Life

MAGAZINE FOR LIFE MEMBERS AUTUMN 2010

ISSUE

72

Cover

STARS IN THE MAKING How a school’s more vulnerable pupils took their bows at an Oscars ceremony Inside

WILL FREE SCHOOLS WORK? EARNING IN RETIREMENT HEALTH ISSUES: STROKE

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Contact information

LIFE MEMBERS’ REGIONAL GROUPS These are the groups that are known to be active. Please email naht@redactive.co.uk with any additional information AVON ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED HEADS AND DEPUTIES President: Beatrice Murray 73 Great Brockeridge, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3UA Hon Secretary: Mrs Daphne Spitzer 1 Green Dell Close, Henbury BS10 7RG Tel: 0117 950 4936 BANES (BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET AND WEST WILTSHIRE GROUP) Anna Grayson Westdene, The Ley, Box, Corsham, Wilts SN13 8LA Tel: 01225 742 877 Email: annagrayson@ theleybox.fsnet.co.uk BIRMINGHAM AND DISTRICT LIFE MEMBERS’ GROUP Chairman: Malcom Overend 8 Bramshall Drive, Dorridge, Solihull B93 8TG Tel: 01564 777 584 BOLTON RETIRED HEADS ASSOCIATION Secretary: Brian Essex 19 Sunnybank Cottages, Helmshore, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 4AH Tel: 01706 221 028 Email: essexbrian@hotmail.com BRADFORD Secretary: Mrs Pamela Reader Tel: 01535 631 628 Email: Les33pam@talktalk.net BRIDGEND LIFE MEMBERS GROUP Carys Brown Email: carysbrown@hotmail.com Jean Davies Tel: 01656 656 621 BURY (LANCASHIRE) LIFE MEMBERS GROUP Dorothy Bailey Tel: 0161 766 3972 Email: dorothoy.bailey@ ntlworld.com

CHESHIRE Chairman: DL Ogg 98 Top Road, Kingsley, Frodsham, Cheshire WA6 8BX Tel: 01928 788 345 Secretary: Mrs Carole Philpot Birchbank House, Cilcain Road, Pantymwyn, Mold, Flintshire CH7 5EH Tel: 01352 740 598 Email: carole@catsceditor. demon.co.uk Treasurer: Mrs Hazel Palin 32 Princess Court, Marine Road, Colwyn Bay LL29 8PQ Tel: 01606 882 052 COVENTRY & WARWICKSHIRE Secretary: Yvonne Rich 11 Field House, Priory Road, Kenilworth, Warks CV8 1RA DONCASTER Hon Secretary: Terry Sykes Tel: 01977 791 866 Social Secretary: Felicity Merriman 4 Raleigh Terrace, Doncaster DN4 9JW Tel: 01302 851 767 Email: felicity.merriman@ blueyonder.co.uk ESSEX EX HEADS Chairman: Moreen E Healy Tel: 01245 472 773 Email: healym2@btinternet. com Vice Chairman: Helen Jackman Tel: 01277 822 247 Secretariat: Mr Jeff Webb Tel: 01277 652 139 Mrs Beryl Haisman-Baker Tel: 01702 553 879 EXETER AND DISTRICT Co-ordinator: Jane Iffla Efford House, Efford, Crediton, Exeter EX17 1BJ

Email: jane.iffla@ btopenworld.com GWENT Monica Randall 4 Wentwood Drive, Llanvaches, Caldicot NP26 3BR HERTFORDSHIRE Marilyn Jones 11 Osier Way, Great Cambourne CB23 6GB Tel: 01954 710 310 Email: marilynjones404@ hotmail.com Dave Bent 7 Grange Road, Tring HP23 5JP Tel: 01442 822 699 Email: dave@davebent.plus.com KENT AND MEDWAY HEADREST Organising Secretary: Barbara Letchford 292 Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6JJ Tel: 01634 843 906 Email: barbara_letchford@ dsl.pipex.com LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON Janet Overell Tel: 01737 556 684 LONDON RETIRED HEADTEACHERS’ SOCIETY Lazarus Sheridan 18 Talman Grove, Du Cross Drive, Stanmore, Middlesex HA7 4UQ Tel: 020 8954 8087 Email: azalpress@tiscali.co.uk

John Downing 3 Fairmead Rise, Northampton NN2 8PP Tel: 01604 843 302 NORTHERN IRELAND Dr Desmond Hamilton Carin Cottage, 4 Glenmachan Grove, Cairnburn Road, Belfast BT4 2RF Tel: 028 9076 0731 Email: desmondhamilton@ btinternet.com NORTH WEST Mary Bryant Tel: 01298 85221 NORTH YORKSHIRE RETIRED GROUP Sue Lonsdale Tel: 01904 744 209 Email: sue.lonsdale@tiscali.co.uk NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Eileen M Else Tel: 0115 923 4863 OLDHAM Ossie Millar 110 Grasmere Road, Royton, Oldham OL2 6SW Tel: 0161 624 7268 SURREY OLD LAGS Joyce Gordon Holmwood, 3 Church Close, Felcham, Surrey KT22 9BQ Email: joyce@the-gordons. org.uk

NORFOLK RETIRED HEADTEACHERS ASSOCIATION Chairman: Michael Garratt Tel: 01603 457 053 Email: mkgarratt@tesco.net Secretary: Bill English Tel: 01362 850 433 Treasurer: Joan Segger

WESSEX Ralph Cooper 9 Saxonhurst Close, Bournemouth BH10 6LL Tel: 01202 513 101 Email: ralphandcarole. cooper@ntlworld.com Hugh Waller 41 Branksome Hill Road, Bournemouth BH4 9LF Tel: 07986 774 188 Email: hughmwaller@hotmail.com

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE RETIRED HEADS GROUP Jean Darlow 45 Lingswood Park, Northampton NN3 8TB Tel: 01604 416 405

WEST SUSSEX Hon Secretary: Vernon Crouch 20 Church Lane, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO22 9PU Tel: 01243 865 310

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Contents

Welcome to your new-look NAHT Life Those of you who are regular Life readers will have already noticed that this issue looks a little different to previous issues. The changes that have been made are the result of feedback we’ve received from you about what you want from the magazine.

