By Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe, John Alban-Metcalfe and Ian Briggs. Reproduced by permission of the Public Management and Policy Association. Leadership styles in the public sector are influenced by demands to meet targets. The authors argue that this can result in inappropriate styles and conflict between values. From extensive research across local government and the NHS they outline a leadership model which embraces target setting but includes other dimensions which lead to transformational leadership.
The standard of initial teacher training has improved, but the training providers could do better. This is the conclusion of the education watchdog, Ofsted, after analyzing inspectors’ reports for the last four years and comparing them with reports from the previous four years.David Bell, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools said: Today’s newly qualified teachers are the best trained ever. The quality and improvement in primary and secondary teacher training reflects the responsiveness of providers to demands for change and their commitment to producing well-trained teachers.”
Chancellor Gordon Brown’ s announcement in the Budget that some public service activities and staff would be moved from London and the South East to the regions and nations of the UK has been put into effect with the launch of the study phase. Sir Michael Lyons, Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies and Professor of Public Policy at the University of Birmingham, has started work on the independent review into the scope for re-location. His remit is to look at ways of modernising Government and improving delivery of public services while, at the same time, securing good value for money and quality outcomes for the taxpayer.Sir Michael wants to hear the views of interested parties on the advantages and disadvantages of decentralisation and of re-location of public sector jobs. Past re-locations led to over 10,000 jobs being transferred out of London and he wants to learn lessons from those exercises. Many businesses have been particularly successful in re-locating out of high cost of living areas, particularly by taking advantage of advances in modern technology and electronic communications to allow people to be based away from the operational centre. He wants the views of businesses that have been involved in re-location. He would also like to hear about the strengths of locations outside London and the South East. Contributions should be sent to lyons.consultation@hm-treasury.gov.uk
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