Life magazine (NAHT) spring 2015

Life MAGAZINE FOR LIFE MEMBERS

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COVER

EDUCATION AND POLITICS The general election presents an opportunity to find out how politicians would support NAHT’s ideas, says the association’s general secretary Russell Hobby INSIDE

HOLOCAUST EDUCATION NAHT PARTNERS ‘BORN TO READ’

SPRING 2015 ISSUE 85

11/03/2015 11:28

PARTNERS FINANCIAL ADVICE

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For the 2015/16 tax year, the government allows you to save or invest up to £15,240 in a New ISA (NISA). You can split your allowance between cash (similar to a regular savings account) and stocks/shares. NAHT Personal Financial Services, in partnership with Skipton Financial Services Limited (SFS) offers face-to-face investment advice that includes making the most of your NISA allowances. An SFS adviser can assess your current savings and investments and offer personalised recommendations.

For more information, or to arrange a personalised review, call NAHT Personal Financial Services today on 0800 012 1248* quoting ‘NISA15’.

Your capital is at risk so you may get back less than you originally invested.

The value of any investments and the income from them may rise as well as fall.

Stocks and Shares NISAs do not provide the security associated with a deposit account or an investment in a Cash NISA. The tax treatment of your investments depends on your individual circumstances and may change in the future. *Lines open 9am-7pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am-5pm on Friday. To help maintain service and quality, some calls may be recorded and monitored. Calls are free from a BT landline, costs from other networks and mobiles may vary. NAHT Personal Financial Services is offered by Skipton Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under register number 100013 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society.

Skipton Financial Services Limited offers restricted advice. Registered in England number 2061788. Should you take advice from SFS, the NAHT will receive a fee for the introduction.

HEALTHCARE

Quick and easy ways to maintain your health in retirement It’s important to stay fit in retirement, so here are our tips for continued good health.

• Fruit, rice cakes and yoghurts will keep your energy levels steady throughout the day helping you avoid sugary quick-fixes and caffeine fuelled drinks.

• A breakfast that includes protein and fibre in the morning will keep you going longer.

• Simple techniques for relaxation can have a large impact on your mood and your stress levels. Breathing exercises and simple stretches can all be done at your chair.

• Take (even a short) walk each day when the weather permits.

This is intended as general advice only. If you or your family members require any medical advice or have any medical concerns, please contact your GP. First two months cover FREE† As an NAHT member, you receive your first two months’ cover FREE† when you take out individual cover. For more information or to obtain a quote, visit www.cshealthcare.co.uk or call 0800 433 4940^, quoting promotional code 147.

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PARTNERS’ CONTACTS Useful numbers NAHT is committed to negotiating high-quality, value-added benefits and services for its members.

If you have any comments on the services provided by our affinity partners, please contact: marketing@naht.org.uk.

ROCK Travel insurance 0844 482 3390 www.nahttravelinsurance.co.uk AVIVA Home, contents and motor insurance 0800 046 6389 www.fromyourassociation. co.uk/NAHT CS HEALTHCARE Private medical insurance 0800 917 4325 www.cshealthcare.co.uk (promo code 147) GRAYBROOK INSURANCE BROKERS LTD Professional indemnity and public liability cover 01245 321 185 www.graybrook.co.uk/nahtmembers Email: enquiry@graybrook. co.uk MBNA Credit card www.mbna.co.uk SKIPTON FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD Financial advice 0800 012 1248 www.skiptonfs-naht.co.uk Email: sfsnaht@skiptonfs.co.uk

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Editorial Seizing the initiative

CONTENTS

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n this pre-election edition of Life NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby talks about the need to “build a a bulwark of professional leadership that can stand against political interference after the election,” (see page 10).

He explains there are two parts to NAHT’s strategy to achieve this. “We need to take back ownership of standards and we need to take responsibility for each other… When parents see school leaders expressing their vision and ambition for education it will crowd out the room for politics and, by looking out for each other, we can build our own infrastructure of school to school support.”

Just as importantly, NAHT has taken the opportunity to share NAHT’s own manifesto in talks with all the main parties’ education spokespeople.

It’s a tribute to the association’s knowledgeable, experienced and aspirational vision that the education spokespeople all praised elements of the NAHT manifesto, Owning what is ours.

Our other main feature in this issue of Life highlights the work of head teacher of Watford Grammar School for Girls, Dame Helen Hyde, who recently led a government education committee looking at the future of Holocaust education. The prime minister has subsequently accepted all the recommendations made by her commission and you can find out more about it on page eight.

Lastly, if you get a moment, tell us what you think of Life magazine. Email publications@naht.org.uk with your thoughts. And don’t forget to keep up to date with all the association’s news on Twitter at @nahtnews.

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NAHT PARTNERS Selected services for members.

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NEWS DfE’s ‘step in right direction’ over disqualification guidance.

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NEWS Save the Children appeals to life members for reading volunteers.

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NEWS Find out who’s been recognised for their services to education in the New Year’s honours list.

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OPINION NAHT past president Dr Rona Tutt.

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LEST WE FORGET Head teacher Dame Helen Hyde tells Life why Holocaust education matters so much.

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10 EDUCATION AND POLITICS The general election offers a chance to see how politicians will support NAHT ideas, says Russell Hobby.