We’ve used this information to examine the amount of lifestyle content and education-based material that we cover in the magazine, and feel that we’ve now got a better balance between them.

For example, the cover feature, which reports on a school in Shropshire that has encouraged its most vulnerable people to explore their hidden acting talents, is certain to strike a chord with many readers. To read more about the project, see page 10. Our news page (p4) and our blogs section (p9) are there to offer insights and opinion about what is going on in the wider world of education.

We’ve also introduced some new sections to the magazine that we hope will appeal to those of you looking for inspiration to help you enjoy your time in retirement. There’s a travel page, which looks at the delights of Malta (p14), and our recipe page (p13) revives a classic Elizabeth David favourite, just in time for Christmas.

However, not all of you will be ready to completely put your feet up yet, and certainly there’s nothing stopping you going back to work, but before you begin job hunting, there are a few legal and financial barriers that you need to be aware of. You can find out more in our feature on page 8.

We hope you enjoy this new-look issue, but remember, this is your magazine and we want to hear what you like – or don’t like – about it.

You can tell us what you think by emailing the editorial team at naht@redactive.co.uk Robert Sanders, editor

UpFront 4 | NEWS Our roundup reveals that Sats have got the green light for 2011, but selfevaluation forms have been shown the door

10 | COVER FEATURE When the more vulnerable pupils at a primary school got to star in a film about emotions, their parents were surprised – and delighted – by their acting skills

6 | LIFE LINES Two retired head teachers tell us what they loved about teaching and what their favourite biscuits are 7 | OPINION Arthur De Caux questions why successive education secretaries have felt the need to keep rebranding schools

InDepth 8 | EARNING IN RETIREMENT Being retired doesn’t mean that you can never work again. But you need to be aware of the legal and financial implications 9 | BEST OF THE BLOGS The latest opinions from the web

EndPoints 12 | HEALTH Fast action can help beat stroke 13 | RECIPE Elizabeth David’s delicious ham 14 | TRAVEL How about a winter trip to Malta?

15 | NAHT PARTNERS Financial services for members 16 | QUIZ Test your news knowledge

ASSOCIATION ENQUIRIES

EDITORIAL TEAM

NAHT, 1 Heath Square, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1BL www.naht.org.uk Tel: 01444 472 472

Editor: Robert Sanders Managing editor: Steve Smethurst Assistant editors: Sarah Campbell, Rebecca Grant and Ben Woolger Reporter: Hollie Ewers Designers: Carrie Bremner and Adrian Taylor Senior picture editor: Claire Echavarry Deputy production manager: Kieran Tobin Cover image: Ed Maynard Printed by: Wyndeham Heron

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Life is published by Redactive Publishing Limited on behalf of the NAHT

redactive publishing limited 17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP www.redactive.co.uk Tel: 020 7880 6200 Fax: 020 7880 7691

ADVERTISING TEAM Advertisement sales: James Francis Sales director: Jason Grant

AUTUMN 2010 ● LIFE 3

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NAHT news roundup

Schools escape the worst of the cuts In this issue’s quickfire news catch-up there’s the Comprehensive Spending Review; Sats are to go ahead but a review is promised; quangos are in the firing line; and self-evaluation returns to the spotlight

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The budget for schools is set to increase in real terms from £35 billion to £39 billion a year over the next four years. After George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, had outlined his plans for education in the Comprehensive Spending Review, Russell Hobby, NAHT General Secretary, said: “With the inevitable cuts to local services, schools will need to do everything they can to support their communities.”

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School leaders will not boycott next year’s Sats after the Government announced an independent review of the KS2 tests. The NAHT has welcomed the appointment of Lord Bew, an academic at Queen’s University in Belfast, as chair of the review.

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The Cabinet Office’s review of public bodies has claimed its first victims in the education sector. Becta, the QCDA and

the General Teaching Council for England have been informed of their closure. Ofsted will be retained.

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The Government is to get rid of the self-evaluation form, lifting some bureaucratic pressure from school leadership teams.

The form, which was introduced in 2005 and is part of the Ofsted inspection process, will cease to be used in September next year.

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The best state primary and secondary schools will be allowed to expand to meet demand for places, the Education Secretary Michael Gove has said.

Russell Hobby said it made sense for popular and good schools to grow, but added that the impact of this policy on other schools must be carefully monitored. ☛ For more news visit www.naht.org.uk

Man at the helm: the NAHT’s new General Secretary, Russell Hobby.

In memoriam Ruth Eastwood Ruth Eastwood, who died in March this year, was the founder member of the Bradford NAHT Retired Members Association and was President for 18 years. Ruth and her committee arranged meetings, meals and days out for the retired members.

