Press releases
Education policy must move beyond political football
21 February 2012
Commenting on Labour Shadow Education Minister Stephen Twigg’s announcement today on setting up an Office For Educational Improvement more>>>
ASCL welcomes change in regulations to deter term time holidays
20 February 2012
Many secondary schools have refused to authorise term time holidays for a long time and new regulations proposed by the government more>>>
Inspection based on threats and intimidation will not raise standards
9 February 2012
ASCL strongly refutes the allegation that schools serving challenging areas are ‘making excuses’ for not achieving results more>>>
Welsh LAs must not abdicate responsibility in order to meet government targets
7 February 2012
ASCL Cymru Council has become alarmed that many local authorities are expecting school to take on responsibility for services at short notice more>>>
Continual barrage of derogatory announcements will lead to exodus of school leaders
6 February 2012
Responding to remarks made in the Sunday Times by chief inspector Michael Wilshaw that there are 5,000 underperforming headteachers more>>>
Remit for STRB urgently needed
02 February 2012
ASCL welcomes the announcement that Dame Patricia Hodgson has been appointed chair of the School Teachers Review Body more>>>
ASCL accepts government’s latest pensions offer ‘with reservations’
30 January 2012
After a long and intense discussion, ASCL’s Executive has accepted the outline ‘Heads of Agreement’ more>>>
School balance data shows schools are planning for leaner times ahead
26 January 2012
Information released today on school balances shows schools are tightening their belts as the more>>>
League tables do not raise standards
23 January 2012
Commenting on the school performance tables which are due to be published this week for England more>>>
New Ofsted grades must be based on sound and reliable evidence
17 January 2012
Responding to the announcement that Ofsted will be scrapping the ‘satisfactory’ judgement in inspections more>>>
No notice detentions send right message to pupils and parents
16 January 2012
Responding to the confirmation by the Secretary of State that the requirement for schools to give 24 hours notice about detentions is removed from today more>>
Performance management is not about sacking teachers
13 January 2012
ASCL welcomes the performance management model policy put forward by the government today...>>>
ICT curriculum needs rethink
11 January 2012
In response to Michael Gove’s announcement today that the current ICT curriculum will be scrapped from this September, more>>>
No notice will not make inspection more effective
10 January 2012
Moving to no-notice inspections for all schools, announced today by the new chief inspector Michael Wilshaw, will not improve more>>>
ASCL response to the Secretary of State’s speech on academy conversation
04 January 2012
No educational professional in the country is ‘happy with failure’ ASCL refutes the suggestion made by the more>>>
The appointment of local schools commissioners would be a U turn for government.
28 December 2011
In response to the proposal by Sir Michael Wilshaw that Michael Gove should appoint local school superintendents more>>>
ASCL welcomes decisive actions of Ofqual
21 December 2011
ASCL very much welcomes the clear set of Ofqual recommendations to awarding bodies following its more>>>
ASCL will consider latest pension scheme proposals
20 December 2011
After a prolonged and often difficult period of negotiations over the Teachers’ Pension Scheme... more>>>
ASCL comment on National Curriculum review
17 December 2011
Responding to the report in the Daily Telegraph today on plans for the National Curriculum... more>>>
Constant tinkering undermines GCSEs
15 December 2011
Constant tinkering with GCSEs undermines the reliability of the tests and increases the risk of... more>>>
16-19 funding not sufficient for increasing participation age to 18
14 December 2011
Although the ministerial statement on 16-19 funding statement released yesterday takes some... more>>>
Government puts cart before horse in accepting teacher standards
12 December 2011
It is perplexing that the government has accepted the recommendations of the Independent Review of... more>>>
Open and unbiased investigation needed of exam accusations
9 December 2011
Don’t assume the whole exam system is rotten because of a few rogue employees, ASCL has said in response... more>>>
ASCL welcomes health warning on PISA comparisons
7 December 2011
ASCL welcomes the report from the University of London published today, which shows that much more care... more>>>
Investing in NPQH must be a priority
6 December 2011
The government must continue to invest in training for school leaders if it is to ensure a high-status... more>>>
Work with schools, not against us, ASCL Cymru tells minister
1 December 2011
At its annual conference today (Thursday) in Cardiff, ASCL Cymru will call on the Welsh government to... more>>>
Response to autumn budget statement
29 November 2011
Responding to the Chancellor’s autumn budget statement, ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said... more>>>
ASCL reaction to Michael Gove speech on pension reform
28 November 2011
While Michael Gove’s comments on ‘militant union leaders’ was ill-advised and reckless, the overall... more>>>
ASCL comment on strike action
25 November 2011
Although ASCL’s 15,000-plus members - who are the senior leaders of secondary schools and colleges... more>>>
Ofsted must safeguard its independence
22 November 2011
Schools and colleges should be praised for the improvements in the education system reflected in the... more>>>
PPC/ASCL affiliation launched at AoC conference
16 November 2011
Principals in general FE and sixth form colleges are joining forces to lobby with one voice on pensions... more>>>
Legitimate reasons for GCSE early entry
14 November 2011
The government’s assumption that schools encourage students to sit GCSEs early only to boost league... more>>>
