HEADTEACHER Autumn 2 UPDATE The only magazine for all UK primary school headteachers


Why are primaries never centre stage?


www.headteacher-update.com November 2012


HEADLINES 8


OFSTED: An inspector spills the beans on the


new Section 5 Regime and how schools can best prepare for inspection under the new approach


12 14


16 20


“G


As GCSE and secondary reform hogs the limelight, we ask whether primary schools are destined to be anything more than an introduction to secondary education and a primer for exams at 16?


CSE fi asco leaves schools with failing tag”, “Michael Gove to replace GCSEs


with O-level style qualifi cation” – so the headlines went on over the summer and into the autumn, dominated by secondary school qualifi cations and reform. In contrast, the reception for


national key stage 2 SAT results was subdued. Headlines drawing attention to the increase in results were hard to fi nd. The four per cent rise in maths or the three per cent rise in Level 4 for reading were only just newsworthy. There are perhaps two reasons


for the contrast in coverage. First, the news on SATs was good and second, it was about primary schools. Primary educators and their


schools have every right to feel neglected. The flagship academy scheme that has seen more than half of secondaries convert has not tickled the fancy of many primaries and, with the Department for Education having categorised schools into “academy” or “non- academy”, the majority of primaries have become the default model. John Coe, general secretary of the National Association for Primary


Education, said: “Successive governments have been, and currently are, in the light of our descent in international league tables, overwhelmingly concerned with secondary school exam results.” It is a concern echoed by


NASUWT chief Chris Keates: “Michael Gove’s 1950s mindset has resulted in an obsession with 11-plus qualifi cations, so it is not surprising that the whole focus in his fi rst two years in offi ce has been on secondary education. The secretary of state clearly does not accept the evidence on the importance of early years and primary education.” The impression from many


primary leaders is that primary education is seen as nothing more


Continued on page 2 24 26 32


BULLYING: Some ideas and food for thought


in the run up to Anti-Bullying Week 2012


BME: What are the barriers to education


for Black and minority ethnic pupils and how can schools overcome these?


BULLYING: A focus on tackling homophobic


bullying and language in primary schools


BEHAVIOUR: How small steps and the


consistent use of language can have a big impact on pupil behaviour


YOUNG CARERS: Schools have a vital


role in supporting those pupils who have caring responsibilities at home


NEETS: What primary schools can do to


help reduce the number of students who become NEET when they get older


STANDARDS: How can a headteacher


create and drive a culture of standards in their school – and how can you maintain this focus during the tricky run-up to Christmas?


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