She loved the outdoor life and every summer she organised ‘Ruth’s Ramble’. This was a gentle walk at places of interest with lunch after the walk. A group of members re-created such a walk in memory of Ruth on 8 July.

Ruth was a well-known character in the Bradford Association and was head teacher at Low Ash First School.

She was a kind, considerate person who liked being ‘in charge’ and always spoke her mind. She worked hard for the children and teachers in Bradford.

She is survived by a nephew who lives in South Africa and to whom she was a favourite aunt. Ruth has left a big gap in the Association and she will be missed by many.

Margaret Shepherd Margaret Shepherd passed away on 6 August this year. She was 72 years old.

Margaret was the head teacher of Nightingale Primary School in Greenwich, South London, until her retirement 12 years ago.

She was a very private person, an only child and unmarried, and spent her retirement years working for her church and the community.

She was well-known and respected in Greenwich as a successful head teacher and an active member of the NAHT. Margaret was a very supportive member of the London Retired Headteachers’ Society and will be very much missed by her colleagues and friends.

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AUTUMN 2010 ● LIFE 5

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Life lines

Over to you Two Life Members take up the Life challenge to describe themselves and then tell us a joke Ralph Cooper Former head of Christ the King Primary School, Bournemouth, and vice-president of NAHT Life Members Committee

Brian Samuels, MBE Former head of Padstow Comprehensive School, Nottingham, and chair of NAHT Life Members Committee

What type of person are you?

What type of person are you?

In five words: Romantic, handsome, polite and friendly.

Favourite biscuit? Anything with chocolate on it.

Unmissable TV? Nothing. It’s all missable.

Top film? High Society.

Favourite song? All the Things You Are by Jerome Kern.

Best book? All English literature and American thrillers.

In five words: Friendly, courteous, family man, proactive.

Favourite biscuit? Chocolate digestive.

Unmissable TV? Hancock’s Half Hour and the news.

Top film? Dr Zhivago.

Favourite song? Jools Holland playing Bumble Boogie.

Best book? Toulouse Lautrec by PH Huisman and MG Dortu.

Complete the following sentences Complete the following sentences The thing I enjoy most about retirement is being able to devote some time to helping my fellow man; travelling and spending time with my family.

The thing I miss most about working is the satisfaction in getting a job well done; working relationships in the community; climbing the ladder of success.

The best thing that happened to me as a teacher was the realisation that I could help, control and influence the environment in which I was engaged.

My leadership style was dogmatic, assertive, kindly – and sometimes overpowering, I regret to say.

What I’d change about education is the interference by outsiders with no qualifications or knowledge of education to dictate poor policies. This applies most often to know-all politicians.

My favourite joke is A teacher is talking to her class about the metric system. She points to Tommy and says: “Give me a sentence with the word ‘centimetre’ in it.”

Tommy thinks for a moment and says: “Miss, my grandma came to see us last night and I was sent to meet her.”

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The thing I enjoy most about retirement is the freedom to create my own agenda; to be able to spend extra time with my wife, children and grandchildren; having more time for gardening, foreign holidays and voluntary work.

The thing I miss most about working is the children; the daily challenges; the ability to influence teachers and colleagues; school assemblies; and, of course, teaching.

The best thing that happened to me as a teacher was being chosen to deal with challenging children.

My leadership style is to be firm, friendly and courteous.

What I’d change about education is I would bring back attitudes of the 1960, when schools had freedom to operate and children and parents had more respect for teachers.

My favourite joke is one of Tommy Cooper’s. Diner in a restaurant to the waiter: “This chicken has one leg shorter than the other.” Waiter: “What do you want to do with it? Eat it or dance with it?”

If you would like to participate in Life lines, please email naht@redactive.co.uk

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Opinion

Are free schools really the best way forward, or are they destined to wreak further havoc on the education system, asks Arthur De Caux

Gove’s new swing on things I’m one of those people who has had his name maltreated over the years.

Take the communication from a dyslexia institute addressed to Arthur De Cuax, or the introduction on the radio as ‘Art Deco’, as just two of many examples. So I can almost sympathise with the new Secretary of State when he gets his knickers in a twist. I bet he’s been Gove as in ‘by Jove’? Gove like a dove in a glove… even Gove like a man on the move at times.

But can such provocation have led to him getting such a bee in his bonnet about free schools? Many colleagues now basking in retirement will have left the profession before Gove’s time. They will have had their brush with bees in other bonnets – starting with Kenneth Baker and the Education Reform Act 1988, inventing grant-maintained schools, city technology colleges and local management of schools, trying to bring Local Authorities

(LAs) to their knees. More recently, other colleagues will have grappled with Tony Blair’s specialist schools and academies.

Why is it necessary in England to keep reinventing schools and giving them labels?

The answer perhaps came in 2001, when Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s spokesman at the time, vowed to see

Each new education secretary, often aided by a prime minister, has to come up with a new type of school

the end of the ‘bog-standard comprehensive’. What a devastating insult that was to the hundreds of schools that continued to educate, stimulate and motivate our young people without resorting to gimmicks.

We have been told over the years that independent schools performed better than state schools, grammar schools performed better than secondary modern schools, grant-maintained schools better

than LA schools, specialist schools better than non-specialist schools, academies better than everybody and now free schools will be better than all of them put together.

Each new education secretary, often aided and abetted by a prime minister, has to come up with a new type of school which must feature higher in the performance tables than the one before, even if it means changing the law, the criteria or the tables, until there is not a single bog-standard comprehensive standing in the land. These changes are generally known as ‘freedoms’.

