Copy of `Teachernet - A to Z of School Leadership`

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Teachernet - A to Z of School Leadership Category: Education > School leadership Date & country: 15/12/2007, UK Words: 232

Gypsy and traveller children
Gypsy and Traveller children should be given the same opportunities as all other children to benefit from schools.

Health and safety
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 places a duty on employers to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure the health and safety and welfare of their employees and the health and safety of non-employees affected by the undertakings of the employer.

HIV and AIDS
Children with HIV or AIDS should be allowed to attend school. HIV infection or AIDS should not be a factor taken into account by local education authorities, governing bodies and head teachers in discharging either their various duties concerning school admissions, transfers and attendance, or their powers of exclusion from school.

Home to school travel
The DCSF, in partnership with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DFT) and the Department of Health, is encouraging safe, healthy and sustainable school travel.

Home-school agreements
All maintained schools and city technology colleges are required to adopt a home-school agreement.

Homework
Learning at home is an essential part of good education.

Homophobia
Further information is available on TeacherNet's Homophobia and sexual orientation in schools pages.

ICT and teacher training
Training in basic ICT skills is an important stage in the development of teachers` ICT capability.

ICT procurement advisory service
The pilot of the ICT Independent Procurement Advisory Service (IPAS) was announced at BETT 2001 in the Minister`s speech and Becta has been commissioned to manage the service.

Implementation Review Unit (IRU)
The Implementation Review Unit is the first ever independent scrutiny unit with a remit to cut red tape and bureaucracy in schools. It reviews existing and new policy initiatives that impact on schools in England.

Independent schools registration
The standards for independent schools are set out in the Education Act 2002, which provides a regulatory framework for the registration and monitoring of all independent schools.

Individual Education Plan (IEP)
An Individual Education Plan (IEP) builds on the curriculum that a child with learning difficulties is following and is designed to meet each child's identified needs.

Insurance
The funding of insurance for maintained schools is currently governed by Regulations under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. LEAs can retain funding centrally for insurance within their Local Schools Budget. They may delegate resources for insurance to all or some schools. Schools can still request to have insurance funding delegated to …

Internet safety
The DfES's Superhighway Safety website provides guidance on the wide range of measures that schools can adopt to protect their students when they are using computers.

Investors in people
Investors in People (IiP) helps schools to manage everything they must do and everything they choose to do.

Joint school and college ventures
In response to the 14-19 agenda a number schools and colleges have been developing proposals for new ways of cross sector working, some involving jointly run facilities that require capital investment.

LA funding
Information about LA funding is available from TeacherNet's School funding area.

LA inspections
Ofsted is responsible for the management of LA inspections, which take place under section 38 of the Education Act 1997.

LA intervention
For specific queries about LA intervention, please contact the LA Intervention Policy Development and Finance team at the Department for Education and Skills, tel: 020 7925 5943.

Language assistants
The FLA scheme offers an invaluable resource for the promotion and support of language teaching and learning and FLAs can contribute greatly to all aspects of a language department's work by providing authentic native language support.

Languages strategy
The document Languages for All: Languages for Life â€` A Strategy for England was published in December 2002. The Strategy contains three overarching objectives whaich are to improve the teaching and learning of languages, to introduce a new voluntary recognition system and to increase the number of people studying languages

Learning and skills council
The LSC is a non-departmental public body, established under the Learning and Skills Act 2000. Its function is to plan and fund post-16 learning in England, including school sixth-form provision, FE, work-based training, and adult and community learning.

Length of school day-year
Schools must open for 380 half-day sessions (190 days) in each school year, beginning with the first term to start after July.

Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is one of the keys to prosperity for individuals, businesses and the nation.

Literacy
The National Literacy Strategy has two main aims: to improve the teaching of literacy in the classroom and to improve the management of literacy at school level.

Local network fund
Local Network Fund for Children and Young People was launched in May 2001 to provide community groups with small grants to support local projects and activities for 0â€`19-year-olds experiencing disadvantage and social exclusion.

Management essentials
The Management Essentials area in TeacherNet's Online Publications for schools gives a summary of the most important information and documents listed in Spectrum.

Meals and milk
The duty to provide free meals to eligible pupils, paid lunches where parents request them, and to comply with national nutritional standards, rests with the Local Education Authority (LEA). Where a school`s budget share includes an amount in respect of meals and other refreshments this duty rests with the school`s governing body.

Media and PR advice
When dealing with the media, schools need to adhere to certain rules and guidelines. This will protect them from bad press and false representation, as opposed to good press that will raise their reputation in the community and keep them known as an interested and interesting local school.

Mental health
A recent ONS survey showed that very large numbers of children suffer from mental health problems. A positive school experience can make a real difference to the long-term outcomes for children who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing mental health problems.

Mentoring
Mentoring initiatives can make a significant contribution to the overall strategies of support available to individuals in education.

