Feature Articles

School governors have a key role to play in the safeguarding of children. Public enquiries and investigations into child deaths and abuse have consistently highlighted the need for everyone to work together on protecting children, and for those in influential positions in organisations working with children to have a clear understanding of safeguarding policies, procedures and duties. Martin Hodgson reports.

John Fowler writes on the Children and Families Bill and the statutory arrangements behind the new National Curriculum.

For some time, concerns have grown that children are more vulnerable to asbestos fibres than adults. It has been suggested that, as a child’s lungs are still developing, he or she may be more vulnerable to contracting asbestos-related diseases than adults. With asbestos in schools such an emotive issue, this is clearly a sensitive question. Nigel Bryson considers the challenges ahead.

As the pathfinder programmes continue to trial the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform proposals, Suzanne O’Connell considers the emerging messages.

Michael Evans talks about the retention of DNA samples taken from children and young people by the police and the effect of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which is coming into force in October 2013, on current practice.

Michael Evans takes a look at how the Disclosure and Barring Service’s Update Service works and at the rules about filtering historic cautions and convictions.

Governors do not manage a school. That is the role of the Head and the senior leadership team. However, says Martin Hodgson, governors are responsible for influencing the strategic direction and vision of the school and for supporting the Head and his or her staff in achieving that vision.

Despite its drive to convert as many schools as possible to academy status, freeing them from the requirement to follow the National Curriculum, the Government is pushing ahead with its programme of changes to the latter. Tony Powell looks at the proposals for change and assesses what impact they will have on schools.

John Fowler reports on the special educational needs (SEN) Code of Practice and the related clauses in the Children and Families Bill 2012-13.

Nigel Baker of Lexicon Employment Law Training focuses on some recent developments in the education field.