So Mr Gove has come up with the wheeze that free schools are the bee’s knees. He too has produced a list of freedoms: freedom from LA control, freedom to set their own pay and conditions and greater control of budgets.

In addition, they will have freedom from following the National Curriculum. Why? The National Curriculum may have had its faults but it established a vital entitlement for all. We have seen what happens, as with the decline of modern foreign languages, when you adopt a laissez-faire approach. However, if it is deemed okay for the free schools to ignore the National Curriculum, why can’t every school do so? Why not, instead, recreate the National Curriculum with sensible options which everyone can buy into.

This new generation of school leaders has to compete in an unnecessary race. It must withstand the pressures from the Government, LAs, governing bodies, parents, entrepreneurs and whizzkids; and take on more and more roles with finance and buildings, competition and salesmanship, which so often distracts from the business of teaching that they were trained to do.

Give ’em a break, Guv – or is it Gove?

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FEATURE: EARNING POWER

NOT THE RETIRING TYPE? It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea to simply put their feet up in retirement. But if you do go back to work there are some important legal and financial aspects to take into account, says Mike Beard

R ISTOCKPHOTO

emember looking forward to the day when you could finally escape the stress of headship?

Now you are free to pursue all those interests you always said you would – to go for longer walks with the dog and spend more time with the family.

But perhaps you are still looking for a challenge. All those years at the helm of schools has given you a unique insight into the education system. Other schools and Local Authorities will find that insight valuable – and just because you are retired doesn’t mean you are barred from ever earning money again.

But there are a few things that you should be aware of if you are retired and thinking of taking up further employment, whether it be in teaching or other work, such as consultancy.

RE-EMPLOYMENT If you have collected your retirement benefits, you must inform Teachers’ Pensions (TP) if you decide to work again – whatever the nature of your new employment. It is your

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responsibility to do this and not that of your new employer.

Although employment outside teaching is unlikely to affect the continuance of your pension, it is wise to let TP know. In so doing you reduce the likelihood of your pension being overpaid to you.

There are two important things to keep in mind as far as earning in retirement is concerned. First, in the case of age-related or premature retirement, if you are re-employed within teaching you will have an earnings limit. However, provided you do not exceed that earnings limit your pension would not normally be affected. The earnings limit is the difference between your teacher’s pension and your final salary. TP will provide details of the limits on request.

Second, if you receive actuarially reduced benefits, there is no limit on earnings. Therefore any employment, whether it is in teaching or in other gainful employment, will have no effect on the payment of your teacher’s pension.

For more advice, take a look at the TP website (www.teacherspensions. co.uk) or call 0845 606 6166.

TP’s factsheet on returning to work

after receiving pensions benefits can be accessed here: tinyurl.com/ returntoworkfactsheet TAX Your teacher’s pension is subject to income tax and the tax office that deals with income tax matters related to your teacher’s pension is HMRC, South Wales Area, Government Buildings, Ty Glas Road, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5YA. You can call them on 0845 300 3949, quoting 948 400.

Initially your teacher’s pension may have been paid net of tax using an emergency tax code, that is until the time HM Revenue & Customs informed TP of the correct tax coding. If you are subsequently re-employed in any capacity, even if it is with your former/current employer, your tax affairs related to that employment will be conducted by a different tax office. Thus, you will have two or more tax offices. Generally, tax matters sort themselves out, but please be aware that you are entitled to only one set of personal (tax) allowances and generally that will be set against your teacher’s pension as your main income. Thus, any new employment,

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normally, would be taxed in full, with no additional allowance(s), unless HMRC informs your employer differently. If, however, your new employer extends another set of tax allowances it is possible that you will underpay tax.You are advised to check your tax details and, if in doubt, contact HMRC. STATE RETIREMENT PENSION Visit tinyurl.com/statepensions for guidance on your state pension.

INCREASES IN TEACHERS’ PENSIONS Teachers’ pensions are increased annually each April in line with the inflation rate at the end of the preceding September. The coalition Government has announced that from April 2011 the current basis of the Retail Prices Index will be replaced by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Based on the CPI inflation rate for the year ending September 2010, it is likely that teachers’ pensions will increase by 3.1 per cent in April 2011.

Details will be placed on the NAHT website when formal confirmation of the rate of increase has been received.

It is worth noting that in the first year of retirement the increase will be pro rata – the increase being based on the number of months the teacher’s pension will have been in payment

by April. So somebody leaving on 31 August would receive seven-twelfths of the full increase in the following April. In succeeding years the full increase would be payable.

FINANCIAL ADVICE Members of NAHT have the opportunity to use the services of Skipton Financial Services, which operates NAHT Personal Financial Services. This service is free. Please see www.skiptonfs-naht.co.uk or call 0800 012 1248. Please use the reference ‘HT2’.

Mike Beard is an Assistant Secretary at the NAHT

BEST OF THE NAHT.ORG BLOGS Pupil premium v pushy parents www.naht.org. uk/welcome/ resources/blogs/ susan-young/ “Class is the elephant in the room, disguised by the euphemisms we find for it,” says education journalist Susan Young. “The middle classes become ‘pushy parents’ while the old working class has been reborn as ‘white boys’ or ‘the most vulnerable’ or ‘the poorest’.” She questions whether the new ‘pupil premium’ will have as much effect on social mobility as parent power.

SEN – what does the future hold? www.naht.org. uk/welcome/ resources/blogs/specialneeds-blog/ What effect will the recent comprehensive spending review have on special educational needs (SEN) provision?