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12 HEALTH Advice and information on dementia.

13 RECIPE A tasty pork and pumpkin curry.

14 TRAVEL Iceland: geysers, volcanoes and lights.

15 CONTACTS AND CROSSWORD Find a local group; and test our life member crossword compilers.

Tip: don’t look at the answers below.

Steve Smethurst, Managing editor

CROSSWORD SOLUTION EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES

EDITORIAL

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

Managing editor: Steve Smethurst Designer: Adrian Taylor Senior picture editor: Claire Echavarry Production director: Jane Easterman Printed by: Gemini Press

ASSOCIATION ENQUIRIES NAHT, 1 Heath Square, Boltro Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1BL www.naht.org.uk Tel: 0300 30 30 333

17 Britton Street, London EC1M 5TP www.redactive.co.uk Tel: 020 7880 6200 Email: naht@redactive.co.uk

ADVERTISING Sales executive: Joe Elliott-Walker Sales director: Jason Grant

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NEWS ROUND-UP NEWS IN BRIEF

DfE’s ‘step in the right direction’

‘Serious error’ over CEIAG The loss of ring-fenced funding for careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) has proved to be a ‘serious error’ and NAHT is seeking its restoration.

Business minister Nick Boles said: “Good schools invest in careers information, advice and guidance and have a designated careers coordinator

General secretary re-elected

TEMPEST

Guidance that had led to primary school staff being wrongly suspended from work has been amended following negotiations with NAHT. Previously, staff could face disqualification if they shared a home with a person who had committed a serious violent or sexual crime, or who had been banned from working with children.

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby (right) said while the rules on disqualification by association remained disproportionate for a school setting, he was pleased the DfE was working with NAHT to clarify the guidance.

“It is now clear this only applies to staff working with or managing the

education of reception children, or providing childcare outside school hours, and that staff can, in many cases, remain in school while waiting for the Ofsted waiver to allow them to return to their duties. We still want to see changes but the DfE has engaged with us. It’s a step in the right direction.”

to work with young people.”

The government instructs Ofsted to mark down schools that fail to provide independent careers guidance and, once the Careers and Enterprise Company is set up, will allocate enterprise advisers to schools.

However, Louis Coiffait, CEO of NAHT Edge, the section of NAHT nurturing middle leaders, told Life: “It’s essential for careers education funding to be ring-fenced. Cutting back here would be the ultimate false economy.”

NI schools funding ‘less bleak’ Schools in Northern Ireland are still uncertain about the extent of the budget cuts they will face in 2015-16.

Figures outlined in the Northern Ireland Assembly’s initial consultation included proposals for a 19.7 per cent reduction in capital budget and a 29 per cent reduction in the entitlement framework to help address a £160 million ‘funding gap’.

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By January, the Northern Ireland Executive had found £60m extra for schools but, as Life went to press, NAHT was still waiting to hear how it would be spent.

Helena Macormac, NAHT Northern Ireland policy director, said: “The situation is not as bleak as before but we still can’t be sure what the final impact of the cuts will be.”

Russell Hobby has been re-elected as NAHT general secretary. The association’s president, Gail Larkin, told Life: “During the past four years, Russell has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of our association and to ensure that our voice is heard. I know how much members appreciate and value the skills and experience he brings to the post.”

Mr Hobby has been general secretary of NAHT since September 2010.

TUC affiliation NAHT has affiliated to the TUC. It was confirmed by the TUC’s General Council last year.

Affiliation will bring many benefits, including access to training for representatives and staff, influence and alliances with other unions on education policy. It will also bring access to expertise and publications on union issues.

NAHT annual conference Big hitters from the UK’s three main political parties will be among the speakers at this year’s NAHT conference, which will be held at ACC in Liverpool from May 1 to 3. General secretary Russell Hobby and other inspirational keynote speakers will also appear on stage. Gail Larkin will step down to make way for new president Tony Draper, head teacher at Water Hall Primary in Milton Keynes. He will be assisted in his role by new vice president Kim Johnson, principal of Bradfield Academy, a special school in Chatham, Kent. bit.ly/Conference_2015

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NEWS ROUND-UP

Reading volunteers needed COULD YOU SPARE SOME TIME TO HELP CHILDREN WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO READ?

SAVE THE CHILDREN

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ave the Children is working in partnership with literacy charity Beanstalk to deliver the Born to Read programme which aims to support children who are struggling to read.

It has also appealed to NAHT life members as it looks for more volunteers to spend one-to-one time regularly with children in primary schools to read, talk and play educational games.

Potential volunteers must be able to commit to visit schools for 90 minutes twice a week during term time.

Andrea, a retired teacher, volunteers in primary school in Kent. She told Life: “It appealed to me because it was inside my comfort zone. I know a lot about reading – I’m a specialist in dyslexia and I wanted to go back in to schools because I’ve always worked with secondary school children.

“I really wanted to give something back and I’m passionate about tackling the fact that some of them don’t read as well as they need to.”

Melissa Smith, Born to Read manager, said: “Born to Read is an ambitious programme aiming to provide 8,000 volunteers helping 23,000 pupils in deprived areas across the country by 2018. With the support of a volunteer, 93 per cent of children made progress

Freedom Charity was set up in 2011 to protect the lives of children and young people by raising awareness of forced marriage and the associated problem of dishonour-based violence in the UK. Freedom works with the government’s Forced Marriage Unit and the Metropolitan Police as well as organisations such as NAHT, ChildLine and the Samaritans.

