News in brief

Free books on leadership

ASCL commercial partner RM has sponsored a new book by Tim Brighouse which is available free to members, although donations to the Ted Wragg Memorial Fund are gratefully accepted.

How Headteachers Survive and Thrive looks at four stages of headship, five uses of time, six essential tasks and seven ways to hold on to sanity. It will be of interest to anyone who is contemplating senior leadership in schools and colleges.

Last year's publication Essential Pieces in the Jigsaw of a Successful
School is also available. Visit www.rm.com/essentialpieces and www.rm.com/successfulheads

Separate sciences

As ASCL reported last year, the 2006 budget contained a surprise announcement that there would be an 'entitlement' for students who achieved highly in the key stage 3 test to take separate sciences at key stage 4.

In spite of the political priority attached to a measure announced in the budget, ASCL continues to lobby ministers and civil servants at every opportunity to have this changed. There is hope that officials may yet accept that this is an unrealistic expectation.

ASCL survey: Have your say

The third annual ASCL membership survey is making its way to a random sample of 3,000 members in June.

If you are one of those to receive the survey, we would be grateful if you would complete it and return it by the end of the month in the postage paid envelope. It shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to complete.

Your comments are important, as we use them to monitor the quality of the services and support, to make improvements where needed, and to gather ideas about how to enhance member benefits.