Rona Tutt, a former chair of the NAHT’s Special Education Needs Committee, outlines some forthcoming events where the future of SEN will be discussed.

“What will happen to schools, both mainstream and special, who want to gain a SEN specialism, now that the nature of specialist status is changing? Watch this space for the answer to these and any other questions you want to raise,” she says.

Select comments on bad behaviour www.naht.org.uk/ welcome/resources/ blogs/russell-hobby Russell Hobby, the NAHT’s General Secretary, gave evidence before the Commons select committee enquiry into behaviour in schools.

From media reports, you’d think that violence is rife in classrooms, he says. But Ofsted reports that behaviour is good or outstanding in 95 per cent of primary and 80 per cent of secondary schools. “Most children are well behaved. Some of them are even quite nice,” Russell says. But leadership plays an important role in dealing with bad behaviour.

Heads should strive towards: clear and consistent policies that are truly lived; highquality teaching that is engaging and relevant; and increasing parental responsibility and skill. ☛ For more blogs visit www.naht.org.uk

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FEATURE: ‘OSCARS’ NIGHT

When the more vulnerable pupils at a primary school made a feature film, even their parents were surprised at the confidence they gained.

Rebecca Grant reports from the premiere

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f the pupils at Holmer Lake Primary School in Telford had been asked to select the classmate who they thought was most likely to become a movie star, timid Oliver Rice (pictured on this page) probably wouldn’t have been their first choice.

Yet last July they all looked on in admiration as Oliver walked up the red carpet on his way to collect his first acting award.

The award recognised his noteworthy performance in the title role of Holmer Lake’s first DVD production – a short film called Mister Pirelli and his Mind-blowing Corridor of Emotions.

And while starring in a school DVD may not quite be on the same scale as securing a leading role in a Hollywood blockbuster, head teacher Siân Deane is adamant that Oliver’s achievement is no less remarkable. “He’s always been a quiet, unassuming little boy. He had a lot of time off because of a medical condition, and he found coming back to school difficult, but he’s really grown in confidence since he started working on the DVD, and his attendance is much better now,” she says.

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The film was made for the Raising Aspirations project, which aims to help children improve their emotional wellbeing and is part of the school’s ongoing work as pathfinders for the Targeted Mental Health in Schools project – a Government-funded initiative to transform the way that mental health support is given to children aged between five and 13.

Twelve of Holmer Lake’s most vulnerable pupils – such as those with low self-esteem, ADHD or a Statement for Behaviour – were chosen to star in the DVD. “We selected them for particular reasons.

They were all children who needed a real boost and to be made to feel special,” Siân says.“The other pupils in the school wouldn’t expect those who we picked to be capable of doing something like act, or speak out in public.”

A professional production company, Urban Voice, was brought in to film the DVD and help pupils develop a storyline, which would focus on different emotions.

The plot that pupils settled on involved an eccentric character named

ED MAYNARD

STARS IN THE MAKING

Mister Pirelli who, acting as narrator, guides the audience on a journey down a corridor. Behind each door in the corridor lies a different emotion or feeling – pride, shyness, surprise, loneliness and anger – and each time a door was opened, a sketch representing that emotion was acted out by the pupils.

However, before the group could begin to create a storyboard for their film, they needed to understand the emotions that they were going to portray – a task which proved a challenge to many of them. “Some of the children found it really hard to discuss their feelings to begin with.

They didn’t know how to manage their emotions,” Siân says. “There was quite a lot of fieriness at the first few sessions, where we had children storming out and slamming doors, but they’ve persevered and really taken it on.”

The project began in January and took four months to plan before filming started. The DVD was shot on location at the school. Even though the pupils had no previous acting experience, let alone ever set foot in front of a camera, they rose to the challenge.

“Filming was such a big thing for them, and it took a lot of work to get them confident enough to believe that they actually could do it, but they went in and it literally took one day to get it

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all done, without practising,” says Lyn Stepanian, who works for the Raising Aspirations project and oversaw the making of the DVD. “Even though a lot of them found it difficult at first, they all learned how to work together, and they learned to manage their emotions under the stress.

I’m really proud of them all,” she adds.

Lyn felt that the children’s efforts needed to be celebrated, and after speaking to Siân, they decided to throw a Hollywood-style party, complete with ‘Oscars’ ceremony, to mark the DVD’s completion. “Lyn was very enthusiastic about how well they’d done, and wanted to have a big event when the DVD was finished, so I suggested that we should wear long dresses and have a champagne reception, or more accurately a sparkling soft-drink reception, and that’s what we’ve ended up doing.”

On 20 July, Holmer Lake’s hall was transformed into a movie theatre for the day, ready to host the grand premiere of Mister Pirelli. A red carpet was brought in to give the event some celebrity glamour, and invitations were sent out to distinguished guests, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Telford.

Following the screening, nine of its 12 stars – three of the children had left the school once filming was completed – were invited up to the stage, where they

were presented with an award statue and certificate. As they accepted their award, each child delivered their own Oscarsstyle acceptance speech and, in true awards-ceremony tradition, there was not a dry eye in the house – especially among the parents who attended.

Leading man Oliver made a point of thanking his parents in his speech, and they are encouraging him to pursue his new-found passion for acting. “I want to thank my mum and dad because they gave me a lot of support with the DVD and made me want to be an actor,” he said.