Freedom has visited more than 60 schools and handed out 20,000 copies of But it’s not fair, a novel by the charity’s founder Aneeta Prem, which aims to raise awareness of forced marriage. It also runs training programmes for key front line staff including teachers.

Chief executive Vineeta Thornhill said: “We all need to look for warning signs that someone might be about to become a victim.” The charity’s education work also aims to change the hearts and minds

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Support for Freedom Charity

of potential perpetrators. “It’s not just the parents who insist on forced marriages, it’s also brothers and cousins,” she said.

The practice goes beyond south Asian communities as an increasing number of Turkish and traveller families are involved. Ms Prem said: “Education is key: trying to change the hearts and minds of young men, the perpetrators of the future, is vital,” she said. www.freedomcharity.org.uk

in their reading attainment and in 2014 74 per cent of children progressed by at least two sub-levels after three terms support. But we need more volunteers to continue to make a real difference to children’s lives.”

Save the Children, Beanstalk and NAHT are part of the Read On, Get On campaign, a national coalition project which aims to get children reading well by age 11 by 2025.

For more information about volunteering and to find out where Save the Children is running the Born to Read programme, call the charity’s volunteer support team on the number below or visit the website.

020 7012 6997 savethechildren.org.uk/borntoread tinyurl.com/readongeton

Fast growth for Futures More than 1,600 primary schools and 1,800 teachers have registered for the free Primary Futures programme, giving them access to volunteers, information and other resources to help children make connections between what they learn and their futures.

Recent sessions at NAHT conferences in York and Barnsley drew large numbers of school leaders, said Steve Iredale, NAHT past president and Primary Futures project manager.

“We have had a positive response from delegates as we have been able to share the potential of Primary Futures with examples of how our project can have an impact on individual children and on schools and localities,” he said. www.primaryfutures.org

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NEWS ROUND-UP NEW YEAR HONOURS

School leaders rewarded in New Year’s Honours list It’s nice to be reminded that being a school leader isn’t always a thankless task when it comes to government interference.

According to the Cabinet Office, 10 per cent of honours are for work in education and its education committee recommended 30 head teachers for this year’s New Year’s list.

Two of the most prominent among the 30 are Dame Kate Dethridge and Dame Oremi Evans (pictured).

Reading’s Churchend School’s head teacher Dame Kate, an associate director of the National Education Trust and chair of a DfE group writing new standards for teaching assistants, said it was a “huge surprise and an amazing honour”.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” she said. “Education is the only thing I have ever known, it is my absolute passion. Any success I have had has always been about the teams and the children I have been lucky enough to work with.”

She has led Churchend school for the past 17 years, seeing it become a National Support School and twice being rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Her school held a special assembly to mark the occasion and presented their head teacher with a Waterford Crystal vase, engraved with her new title and the date.

Dame Oremi has been head of the Brookfield School in Hereford for 13 years, during which it has been judged ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted three times.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said she had received her award in part because she was “head teacher of the only special school to receive three consecutive ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgements”.

Dame Oremi said: “I was very surprised but at the same time incredibly honoured. But any success that I’ve had is because of the team of people I work with – you don’t work alone and this isn’t about me as an individual, it’s about what we as a team have achieved.”

Another significant award was bestowed on Sir John Townsley. He oversees the Morley and Farnley academies in Leeds, both of which are rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and also a free school, the Ruth Gorse Academy, which opened last September.

Sir John became principal of the Gorse Academies Trust in 2010. Under his leadership, two of the four academies that make up the trust have gone from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘outstanding’.

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The following school leaders are among those awarded honours for services to education.

Knighthood John Townsley, executive principal, The Gorse Academies Trust, Leeds Damehoods Kate Dethridge, principal, Churchend Primary School, Reading and National Leader of Education Oremi Evans, head teacher, The Brookfield School, Herefordshire CBE Catherine Garside head teacher, St Ambrose Barlow RC High School, Swinton, Salford Judith Salter, head teacher, Glenwood Special School, Essex OBE Gulfaraz Ahmed, head teacher, Parkinson Lane Primary, Halifax Lorraine Allen, principal, Whitley Academy, Coventry Adam Chedburn, head teacher, Whitley Bay High School, Tyne and Wear Dr Lesley Curtis, head teacher, Everton Nursery School and Family Centre, Liverpool John Dahlstrom head teacher, Hope Special School, Wigan David Hudson, executive head, Wickersley School and Sports College; Rawmarsh Community School and Clifton Community School, Rotherham Nicholas Simon Hurn, executive head, Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead; St Robert of Newminster School, Sunderland Richard Millington, executive principal, Chepping View Primary School, Buckinghamshire John Morris, head teacher, Ardleigh Green Junior School, Havering Dr Anne Murray, principal, Oakgrove Integrated Primary and Nursery School, Londonderry Maura Regan, principal, Carmel College and chief executive, Carmel Education Trust MBE Geoffrey Dunn, principal, Ballysally Primary School, Coleraine Stephen Hill, deputy head teacher, St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Shaw, Oldham Florence Mairs, principal, Straid Primary School, Ballyclare Brendan McCusker, principal, St Mary’s Primary School, Maguiresbridge, Northern Ireland Judith Miln, deputy head, Clapton Girls’ Academy, Hackney Mohammad Aslam Rashud, head teacher, John Summers High School, Flintshire Eunice Walters, head teacher, Brynhyfryd Primary School, Neath, Wales Deborah Withers, lately head teacher, Wren Spinney Special School, Kettering Medallists of the Order of the British Empire Tracy Cullen, SBM, Queensbridge Primary School, London Janet Inglis, deputy head teacher, Immanuel College, Bradford If we have missed anyone, please let us know: naht@redactive.co.uk