Mobile phones and base stations
A report into mobile phones and health, in May 2000, recommended that a specific precautionary approach should be adopted until much more detailed and scientifically robust information on any health effects becomes available.

Model policies
A list of policies provided by the DfES which schools may use as templates when creating or reviewing their policies.

Multi-cultural education
The Government is wholly committed to ensuring that pupils from ethnic or religious minorities have the same opportunity as all others to benefit from what schools can offer them.

Museums and galleries
A £2.5 million programme aimed at developing the educational role of museums and art galleries over a period of three years was launched in July 1999.

Music and dance
The Government's Music and Dance Scheme (MDS â€` previously the Music and Ballet Scheme) provides means-tested aided places for over 800 boys and girls with outstanding talent in music or dance.

National curriculum
The National Curriculum secures for all pupils an entitlement to a number of areas of learning and to develop knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes necessary for their self-fulfilment and development as active and responsible citizens.

National curriculum - flexibility
Head teachers have considerable scope to develop their own curriculum within and around the national curriculum framework.

National Data 2005
National 2005 data, previously known as the Autumn Package is available via the Standards website.

National languages strategy
The document Languages for All: Languages for Life â€` A Strategy for England was published in December 2002. The Strategy contains three overarching objectives whaich are to improve the teaching and learning of languages, to introduce a new voluntary recognition system and to increase the number of people studying languages

Net capacity assessment
The capacity of a school is the number of pupil places available. The net capacity is intended to provide a single, robust and consistent method of assessing the capacity of schools.

Numeracy
The National Numeracy Strategy has two main aims: to improve the teaching of mathematics in the classroom and to improve the management of numeracy at school level.

Nutrition
See Nutritional standards under the Meals and milk topic.

Occupational health guidance
New guidance on occupational health in the workplace for teachers has been produced.

Online ordering - publications
Details of how to order DfES publications via TeacherNet's Online Publications service.

Out of school hours
Study support is broadly defined as activity outside normal lesson time in which young people participate voluntarily. Activities can include homework, study and breakfast clubs; sports and outdoor activities; the creative arts; mentoring; opportunities to pursue particular interests such as languages or ICT and developing study skills. Its purpose…

Overseas pupils
Admission authorities may receive an application from parents overseas for a school place for a child who is not yet resident in the UK.

PANDA reports
Performance and Assessment (PANDA) Reports are produced by Ofsted. They are an integral part of the Autumn Package of Pupil Performance Information, which is produced jointly by DfES, Ofsted and QCA and published by DfES.

Parental involvement
Every 'parent' (as defined in education law) has a right to particpate in decisions about their child's education.

Parental responsibility
This guidance defines the conditions of parental responsibility and outlines best practice in cases of conflict or dispute.

Pay - teachers
The School Teachers' Review Body (STRB) reports on pay and conditions of school teachers in England and Wales.

PE and school sport
Physical education (PE) and school sport is an essential part of a broad and balanced curriculum and it is vital that this should be a positive and enjoyable experience for all young people. The teaching of PE in the National Curriculum is statutory at Key Stages 1 to 4 (age 5 to 16).

Pensions
The Teachers' Pensions Scheme is open to all full-time and part-time teachers.

Performance management
The Education (School Teacher Appraisal) Regulations 1991 will be replaced by the Education (School Teacher Appraisal) (England) Regulations 2000 on 1 September 2000, subject to parliamentary approval.

Performance tables
Performance tables dating back to 1994 are available from the Schools Performance Tables website.

Permanently excluded children
In 1996-97 permanent exclusions were at a peak of 12,700, a threefold increase between the early and mid 1990s. The Social Exclusion Unit published a report on truancy and exclusion and set Public Service Agreement (PSA) targets on truancy, exclusion and provision of suitable educational provision for excluded pupils. These were subsequently adopte…

Personal financial capability
The Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) framework provides for personal finance education to be taught throughout the school curriculum.

Personalised learning
Personalised learning is about tailoring education to individual need, interest and aptitude to ensure that every pupil achieves and reaches the highest standards possible.

Playing fields
Playing fields are protected under the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, which empowers the Secretary of State to protect school playing fields in England from disposal or change of use.

Playing for success
Playing for Success is part of a package of measures to increase out of school hours provision, contributing to the wider raising standards agenda.

Policies
A list of policies schools are legally required to have.

Political bias
LEAs, governing bodies and head teachers of all maintained schools must ensure that teachers do not promote one-sided political views when teaching any subject.

Post-16 funding
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England, outside of higher education. This includes school sixth form funding.

Post-16 qualifications
In September 2000 the most significant changes to post-16 curriculum for 50 years were introduced.

Power to innovate
The Power to Innovate provides schools and LEAs with an opportunity to apply to the Secretary of State to lift regulatory requirements for a time-limited period, so they can trial a specific innovative project.