Following on from the warm reception it received at the premiere, Mister Pirelli has gone on to achieve further acclaim. It was awarded a West Midlands Safeguarding Award, and it has also been endorsed by the Anti-Bullying Alliance.

It’s too early to determine how wide an audience the DVD will reach, but there is one group that Siân hopes will watch it time and time again – the pupils who took part. “It’s great because the children will have this DVD forever, and if at some point in the future they feel that things aren’t going right for them, then all they need to do is sit down and watch it, and recapture all those wonderful feelings they had while making it.”

Meet two of the stars Melissa Lowe: actress in ‘anger’ sketch Melissa (pictured below) took the lead role in the section about anger – an emotion that she admits to having trouble handling in the past.

Her mum Janet explains: “When she was quite little she had glue ear, which wasn’t picked up for a while, so she couldn’t communicate very well.

She would get very frustrated and angry because people would think she was ignoring them when in fact she just couldn’t hear them.”

But through working on the DVD, Melissa has been able to manage and talk about her feelings. In her awards acceptance speech, she thanked everyone who helped her achieve that goal. “I feel very proud of myself that I can speak to people who will listen and want to help me. I have got more friends now that I’m behaving the way a 10-year-old should,” she said.

Lee Williams: actor in ‘pride’ sketch Concerns were raised about Lee’s participation in the project, as he has speech and language difficulties.

Filming proved a testing time for him, as he had to repeat scenes over and over again, but he persisted and Siân is delighted with the final outcome. “The film crew thought that they may have to edit over the top of his voice but they didn’t in the end, it’s all him in the final version.

I bet that when his mum heard all the things that he is able to say, she was probably in tears.”

After watching the finished DVD, and hearing his acceptance speech, Lee’s mum Julie admitted to feeling very emotional. “I was a bit shocked,” she says. “His speech really surprised me, because he sounded so grown up.

He’s a lot more confident now.”

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Health: stroke 12

3 ISTO ISTOCKPHOTO/BBC IST TOCKPH C OTO/BBC

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A RACE AGAINST TIME 6

Quick action during a stroke can make a big difference to recovery.

Former head teacher Barbara Letchford tells Sarah Campbell about her journey back to health The first thing that struck Barbara Letchford when she had a stroke was the ridiculousness of it all.

“Normally I am healthy and active, but I bent down to pick up something and I couldn’t straighten up. I was saying to myself: ‘This is stupid.’ And then my husband David found me in a heap outside the house,” says the former head teacher.

Barbara, 81, didn’t realise that she was suffering a stroke on that day in June – but it’s a good job David did. He called the emergency services immediately, meaning Barbara was in hospital in less than 40 minutes. “They say that if treatment can be given

12

within one hour it is much more effective and can rectify several symptoms – such as physical and speech problems – which otherwise have to be tackled separately,” says David.

He recognised Barbara’s symptoms straight away.

“I noticed a swelling on one side of her face. She was incoherent and she seemed unable to move,” he says.

Barbara was in Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, Kent – about three miles from their home – for five days. During that time language therapists helped her to get her speech back. “It took a couple of days. Not long after that I was agitating to be allowed home, and I think I was reasonably coherent by then,” says Barbara.

But getting home was only the start of the recovery process. She had lost some memory and been told it might not return, which upset her. “Too many people rely on it, particularly in the NAHT,” she says. Her balance was badly affected, and she was unable to swallow. David recalls their daughter trying to feed Barbara a banana and nearly choking her.

But, over the past few months, Barbara has improved steadily. She is driving again, her memory is improved, her coordination is fine and her speech is normal.

She is on a fair amount of medication and David says she naps a lot more now than she used to, but her friends tell her she is back to her old self. She puts her recovery down to the support of her husband and friends. She has joined a stroke council at the Medway that meets four

times i a year with i h doctors d and students to tell them about the stroke experience.

And has her outlook on life changed? “The stroke has made me more understanding of other folks who’ve not been so lucky,” she says.

“And it’s made me more thankful for what I can do.”

Further information and advice is available from the Stroke Association.

Visit www.stroke.org.uk or call the stroke helpline on 0303 303 3100

WHAT IS A STROKE? A stroke is what happens when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. This can result in brain cells being damaged or destroyed, which then affects bodily functions. Strokes are typically caused by blood clots, which block the blood flow in the main arteries leading to the brain, or a blood vessel bursting – leading to bleeding inside the brain.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON SIGNS OF A STROKE? • Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, typically on one side of the body; • Confusion or trouble in speaking, as well as understanding; • Difficulty in seeing with one or both eyes; • Inability to walk, giddiness, loss of balance or coordination; • Sudden and severe headache with no other obvious cause.

Remember the acronym FAST: facial weakness; arm weakness; speech problems; time to dial 999.

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Food

A new cookbook revives some classic recipes first conceived in the 1950s

Well worth the wait temperature – and cook the gammon for another 20 to 35 minutes, basting frequently with the milk and sugar mixture, which will eventually turn into a beautiful dark golden shining glaze.

BARBADOS BAKED AND GLAZED GAMMON

Sixty years ago, Britain was facing a culinary crisis. Many foods had been in short supply because of wartime rationing, and bored Britons were eager to inject a bit more variety into their diet.

Then Elizabeth David came along. In 1950 she published her first recipe book, which introduced the nation to delightful flavours from around the world, such as olive oil, artichokes and fresh herbs.