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VIEWPOINT

Opinion Change the record THE ELECTION OFFERS A CHANCE TO TACKLE EDUCATION IN A RADICAL WAY – WITH THE PROFESSION

RONA TUTT VIEW FROM A PAST PRESIDENT

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s we approach the general election, one thing is clear. Whichever politicians are standing, all will say they want to improve education and raise standards.

They will also believe their party is the only one able to deliver this. But whoever is in government, they will be wrong, because every party starts from the same false premise. What is wrong is the belief that a political party has the solution. So, here are my pointers for the secretary of state for education in post after the election.

Embrace fairness It is not fair to judge schools on a combination of dubious data and the wisdom of Wilshaw. Performance tables cannot accurately reflect the unique combination of circumstances of schools in terms of their pupils, the families from which they come and the community in which they are situated.

Data is there to raise queries, not to answer them, and, in any case, columns of statistics can only give a partial picture of standards in a particular school. Study league tables and you will discover a pattern. When results appear to be improving, it is attributed to grade inflation. When standards appear to be declining, headlines in the

press scream that schools are failing.

There is a simple answer; abandon the idea that data is a fair way to judge schools and give groups of schools the responsibility for improving each other, as is being successfully achieved in some areas now.

It is not fair “ to judge schools on dubious data and the wisdom of Wilshaw

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Use common sense Successive governments have come up with ideas about what pupils should be taught, how the curriculum should be assessed and schools held to account. From the multitude of items that had to be recorded on the original early years foundation stage profile to the 27 judgements that Ofsted used before reducing them to four, politicians have created a system where endless paperwork is seen as being of greater value than having time to teach children.

If the profession had been involved, the original national curriculum, which fitted into an assortment of colour-coded ringbinders but did not fit into the hours of the school day, would never have been invented. Mr Gove said levels had to go because parents found them too hard to understand, yet in their place are performance descriptors and a scaled score that only parents who are statisticians may be able to understand.

Practise humility I apologise for using the word arrogance but I cannot think of another word that adequately reflects the way the profession has been treated by successive secretaries of state. The scandal of an overwhelming and unnecessary workload caused by constant ill-considered change and the waste of money this has involved has been the direct result of the failure to involve teachers and to respect their professionalism.

You have a chance to be different, to recognise that school leaders and those they lead know most about how to improve schools. By working with the profession, you could make a real difference to standards in schools and to the educational experiences of young learners. Why not give it a try?

Rona Tutt is a retired head teacher and a past president of NAHT

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HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

Lest we forget Holocaust education has been the subject of a government education committee recently, chaired by head teacher Dame Helen Hyde

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iven the uncertain times in which we live, Holocaust memorial day took on a greater significance this year.

The national day of commemoration, held on 27 January, is dedicated to the remembrance of those who suffered in the Holocaust under Nazi persecution – and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

It was first held in 2001, the date

marking the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of Auschwitz.

This year’s remembrance was particularly significant for NAHT member Dame Helen Hyde, head teacher at Watford Grammar School for Girls, because she has been chairing a government education committee seeking the public’s views on the future of Holocaust education and commemoration. Dame Helen tells Life why it matters so much.

Why is Holocaust education important, to you personally and for young people today?

Members of my family died in the gas chambers at Sobibor and I have been involved in Holocaust education for many years. Future generations need the historical knowledge – it is an event that happened on their doorstep, within their grandparents’ lifetime and they need to learn how racism, prejudice and stereotypes occur and what happens if

THE NATIONAL HOLOCAUST CENTRE The centre at Laxton is a fantastic resource for schools, writes Sally Bates, head teacher at Nottingham’s Wadsworth Fields Primary School Holocaust education is essential to ensure we continue to learn the lessons of how easily a society can be manipulated so it cannot happen again. The message from Holocaust survivors at Laxton is that genocides continue and we need to develop global understanding and tolerance to combat it.

Children in key stage two have the capacity to understand these issues. They can also empathise with the survivors who are alive to re-tell their experiences.

A school visit is an opportunity to reflect on what sort of citizen they want to be, what sort of society they would like to create and how to be critical of governments that

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persecute individuals and groups. Some parents were anxious about the visit but all were supportive.

Some of the staff were moved to tears by the experience and the children appreciated why this should be. So many young people see death and suffering through TV programmes, computer games and internet images. This was real – and people affected were physically present.

