The DfES is again advertising for School Improvement Partners (SIPs) for secondary schools. SIPs are designed to be a 'critical friend', offering a mix of support and challenge.

The DfES is particularly keen to attract applications from serving headteachers, and others with secondary headship experience. They envisage that SIPs who are secondary heads will commit to 19 days per year to suppor three schools. Clearly, this commitment will not be appropriate for all headteachers, and heads will need to have the support of their governing body for their application.

We hope that serving heads who are able to apply will consider doing so in order to ensure that other schools are able to benefit from their experience in leading a Catholic school.

Further information is available from the SIPs website: www.ncsl.org.uk/sips. The closing date for applications is 13th March 2006.