Her recipes were simple, and have stood the test of time. Now, six decades on, her cooking has been made accessible to a new generation through the publication of At Elizabeth David’s Table. Here is just one of the easy but delicious recipes that the book offers:

INGREDIENTS ◆ 2-2.5kg (4-5lb) middle leg of gammon ◆ 2 heaped tablespoons of soft brown sugar ◆ 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard ◆ 4 tablespoons of milk ◆ Whole cloves (optional)

METHOD Enough for eight to 10 people.

STEP 1. Soak the leg for a minimum of 24 hours, and preferably for 36, in cold water to cover (and also keep a cloth or dish

STEP 5. Serve with creamed spinach and jacket potatoes or a purée of red lentils, or cold with a salad of cubed honeydew melon seasoned with lemon juice and a pinch of powdered ginger.

over the basin). Change the water two or three times. When the time comes to cook the gammon, wrap it in two sheets of cooking foil, twisting the edges together so that the joint is completely enclosed. Stand this parcel on a grid placed in a baking tin. Half-fill the tin with water – the steam coming from it during cooking helps keep the gammon moist.

STEP 2. Place low down in a very moderate oven, at 160ºC/gas mark 3, and allow approximately 45 minutes per pound (per 500g). The only attention you have to give it is to turn

the parcel over at half-time.

STEP 3. Remove from the oven, leave for about 40 minutes, then unwrap the foil and peel off the rind – this is very easily done while the gammon is still hot – and score the fat in diamond shapes. Replace the gammon in the rinsed-out baking tin.

The sugar, mustard and milk glaze mixture is by far the most effective, as well as the cheapest and most simple, of any I have ever tried. There really is no need for fanciful additions of rum, orange juice or pineapple chunks.

Whether you keep your cooked gammon or bacon in a refrigerator or a larder, do keep it wrapped in clean greaseproof paper, constantly renewed. In this way it will keep sweet and moist down to the last slice.

At Elizabeth David’s Table is out now, published by Michael Joseph (hardback, rrp £25)

STEP 4. Stir together the milk, mustard and sugar.

Pour this mixture over the gammon, pressing some of it well down into the fat. If you feel you must, stud the fat with whole cloves. Place the tin near the top of the oven – still at the same AUTUMN 2010 ● LIFE 13

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TRAVEL

This Mediterranean haven has had its share of uninvited visitors – but British tourists will be made to feel at home on the George Cross island, reports Steve Smethurst

A warm welcome

Malta has long been home to a religious population – it is the site of temples that predate Stonehenge and it was the location of an official miracle in 60AD when St Paul was bitten by a viper and suffered no ill effects.

Yet faith in a divine being was never more apparent than at the height of World War II. It reached its peak on 9 April 1942 when a bomb pierced the dome of the Rotunda of St Marija Assunta, the church in the town of Mosta. The missile came through the roof and fell among the 300-strong congregation.

It then rolled along the floor, without exploding.

Incredibly, no one was hurt and it became known as ‘the miracle of Mosta’.

The fact that the Maltese people had any faith left

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by that point is remarkable.

Wartime records show that between 20 March and 28 April 1942, Malta was subjected to 6,557 tonnes of bombs – an intensity that not even London’s long-suffering population could match.

Shortly after the miracle of Mosta came another unlikely event – the award of a George Cross.

Yet WWII was merely the last in a long line of periods

of turmoil for the island. Its location, halfway across the Mediterranean, has made it attractive to invaders such as the Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Angevins and the Castilians.

Today, all visitors are welcome, but especially the British. There is a deep bond between the two nations and tourists from our shores will find much to interest them.

There is plenty to entertain history buffs, but another major draw is the climate, as even January can boast six hours of sunshine a day.

Then there are fiestas, such as the one held in the village of Zabbar in September, in which a band dedicated to St Michael (the Greens) tries to outperform one dedicated to the Virgin Mary (the Blues – a supporter’s house is pictured, left). And don’t forget the wonderful produce

that can be bought at the Marsaxlokk market.The fishing village is one of the most picturesque locations on the island and the small boats, called luzzu and kajjik, are painted in vivid colours and float gracefully on the calm waters of the bay.

The island’s capital Valetta is where most of the hotels are to be found, but it’s also worth investigating Mdina, which was Malta’s first capital city during the time of the Knights of Malta. It has been known as ‘The Silent City’ and its mix of medieval and baroque architecture make it one of the most characterful places on the island.

So if you fancy a winter break, you could do much worse than visit the George Cross island.

For more information see www.visitmalta.com

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NAHT member benefits

SAVINGS

PARTNER CONTACTS

Time to rethink long-term plans It’s not a great time for savers. The Bank of England base rate has remained at an historic low of 0.5 per cent for 19 months, which has significantly reduced the rates banks and building societies are offering for deposit-based accounts. Meanwhile, inflation is soaring: the Consumer Price Index was 3.1 per cent in September 2010, well above the Government’s 2 per cent target. These factors are a bad combination for anyone hoping to use a savings account as a nest egg.

To truly grow in value, the return on your savings, after tax, has to remain above inflation.Yet in July 2010 the average rate on a notice deposit account was a miserly 0.92 per cent, according to the Building Societies Association. A £10,000 investment, for example, would earn just £92 interest after a year. After tax, the real value would be eroded by inflation to just £9,743 for a higher rate taxpayer (£9,761 for basic rate).

This problem for savers may get worse before it gets better – potentially affecting not just your short-term plans, but your longer-term financial aspirations. Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, admitted in The Daily Telegraph in July that high inflation may have to be tolerated throughout 2011, as they fear taking action to address it might derail economic recovery. There’s also a VAT increase from 17.5 per cent to 20 per cent coming into effect on 4 January 2011, which is likely to push inflation even higher.