There is a calendar of speakers at Laxton but the opportunity to listen to survivors will not be available for much longer. My abiding memory is listening to someone who described arriving at Auschwitz to be met by Josef Mengele.

www.holocaustcentre.net

01623 836 627

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SUPPORT FOR RIGHTS RESPECTING SCHOOLS An initiative that links well with Holocaust education is the Unicef UK Rights Respecting Schools Award (RRSA). It seeks to put the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the heart of a school’s ethos and culture. It is based on principles of equality, dignity, respect, nondiscrimination and participation.

Unicef says: “We work with primary schools, secondary schools, schools for children with SEND and pupil referral units to promote a child-rights based approach and to share good practice in improving outcomes for children and young people.”

NAHT gives RRSA its full backing because there is clear evidence it makes a positive difference. A 2014 survey from more than 300 rights respecting schools head teachers shows the following: • 99 per cent believe it has a positive impact on relationships and behaviour • 99 per cent believe it contributes to children and young people being more engaged in their learning • 98 per cent believe it has an impact on children’s and young people’s positive attitudes to diversity and overcoming prejudices • 96 per cent believe that working on RRSA improves children’s and young people’s respect for themselves and others

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• 75 per cent believe it has a positive impact on reducing exclusions and bullying

people don’t counteract that from day one. In other words, it’s to stop students from being bystanders and turning them into thinking, caring citizens.

Is enough time devoted to the Holocaust in schools?

It really varies. Research shows that teachers are keen to teach it but there is very little time in the curriculum and, while it is compulsory, some schools will give it an hour while others do it in much more depth. The time pressures from the curriculum are huge but it must remain compulsory.

How much time does your school devote to it?

We do it in units so, for example, we start with basic prejudice – stereotyping, your own prejudices and the development of prejudice – in year nine. We spend a substantial amount of time looking at that and it moves slowly into the Holocaust. They look very carefully at life before the Holocaust and then they spend time looking at Holland and Anne Frank.

We look at bystanders, collaborators,

www.unicef.org.uk/rrsa

perpetrators, rescuers and resistance.

In the holidays, we take a group to Amsterdam, where the girls hear from a Dutch survivor.

In year 10, the history department teaches the historical context and timeline, while the moral issues are studied further in religious studies.

Later, we take groups to Auschwitz and look at the other victims, such as Poles, homosexuals and people with disabilities. We also have a programme called ‘Linking the dots’ where we look at other genocides, such as in Rwanda.

When the girls reach sixth form, I run a Holocaust conference with university academics and workshops. We also invite more than 20 survivors who talk to the students in small groups.

What advice would you give other school leaders?

For me the value is embedded in the school ethos and a focus on tolerance, understanding and mutual respect. My hope would be that every head sees the absolute importance of this, no matter what the ethnic makeup of their school is. All the research indicates that

students really want to learn about this, but they need time to learn about it. I should also point out that there are some wonderful websites around, such as those created by the Imperial War Museum and the Holocaust Educational Trust (see links, below) – look out for the latter’s 70 Voices app – and the centre in Laxton (see panel, left).

Finally, what’s the latest on the government committee on Holocaust education?

The consultation has now ended, but we had more than 2,000 submissions.

I was privileged enough to run the education group, which included two expert historians in this area, Simon Sebag Montefiore and David Cesarani.

We looked at all sorts of possibilities regarding curriculum and training.

We delivered our findings to the Prime Minister on 27 January and I’m pleased to report he has accepted all the recommendations made by the commission. www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-holocaust www.het.org.uk

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GENERAL ELECTION The election is an opportunity to find out how politicians will support NAHT’s ideas, says Russell Hobby

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olitics and education mix badly. Indeed, the resulting solution is often highly toxic. Unfortunately, the coming general election has only brought the two closer.

For example, we were treated to ‘education week’ in the campaign recently, which involved a variety of threats and punishments, matched by a studious refusal to examine any actual evidence about what works.

Yet it is important to remember that these campaigns produce more heat than light and so, to get behind the headlines, we asked the various political parties to answer detailed questions on their policies. This produced a warm endorsement of NAHT’s effectiveness from the current secretary of state – although I’m not sure whether that would hurt or harm us if we put it on our recruitment materials.

We also asked the politicians which of NAHT’s ideas and policies they would support. This marks an interesting position for us. We have our own manifesto, Owning what is ours (see right), and we have our own vision of what an effective education system should look like.

We are therefore not solely interested in what politicians want to do to us, but how they will help us work towards our own ideals. We are a union of leaders and we have more freedom than we realise. We do not need to wait for permission, but can get on with building the education system we want to see.

It may be that no single party achieves overall power in May and we might not be subject to the same driving ideological approach we have experienced over the past few years.

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The temptation could be to heave a sigh of relief and get back on with the job. But that would be a mistake.

Even if we have a period of calm, politics will intrude again eventually.

Our goal should be to build a bulwark of professional leadership that can stand against political interference should it ever return.

There are two parts to our strategy to achieve this. We need to take back ownership of standards and we need to take responsibility for each other. The past years have been a paradoxical combination of interference and neglect – interference in the detail of classroom practice combined with neglect of the resources, support and infrastructure that schools need to thrive.

We can prevent interference and counteract neglect by taking ownership of standards and responsibility for each other. When parents see school leaders expressing their vision and ambition for education it will crowd out the room for politics and, by looking out for each other, we can build our own infrastructure of school to school support.