Pre-appointment checks on staff
It is important that thorough checks are made on anybody who will be working in a school or further education institution (including a sixth form college), both to prevent unsuitable people from gaining access to children and to maintain the integrity of the teaching profession.

Primary strategy
On 20 May 2003 the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke, launched the new strategy for primary education - Excellence and Enjoyment: A strategy for primary schools.

Professional development placements
Professional development placements offer opportunities for teachers to undertake placements with the aim of gaining practical experience of business and an understanding of employer needs.

Prospectus
Governing bodies of maintained schools must publish a school prospectus.

Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a term used to cover a wide range of activities in which the public and private sectors work together to improve services.

Publications - email alert
Email alerts to the latest news and publications from the DfES are now available. The emails include brief summaries and contain links to the information source. The publications are available on TeacherNet`s Online Publications for schools service, where full summaries are provided.

Publications for schools
Details of how to order DfES publications via TeacherNet's Online Publications service.

Pupil Achivement Tracker (PAT)
National 2005 data, previously known as the Autumn Package is available via the Standards website.

Pupil records
The governing body is responsible for a pupil's educational record being made available for their parent to see, free of charge, within fifteen school days of receipt of the parent's written request.

Pupil reports
By law head teachers of maintained schools are responsible for ensuring that they send an annual report to parents on their children`s achievements.

Purchasing guide
Making best use of the school budgets to maximise impact on the raising of eductional standards is a key responsibility for all school governors and managers.

Raising achievement
The revised national curriculum requires schools to focus teaching and learning on their pupils` needs and to take account of gender, ethnicity and social class.

Reducing bureaucracy
Cutting unnecessary burdens on teachers is a priority issue.

Religious Education (RE)
All maintained schools should provide Religious Education (RE) and collective worship for their pupils. The precise nature of that RE at a foundation or voluntary school will depend on the religious character of the school.

Remodelling - support staff
On 15 January 2003, Ministers signed a national agreement with key partners including the local authority employers and school workforce unions. Key features of the agreement include contractual changes for teachers to bring about a progressive reduction in teachers' overall hours, a concerted attack on unnecessary paperwork and bureaucratic proces…

Restraining pupils - use of force
All schools should have a policy on the use of force to control or restrain pupils.

Retirement on grounds of ill health
The procedures for applying for ill-health retirement have changed with effect from 1 January 2004. The new arrangements require employers` involvement in the processing of ill health retirement applications

Returners to teaching
In March 2001 the Government announced incentives to attract qualified teachers back into the classroom after a career break.

Risk management
Risk management strategies involve the identification of risks and actions to remove or limit its impact on the school. Effective risk management delivers value for money by ensuring better use of resources; thereby reducing the costs of avoidable losses and reducing insurance premiums.

Safety education
Safety education guidance for head teachers, teachers and school governors was issued by the DfES in 2002. It has been designed to provide authoritative guidance for safety education as part of the Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) framework which includes the theme of developing a safe, healthy lifestyle.

Schemes of work
Schemes of work covering Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the revised national curriculum have been designed by panels of subject specialists from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and practising teachers.

School accounts
Schools are not obliged to publish accounts as such. They are, however, required to produce a financial statement as part of the governor`s report discussed at the annual meeting.

School achievement awards scheme
The School Achievement Awards Scheme is now closed. The scheme was originally developed to celebrate the achievements of schools that have either made significant improvement or are high performing.

School Building Capital (SBC)
The Government has put a high priority on increased investment in school buildings.

School companies
Under the Education Act 2002, groups of schools can form companies to purchase collectively their normal goods and services or sell their expertise to other schools. This power is optional, and schools need only use it if they feel that a joint identity with other schools will facilitate collective activity.

School funding
Funding schools is a shared responsibility between Central Government and Local Authorities. It is for schools and LEAs, individually and through Schools Forums, to work together to make sure that spending is best targeted, and matches income.

School holiday dates
The Department does not control the length and timing of school holidays in Scotland and Wales; the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office make that decision.

School leaving date
A person is of compulsory school age when they attain the age of 5 and cease to be of compulsory school age on the last Friday in June in the school year in which they reach age 16.

School libraries
School libraries are a key resource for pupils.

School lunch
The duty to provide free meals to eligible pupils, paid lunches where parents request them, and to comply with national nutritional standards, rests with the Local Education Authority (LEA). Where a school`s budget share includes an amount in respect of meals and other refreshments this duty rests with the school`s governing body.

School Profile
The Education Bill 2005 has removed the requirement for governing bodies to produce a Governors' Annual Report. The Governors' Annual Report has been replaced with the School Profile.

School prospectus
Governing bodies of maintained schools must publish a school prospectus.

School sixth form funding
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funds school sixth forms via LEAs.

School trips
Information about health and safety on educational visits.

School uniform
There is no legislation that deals specifically with the wearing of school uniform. It is for the governing body to decide whether there should be a school uniform and, if there is, what it should consist of.