At the third national #WomenEd unconference in Sheffield, Amy Jeetley spoke about how brilliant teachers don’t always make brilliant leaders. I absolutely agree, and would say that although the skills are in some ways related (getting the best from the students you teach/getting the best from the colleagues you lead), leadership demands something specific from us. Working with and through other adults is a challenge of a different nature to being an excellent classroom practitioner. So what is it that DOES make for effective educational leadership at all levels (middle leadership, senior leadership, headship, executive headship), and what are the tools every leader needs to have in their toolkit and draw on?

What does the modern school leader need to ensure best practice for staff and pupils? We asked five pre-eminent experts - here’s what they recommend:

Schools and academies are urged to be more aware of the forthcoming changes to data protection at all levels of the organisation. To help schools, colleges and other education institutions navigate their way through the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and get plans off the ground, Arena Group has set up a free, practical webinar.

Christalla Jamil is very proud of her school, and it’s easy to see why. All evidence points to London’s Eastfield Primary being a tremendously happy, vibrant place, with a real emphasis on developing each pupil as a healthy individual. Christalla was kind enough to take some time to talk school leadership and how ‘Easty’ achieves excellence.

Primary school leaders now have a new self-evaluation process that helps them to tighten teaching, learning and administration. The team behind celebrated admin tool Educater have unleashed their latest resource: SEFonline, an online self-evaluation tool that supports SLT staff in preparing for Ofsted inspection visits and shaping their school improvement plans.

Teaching and learning is the key to success! Teachers know it, and Ofsted tells everyone! So why can't we get it right in every school? We know that if teaching is deemed to be good and outstanding, then the outcomes should represent this, and therefore so should the Ofsted grading. So easy, right?

Catrin Parry-Jones, headteacher at West Earlham Junior School in Norwich, discusses how her school has raised standards and attainment:

Throughout the world, movements are emerging to ensure excellent practices are being embedded into whole-school approaches to teaching and learning, so that holistic, whole-child development is promoted, enabling every young person to build confidence in their abilities and flourish.

This month’s editorial theme, Accelerating Creativity, really resonates with me. As the headteacher of a start-up school that was designated as a STEM school, we have rebranded it as a STEAM school. The Aureus team are passionate about the Arts being at the heart of our school; we are committed to nurturing the hearts and the minds of our community.

Simon Bush is headteacher at The Green Way Academy in Hull. We sat down with him to discuss his work as chair of the Hull Association of Primary Headteachers (HAPH), as well as what the organisation is achieving for schools in the city.