Taking back ownership It has been pleasing to see how many of our ideas are already working their way into the debate, from investment in early years to fairer admissions to better inspection. We have also begun work on many projects of our own.

Our NAHT Aspire project has reached an important milestone, with more than half the schools inspected since it began receiving a ‘good’ inspection rating. Our alternative to Ofsted, Instead, is being piloted in the Midlands and is demonstrating that peer review can be a viable alternative to the current adversarial inspection regime. We also had hundreds of middle leaders sign up to the new NAHT Edge section of the association when it was launched, helping to fulfil our duty to the next generation of leaders in education.

We really can use the opportunities ahead of us to take back ownership of what is ours.

Russell Hobby is NAHT general secretary

NAHT MANIFESTO: OWNING WHAT IS OURS In May 2014, Russell Hobby brought NAHT’s annual conference to its feet with his commitment to a bold manifesto designed to put the profession in the driving seat of education reform.

The applause signalled the assent of a proud profession ready to rise to the challenge. His message was simple: if we don’t want to be told what to do by successive governments, we need to crowd out the interference by setting our own high standards and accountability measures.

Mr Hobby said: “It is time for the profession to lead – working with parents and politicians to put an end to the drama and to create change with reach and endurance. We are ambitious for our schools; we should not allow others to supplant our ambitions with their soundbites. When aspects of our education system are not working, we should be the first to admit it and the first to address them.

“If we uphold the highest standards, there is no excuse for others to intervene. Our schools contain some of the most dedicated professionals and talented leaders in the country. Teachers are listened to whenever they speak honestly about the system. We will be stronger, and reform will be more effective and enduring, if we make it ourselves.

“Consequently, this is not just a set of demands or a wishlist of policies to make our lives easier. This begins as a project for the profession. It is partly a plan for how we will make things better, how we intend to deliver real lasting change that reaches every child in every school.

“We could certainly use help, so we invite members of all parties to support us. And we provide suggestions for how. The prize – a profession properly engaged with reform – is surely worth the effort of building a new partnership.”

Key themes of NAHT’s manifesto: 1. Restoring the pride in teaching 2. Refining accountability 3. Rebuilding relationships between the profession government and the public 4. Strengthening the bonds between schools Key proposals to make the above happen: 1. The establishment of a college of teaching 2. The introduction of an office of education responsibility to plan and manage reform 3. Priority for early years in funding and status 4. A move by school leaders to lead critical reviews of schools 5. Fairer admissions policies which fast-track pupils from low-income families Read the full NAHT manifesto www.naht.org.uk/manifesto

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Health Mind the gaps DEMENTIA DIAGNOSIS RATES ARE EXTREMELY LOW: ALTHOUGH THERE WILL SOON BE APPROXIMATELY 850,000 PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA IN THE UK, FEWER THAN HALF WILL HAVE A DIAGNOSIS

Helpline: 0300 222 1122 9am to 8pm (Monday to Wednesday), 9am to 5pm (Thursday and Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday and Sunday)

www.alzheimers.org.uk

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ISTOCK

D

ementia describes a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language. It is caused when the brain is damaged by diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or a series of strokes.

Dementia is progressive, which means the symptoms gradually worsen, although treatments exist that give temporary respite and relief. Currently, there is no cure.

Confirming a diagnosis is often difficult, particularly in the early stages. The GP is usually the first clinician to see the patient who may then be referred to a consultant.

Assessments can include conversations with the person being diagnosed and those close to them, a physical examination, memory tests and brain scans. The mini-mental state examination (often abbreviated to MMSE) is the most commonly used test for complaints of memory problems or when a diagnosis of dementia is being considered.

It’s important to remember that becoming forgetful does not necessarily mean you have dementia. Memory becomes less reliable as a normal consequence of the ageing process.

It can also be a symptom of stress or depression. In rare cases, dementia-like symptoms can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies or a brain tumour.

Even if the diagnosis is dementia, there is a lot that can be done after a diagnosis to support someone to live well with the condition. When a person with dementia finds their mental abilities are declining, they often feel vulnerable and in need of reassurance and support. The people closest to them need to do everything they can to help the person to retain their sense of identity and feelings of self-worth.

A diagnosis shouldn’t stop people being in control of their lives or doing many of the things they enjoy.

Having said that, it’s worth thinking about the practical implications, such as driving, legal decisions, employment, money and benefits. Planning for the future can make things easier to manage later on, so make sure you take advantage of all the help available to you.

If you have concerns about any kind of dementia, the Alzheimer’s Society can provide information, support, guidance and signposting to other appropriate organisations.

SPOTTING THE SIGNS Research has identified many risk factors associated with dementia. However, it is impossible to eliminate every single one, especially as advancing years is a predominant factor.

While it is possible to develop dementia early in life, the chances of doing so increase dramatically with age. One in 50 people between the ages of 65 and 70 have a form of dementia, compared with one in five people over 80.

Some of the first signs of Alzheimer’s include lapses in memory and problems with finding the right words. Things to look for include: • Memory problems: for example, forgetting the way home from the shops, or an increasing inability to remember names and places.

• Mood changes: this is because the parts of the brain that control emotion become affected by disease. People with dementia may also feel sad, frightened or angry about what is happening to them.

• Communication problems: for example, a decline in the ability to talk, read and write.

