'The first thing I invested in was the school library' The library must sit at the heart of our teaching and learning environments. Former headteacher, Richard Gerver – the new president of the School Library Association – explains why school libraries have never been more important and looks at some tenets of good practice 1 comment
Assurance: It’s not sexy, but it’s important From boilers to putrefied rat remains, from magic buckets to burglar alarms – assurance is not well understood in education and the consequences can be catastrophic. MAT chief executive Mark Wilson explains
PFI: Challenging overly expensive contracts As an academy trust CEO, Andrew Chubb successfully challenged aspects of his school’s PFI contract, leading to substantial savings. He looks here at why PFI often proves unfairly expensive for schools – and what can be done about it
Why you should renegotiate your school’s contracts now How will the Covid-19 pandemic affect your purchasing power? Procurement consultant Naomi Clews says it makes sense to revisit your existing contracts now to secure best value for money for your school
Planning your school's digital strategy post-Covid With the future still uncertain, digital plans for schools have taken on a new significance and we must ensure that ed-tech can be used effectively both in-school and remotely. Al Kingsley offers some advice and reflections
Saving money on your school's rateable value What is your school’s rateable value? Are you overpaying? Mark Paterson looks at how schools might be able to make substantial savings
Case study: Creating an inspiring reading environment Drawing on research evidence, Nafferton Primary School has gone all-out to create a reading environment to inspire its pupils and make them want to pick up a book. Lucy May and David Murray explain how
Planning for school security Headteachers are very much aware of the need to protect pupils and staff. However, navigating the guidance and legal obligations can be difficult. Suzanne O’Connell looks at new online advice to help those responsible for policy and practice
Learning environments: A question of light and air With the darker days drawing in and winter upon us, Fiona Aubrey-Smith considers two issues that do not often make it to the top of school improvement plans – light and air
How we created an inspiring school library This is the story of how a small team created a new, woodland-themed library at Halberton Primary School. Christine Campion explains
Case study: Innovative school facilities As far as innovative facilities projects go, Aldingbourne Primary School perhaps takes the gold medal – from a diner made from shipping containers to a double decker bus-based breakfast club. Emma Lee-Potter takes a look
Making the most of your learning spaces Cuddington Croft Primary has been working to make better use of the potential learning spaces around the school. Deputy head Alice Cunningham outlines the action research they undertook and how they developed their design for new learning environments
Case study: A library in every classroom With a small school library that was not fit-for-purpose, Tom Donohoe set about a new approach – creating a well-equipped mini-library in every single classroom...
Planning a new SEND building Developing new facilities and buildings to cater for pupils with SEN and disabilities can be a challenge for schools. Gareth Barber discusses the requirements, offers expert advice, and looks at a case study of one school’s building project
Finding the funding for school expansion With growing pupil rolls, expansion is a priority for many schools – however, finance is a key consideration. Gareth Barber opens up the school place debate and looks into what funding options are on the table for those looking to upsize
Toilets and washrooms in your school What state are your school’s toilet and washroom facilities in? Ged Hirst looks at some common problems and offers some solutions 1 comment
Ideas for handling increasing pupil numbers Is your school site constrained? Is your school roll rising? From travel plans to making the most of your playground space, National Leader of Education Helen Frostick discusses how to cope with increasing pupil numbers when space is already tight
The Education Show 2015 Sponsored The Education Show returns to the NEC in Birmingham from March 19 to 21 with a range of CPD, workshops and exhibitors on offer. We look at some of the highlights
Funding for school buildings Finding the money to repair and maintain your school buildings is a major headache for school leaders. Kate Gilliford looks at some possible funding streams
Tips for managing your school site Facilities management expert Wayne Calland offers 10 tips to help secondary schools reduce their operational costs
Classroom furniture Education furniture specialist Trevor Gillman examines recent research linking classroom design to improved performance in schools and offers his tips for creating the optimum learning environment
Top 10 tips for buying school furniture With all the pressures of Ofsted and pupil outcomes, school furniture may not be top of your list of priorities, but making wise investment choices is important nonetheless. Caroline Wright offers some advice
Are you faking it? The behaviour benefits of artificial surfaces After 20 exclusions in one year, headteacher Tom Donohoe decided upon an unlikely solution – an all-weather, artificial grass pitch. He explains its impact
A project to be proud of In the March edition of Headteacher Update, Tom Donohoe described his school’s attempt to raise money for a new music, dance and drama room. Here, he tells us what they did next and talks us through the highs and lows of the project
Keeping schools secure School security is a vital issue for leadership teams to consider. Emma Lee-Potter finds out that it is all about striking the right balance
