
Stuart's story on directed time
Stuart Jones, NEU leadership member, Lydgate Junior School (Sheffield)
Schools and colleges need to be effectively led by leaders and managers who are well supported and developed to meet and succeed in an immensely challenging education environment.
NEU is the second largest union for leaders and managers across the entire education sector. School leaders and college managers are vital to the NEU as they are in a strong position to influence and implement policy. The union sees the great value of supporting and helping to develop ethical leaders who lead and shape the future of education.
The NEU understands the complex and professionally demanding work done by school leaders and college managers. We offer advice that will assist leaders in finding their way through these challenges. We support leaders to stand together with other educational professionals to inform NEU policy that benefits teaching and learning and the education system.
On this page you can find advice and information for leaders on:
DfE funded training course for senior mental health leads in schools and colleges
The NEU has released the first in a set of films highlighting how Ofsted is not fit for purpose and is gathering the experiences of leaders for this campaign.
We want to hear our members thoughts and lived experiences of the inspectorate. Specifically, we would like to hear from members who have had recent Ofsted inspections in their school or college who feel the inspection had an impact (either positive or negative) on pupil learning. Contact Jill.Stokoe@neu.org.uk.
The NEU is gathering the experiences of leaders for an upcoming campaign on Ofsted. We want to hear our members thoughts and lived experiences of the inspectorate. Specifically, we would like to hear from members who have had recent Ofsted inspections in their school or college who feel the inspection had an impact (either positive or negative) on pupil learning. Contact Jill.Stokoe@neu.org.uk.
As part of the NEU Leadership support and advice package you will have access to:
The NEU’s supplementary evidence responds to the Government's evidence to the STRB and sets out our opposition to the Government's plans to impose more real terms cuts on the teaching profession. The evidence can be found with other pay campaign materials here.
The Spring/Summer 2022 joint union (GMB, NASUWT, NEU, UNISON, UNITE) guidance can be found here. We have updated this checklist to support leaders to put in place appropriate measures that will keep both students and staff safe. By following our guidance, schools and other settings can seek to minimise the risk of disruption.
See also NEU advice on planning for and responding to Covid-19 outbreaks in schools and checklist for staff sickness absence policy.
The Department for Education if offering a £1,200 grant for a senior member of school or college staff to access training to implement an effective whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing in your setting. The grant is provided to cover the cost of attending a course and may also be used to hire supply staff whilst leaders are engaged in learning.
Leadership educators continue to make a huge contribution during this pandemic, working well over what is expected in contractual terms. School Leaders deserve a fair workload, during a time when there is political pressure for recovery education.
As ethical leaders, the importance of addressing directed time can effectively begin to tackle workload for you and your staff. Listen to Headteacher and NEU President, Robin Bevan, talking about why he places importance on the directed time calendar in his school.
Let us know the the positive stories you have around directed time and workload.
Stuart Jones, NEU leadership member, Lydgate Junior School (Sheffield)
Elizabeth Savage, Designated Safeguarding Lead at Jennett's Park CE Primary, Bracknell Forrest
The national CPD programme includes several leadership programmes and masterclasses desined to support you at every stage of your leadership journey.
Leaders are continuing to make incredible efforts to maintain student’s education and staff wellbeing in the face of the current crisis.
Access more videos and articles on the Remote Education Hub which puts educational professionals at the heart of developing practice which supports teaching and learning during lockdown.
Headteacher and NEU president, Robin Bevan, presents in this video, the Code of Ethical Leadership in Practice and gives examples of how he has used it in his school context. Download the guide below.
These documents aim to help develop and assist your thinking as a leader and your approach to leadership, applying the NEU’s principles of ethical leadership.
The contract of employment is the basis of the relationship between employer and employee. When disagreement arises the terms of the contract and evidence that they apply are very important.
Managing your staffing structure in the right way is one of the toughest challenges school and college leaders face.
To help NEU Leadership members review their school or college’s policy on social networking and avoid the potential pitfalls of use of social media.
As a school or college leader, you occupy a position which can allow you to make your voice heard in support of good causes, whether educational or wider community issues.
It is essential that every establishment has a clear, robust complaints policy that allows complaints to be the subject of fair and thorough investigation.
Many school leaders will face difficulties in securing pay progression, while college leaders will face constraints across the board due to funding pressures.
This assessment tool was drawn up by the Further Education Safety & Health (FESH) forum to provide education institutions with a strategy to help them meet their health and safety responsibilities
Join the NEU's Leadership member community to offer and seek support, share best practice and shape the future of education.
The National Education Union is committed to bringing you the best professional development and union training.
An online platform to support NEU members in delivering and sharing best practice