Source: Alzheimer’s Society

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Recipe Pork and pumpkin curry GILL MELLER WRITES: THIS IS A GREAT MEAL FOR A FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT. IT’S ONE I MAKE WHEN I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS OVER. IT CAN BE COOKED A DAY OR TWO IN ADVANCE AND IS ALL THE BETTER FOR IT. IT FREEZES WELL TOO, SO YOU CAN MAKE A BIG BATCH TO STOCK UP THE FREEZER INGREDIENTS SERVES SIX 750g lean shoulder or leg of pork 750g pumpkin 2 tbsp lard or oil 1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced 200ml coconut milk Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper TO FINISH A good handful of coriander, leaves only, roughly chopped A generous squeeze of lime juice FOR THE CURRY PASTE 4 cloves 1 star anise 1 tsp black peppercorns 3 tsp cumin seeds 3 tsp coriander seeds 10 cardamom pods, seeds extracted 50g fresh root ginger 4 garlic cloves 1 small onion 1 tbsp curry powder ½ tsp salt

METHOD Start with the curry paste. Using a pestle and mortar, grind the cloves, star anise, peppercorns, cumin, coriander and cardamom seeds together to a fairly fine texture.

Peel and roughly chop the ginger, garlic and onion; put in a blender with the ground spices, curry powder and salt. Blitz, adding just enough water to form a purée.

Cut the pork into 3cm to 4cm cubes. Peel and de-seed the pumpkin and cut into large cubes; set aside.

Heat the lard or oil in a large, wide pan. Season the pork with salt and pepper, add to the pan and cook until well browned. Turn down the heat a little and add the curry paste. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring regularly to ensure the spices don’t burn.

Add the onion to the pan and cook for a few minutes until softened, then add the pumpkin and cook for a further five minutes. Pour in enough water to just cover the pork and pumpkin.

Extract taken from: Pigs & Pork (River Cottage Handbook No.14).

Published by Bloomsbury, £14.99, hardback

Put the lid on the pan and simmer over a low heat for 20 to 30 minutes until the pork is tender.

Stir in the coconut milk and heat through. Adjust the seasoning if necessary, then stir through the chopped coriander. Finish with a good squeeze of lime.

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SHUTTERSTOCK

Travel

The land of fire and ice COME RAIN, SNOW OR SHINE, ICELAND HAS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER THE MORE INTREPID TOURIST, WHATEVER THE SEASON

F

or many people, mainly because of the northern lights, Iceland is a winter destination. However, if you like daylight and a semblance of warmth, Iceland in winter is not ideal. In December and January, sunlight only emerges around 11am and it’s gone by 4pm. Temperatures barely edge above freezing as a result. Also, it’s fair to say that many of the island’s lesser-known attractions are better left for later in the year.

The waterfalls thunder with melted snow in the spring while the whale watching tours are packed during July and August. What follows is Life’s handy guide to Iceland’s top attractions – when you go is up to you.

Northern lights The best time to see the aurora borealis light up the night sky is from October to March and it’s advisable to stay for at least five nights to give yourself a good chance of seeing them. Clear skies and moonlit nights offer the best chances.

The ‘golden circle’ Gullfoss (‘golden falls’) is a dramatic waterfall in southwest Iceland. Together with Þingvellir National Park and the geysers of Haukadalur, it forms part of a popular day trip from Reykjavík. The most famous geysers are Strokkur and Geysir, which gives others their name. Strokkur erupts every five to 10 minutes, whereas the bigger Geysir erupts four to five times a day. There are also more than 40 other hot springs, mud pots and hot air vents in the vicinity.

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Whale watching Winter is the best time to see killer whales in Iceland, but summer is the time to spot minke and sperm whales. Other species often sighted in the warmer months include blue, fin, humpback, pilot and sei whales. White-beaked dolphins can be seen in both summer and winter.

Blue lagoon (pictured) A geothermal hot spring which, it’s said, has healing properties and feels like the most soothing bath of your life.

Bathing at thermal springs is a popular pastime in Iceland and a visit just before dusk is recommended to experience its delights during daylight and in the dark.

Other attractions If you’re keen to see an active volcano then Eyjafjallajökull is very much alive and kicking; Viking history is brought to life at the Saga Museum in Reykjavík; wonderful views can be enjoyed from the tower of the Hallgrímskirkja church; and Breidavík is reputed to be Iceland’s most beautiful beach.

ICELAND ON THE WEB www.visiticeland.com wikitravel.org/en/Iceland www.theguardian.com/travel/iceland www.cntraveller.com/guides/europe/iceland www.wanderlust.co.uk/planatrip/destinations/europe/iceland

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Recycle your magazine and seven days later it could come back as your newspaper.

The possibilities are endless.

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17/11/2014 16:36

Cryptic crossword

LIFE MEMBERS’ REGIONAL GROUPS Please email naht@redactive.co.uk or telephone 020 7880 7666 with any additions or changes AVON ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED HEADS AND DEPUTIES Beatrice Murray Tel: 0117 962 0573 or Daphne Spitzer Tel: 0117 950 4936 BATH, N.E. SOMERSET & WEST WILTSHIRE Anna Grayson Tel: 01225 742 877 Email: annagrayson@icuknet.co.uk BOLTON RETIRED HEADS ASSOCIATION Brian Essex Tel: 01706 221 028 Email: essexbrian@hotmail.com

Across

Down

1 4ac,4dn, 1ac, 25ac, 2dn, 4dn A dickens of an opener for the entente cordiale.