Many financial analysts predict it will be some time before the base rate returns to the 5 per cent levels enjoyed in 2008, which means it’s unlikely savings rates available on the high street will significantly increase in the near future.

Traditional savings accounts are still recommended for putting aside money for shorter-term expenditure plans and for emergency funds. However, if you have a nest egg sitting in a low-paying deposit savings account, NAHT Personal Financial Services can assist you in making more from your money.

The service, provided by Skipton Financial Services exclusively to NAHT members, can include holding a no-obligation review of your short-, medium- and long-term financial objectives; before recommending investment solutions suited to your personal needs. Call NAHT Financial Services on 0800 012 1248 to find out how your savings can grow as originally intended.

The tax treatment of any investments depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. Skipton Financial Services Limited, Registered Office: The Bailey, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DN. Registered in England, number 2061788.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Skipton Financial Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society.

INSURANCE

Have you got the right protection?

Now that you are retired from a senior leadership role, you may wish to fill your new spare time with a bit of part-time consultancy work. The vast experience and knowledge built up over your time as a head teacher will be invaluable to Local Authorities and the Department for Education, which will be looking for consultants to help them with their education requirements and School Improvement Partners programme.

If you decide to take this step it is very important to remember that you will be liable for any incorrect advice you give as

part of your consultancy work. With this in mind it is recommended that you take out professional indemnity and public liability insurance to cover your liabilities while working as a consultant.

The NAHT has teamed up with a leading insurance broker, LFC Graybrook, which offers a policy specifically designed for consultants in education, and NAHT members receive discounted premiums.

For more information, visit the NAHT section at www.lfcgraybrook.co.uk/ naht.php, or call 01245 321 185 to speak to one of their advisers.

Use numbful ers

The NAHT is committed to negotiating a wide range of high-quality, value-added benefits and services for its members. If you have any comments on the services provided by our affinity partners, please email John Randall, the NAHT’s Head of Marketing and Communications, at johnr@naht.org.uk AVIVA Home, contents and motor insurance 0800 046 6389 www.fromyour association.co.uk/NAHT CS Healthcare Private medical insurance 0800 917 4325 www.cshealthcare.co.uk (promo code 147) LFC Graybrook Professional indemnity and public liability cover 01245 321 185 www.lfcgraybrook.co.uk/ naht.php Email: enquiry@ lfcgraybrook.co.uk MBNA Credit card www.mbna.co.uk Rock Travel insurance 0844 557 5874 www.nahttravelinsurance. co.uk Skipton Independent financial advice 0800 012 1248 www.skiptonfs-naht.co.uk Email: sfsnaht@skipton. co.uk

AUTUMN 2010 ● LIFE 15

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What’s been in the news since the last issue of Life?

Test your education knowledge with the...

Back-page quiz 4

Poor behaviour in schools has driven what percentage of teachers to consider quitting, according to the NUT and other groups? a. 70 per cent b. 50 per cent c. 25 per cent

5

2

Which film star made a surprise visit to a South London primary school after a pupil wrote to him? a. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) b. Tom Hanks (Woody from Toy Story 3) c. Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean)

3

Boys are not given the same amount of pocket money as girls on average. What is the discrepancy? a. Boys get 38p more than girls b. Girls get 54p more than boys c. Boys get 96p more than girls

16

In a survey for Eden TV, a wildlife channel, what proportion of eight- to 12-year-olds thought cows hibernate during the winter? a. Less than one in 20 b. Nearly half c. More than three-quarters

6

A better-thanaverage early years education increases the projected total earnings of a five-year-old by how much, according to a Harvard University study? a. About £500,000 b. About £70,000

c. About £200,000

7

A class at Great Harwood Primary School received a letter of thanks from the Queen after sending her a design for what garment? a. A jacket b. A pair of knickers c. A scarf

8

In mainstream secondary schools, 3.8 per cent of pupils were given more than one suspension in 2008-09. What was the figure for academies? a. 1.63 per cent b. 3.81 per cent c. 7.27 per cent

percentage of parents whose children ate school meals said their youngsters had tried food at school that they had not tried at home? a. Less than 10 per cent b. 55 per cent c. 80 per cent

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Ofsted served Trosnant Junior School in Havant, Hants, with a notice to improve – why was this? a. Learning assistants were using heavy local dialect b. Discipline was bad in classrooms c. Teachers were dressed scruffily

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In a poll by the School Food Trust, what

ANSWERS 1. B One council paid out £33,500 to a pupil who missed a high-jump landing mat 2. C He was filming nearby and went to the school after a pupil asked him to help lead a mutiny against her teachers 3. A Also, the average overall has dropped below £6 this year for the first time since 2003

4. A 92 per cent said that pupil behaviour had got worse during their career 5. B Given that result, it makes sense that a fifth of the young people surveyed had never visited a farm 6. C Let’s pay teachers more 7. B The children were inspired by Nicholas Allan’s book The Queen’s Knickers

8. C The difference might be because many academies are in deprived areas 9. C It seems that school meals can actually tempt fussy eaters 10. A The head teacher was planning to bring in a consultant to help teachers and pupils use received pronunciation in the classroom

ISTOCK/REX

1

How much accident compensation was paid out to children injured at school last year? a. £225,000 b. £2.25 million c. £22.5 million

LIFE ● AUTUMN 2010

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