night) Click here for further details or book online Heading for senior leadership TWO DAY RESIDENTIAL COURSE Friday 25 - Saturday 26 March 2011, Kenilworth Course fee: £560 +VAT (includes accommodation on Friday night) Click here for further details or book online All MAPS courses can be adapted and taken into your school or college. Please contact us for more information maps@ascl.org.uk
If you know of colleagues who would like to be part of the Emerging Leaders Network, please send them to www.ascl.org.uk/emergingleaders I hope you have a relaxing Christmas break and good start to 2011. Best wishes Sara Gadzik Communications Director
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