(2,3,3,4,2,5,2,3,3,5,2,5) 9 A clever reader only needs your mnemonic for ICT. (7) 10 Batman confronts, say, Emperor or King. (7) 11 The greatest bird a naturalist introduces. (5) 13 Paddington and Pooh get mixed up in weaponry. (5) 15 See 3dn.

16 Spirit found on the shelf without any noise. (3) 17 Knowledge about four is an absolute. (5) 19 Sounds like fear on firmer ground. (5) 21 What examiners do with a test and jewellers with a stone. (3,2) 23 Good weaver in the dark. (5) 24 A tree that can be found Tashkent. (3) 25 30dn, 4dn, 25dn Estimable tent het up in maths’ lessons perhaps. (3,3,5,5) 26 What you do at 12 4dn. (5) 28 Usually decimal. (5) 29 The British Legion at a National Trust premiere is conspicuous. (7) 31 Leaderless PM is a national. (7) 33 Coming out, English to join Norman church. (9) 34 Kylie might ‘thing’ this wearing very little. (5)

1 Messy pen stains are unbecoming. (9) 2 See 1ac.

3 15ac, 4dn Source of information but only available once a week. (6,5) 4 Not further defined.

5 Thespian shows intuitive powers. (3) 6 Wise man bets on this. (5) 7 Stormy weather below with Thor’s leaders. (7) 8 Good-time New York is a joke. (5) 12 4dn Set to rise, these solar periods. (5,5) 14 Stop sweetheart playing this. (5) 18 ‘Fashionable set’ gave hazy expression. (5) 19 Singular 4dn for rhythmic pace. (5) 20 See 22dn.

(22) 25ac, 4dn, 22dn, 20dn Bob’s prophecy with a little good added. (3,5,4,3,1-8) 24 Tart decorated by style movement. (3,4) 25 See 25ac.

26 Jargon for southern confused cherubim without drug. (5) 27 Capri zealot to cherish. (5) 30 See 25ac.

32 Model joins painter to blow the whistle. (3)

Compiled by Life members Gale Freshwater and Anthony Hunt.

Answers to the crossword can be found on page 3.

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LINCOLNSHIRE RETIRED HEADS SOCIAL GROUP Gini Smith Email: vasmith@ hotmail.com or Malcolm Shore Email: berilldon@aol.com LONDON BOROUGH OF SUTTON Janet Overell Tel: 01737 556 684 LONDON RETIRED HEADTEACHERS’ SOCIETY Don Crispin Tel: 020 8651 5330 NAHT CYMRU Carys Brown Tel: 01656 650 685 Email: carysbrown@gmail.com

BRADFORD Pamela Reader Tel: 01535 631 628 NORFOLK RETIRED Email: Les33pam@talktalk.net HEADTEACHERS Jill Wigy Tel: 01603 432 115 or BURY (LANCASHIRE) Bill English Tel: 01362 850 433 LIFE MEMBERS GROUP Dorothy Bailey Tel: 0161 766 NORTHERN IRELAND 3972. Email: dorothoy.bailey Dr Desmond Hamilton @ntlworld.com Tel: 028 9076 0731 Email: desmondhamilton@ CORNWALL btinternet.com Christine Williams Tel: 01288 355 075 Email NORTH EAST chriswilliams04@btinternet.

Eric Fisk Tel: 01669 620 112 com or Jan Allen, Email: cloudcottage@fsmail.net Tel 01872 863 090. Email bullseyeallen@btinternet.com NORTH WEST Stephen Hyde COVENTRY AND Tel: 01253 825 415 Email: WARWICKSHIRE stephen.hyde@sky.com Yvonne Rich 11 Field House, Priory Road, NORTH YORKSHIRE Kenilworth, Warks CV8 1RA Sue Lonsdale, York.

Tel: 01904 744 209 Email: DONCASTER sue.lonsdale@tiscali.co.uk Mike Townsend Tel: 01302 728 032 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Email: mickayt@tiscali.co.uk Robert Tristram Tel: 0115 926 3909 ESS-EX HEADS Email: rtristram2@sky.com Moreen Healy Tel: 01245 472 773 or Helen Jackman OLDHAM Tel: 01277 822 247 Ossie Millar Tel: 0161 624 7268 GWENT WAKEFIELD (two groups) John Granger Recently retired heads: Tel: 01633 769 684 Email: Colin Moran john.granger@ntlworld.com Tel: 01924 240 494 Email: cmoran@nahtwf.force9.co.uk KENT AND MEDWAY HEADREST Senior retired heads: Jean Pilcher, 34 Sandown Alwyn Peel Email: alwyn.

Drive, Rainham, Kent ME8 peel@ntlworld.com 9DU. Email: jeanpilcher@ hotmail.com WESSEX LEEDS RETIRED HEADS Ralph Cooper SOCIAL GROUP Tel: 01202 513 101 Email: ralphandcarole.

Peter Spencer cooper@ntlworld.com Tel: 01943 872 722

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