Ofsted must be prepared for changes in teacher training
31 October 2011
The changing landscape of teacher training means that Ofsted must be prepared to adapt its inspection... more>>>
Students deserve fit for purpose university application system
31 October 2011
After 50 years of outstanding service to applicants and the higher education sector, it is the right... more>>>
Draft Standards for Master Teachers
21 October 2011
Laudable ‘Master Teacher’ designation poses more questions than answers. Commenting on the announcement... more>>>
Ofsted must ensure a level playing field as inspections get tougher
30 September 2011
A sharper focus to school inspection is welcome, says the Association of School and College Leaders... more>>>
Apprenticeships need parity of esteem
28 September 2011
A university-style point system for apprenticeships would help to raise their credibility as a path to... more>>>
Executive heads’ role should be formally recognised
22 September 2011
With the Ofsted report published today emphasising the success of school federations in raising standards... more>>>
Ring fencing pupil premium goes back on government promise
21 September 2011
Responding to the announcement that Nick Clegg will ring fence £50 million of the £625 million... more>>>
Comparison site doesn’t help parents
13 September 2011
Parents should not be encouraged to choose a school in the same way they choose car insurance, says the... more>>>
Education workers to hold mass lobby at Parliament to protest pension cuts
6 September 2011
Up to 25,000 teachers and lecturers will gather at Parliament on Wednesday, 26 October in a mass lobby... more>>>
Government has not ‘mitigated risks’ with free schools
5 September 2011
In response to Nick Clegg’s comments in a speech today on how the free schools programme will improve... more>>>
Common sense approach to safeguarding welcomed
2 September 2011
The Ofsted report published today on good practice in safeguarding puts a welcome emphasis on pragmatic... more>>>
ASCL welcomes rethink on recording use of force
1 September 2011
Responding to Michael Gove’s statement today that he will not go ahead with legislation to require... more>>>
Accountability measures put pressure on GCSE entry
25 August 2011
In response to the GCSE results released today, ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman said:“Congratulations... more>>>
Welsh GCSE results show encouraging improvements
25 August 2011
In response to the Welsh GCSE results announced today, ASCL Cymru Secretary Gareth Jones said:“As... more>>>
ASCL warns against taking hope and aspiration from successful GCSE students
22 August 2011
In advance of the GCSE results due to be published this Thursday Brian Lightman General Secretary said:“Sixteen... more>>>
A level results show students know importance of maths and science
18 August 2011
The continued rise in students taking maths and science A levels shows that the messages from employers... more>>>
Students taking advanced Welsh Bac have head start
17 August 2011
Commenting on today’s A level results, ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman says:“Congratulations... more>>>
ASCL says the unfettered expansion of schools in areas where there is no shortage of places will do nothing to repair our communities
16 August 2011
Responding to the announcement by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles yesterday Brian Lightman General... more>>>
Wrong to force pupils to take triple science
12 August 2011
Responding to the call from the CBI today (Friday) for all young people who achieve good grades in science... more>>>
Government Advisory Group voices concerns on widespread destruction of Careers Services for Young People
9 August 2011
The Advisory Group on the All-Age Careers Service established by the Government has been reconstituted... more>>>
Parliamentary report into E-bac welcomed
28 July 2011
The Education Select Committee’s report into the English Baccalaureate published today backs many... more>>>
Pension contribution increase could be last straw
28 July 2011
Reacting to the announcement today that the Treasury intends to impose an increase on pension contributions... more>>>
Beware of misleading data, warns school leaders’ union
20 July 2011
Parents could be making false assumptions about schools by unintentionally misusing data tables released... more>>>
Mixed messages over league tables could disadvantage students
20 July 2011
The proposed reform of performance table could disadvantage students in terms of access to appropriate... more>>>
School Funding Reform Consultation
19 July 2011
Whilst the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) welcomes the publication of the consultation... more>>>
Secondary school leaders will consider action over pensions
19 July 2011
The statement to Parliament today by Danny Alexander outlines some positive progress in the negotiations... more>>>
The additional capital funding is welcome but schools need a longer term capital plan
19 July 2011
The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) believes that although there are many positive aspects... more>>>
KS2 assessment moving in the right direction
18 July 2011
The government’s acceptance of the recommendations in the Bew Review on Key Stage 2 testing is... more>>>
No notice Ofsted visits will not improve behaviour
14 July 2011
Ofsted’s pilots of no notice monitoring visits for behaviour, announced today, fly in the... more>>>
Pupils with medical issues should not be labelled persistent absentees
12 July 2011
Arbitrary targets for persistent absence will not help to address the complex problem of truancy, says... more>>>
Universities must reach out to all students
8 July 2011
It is not a surprise to learn that a large number of Oxbridge students come from a small number of schools,... more>>>
Avoid a repetition of today’s disruption, ASCL urges government
30 June 2011
ASCL members fully understand and share the anger of those teachers who have reluctantly taken industrial... more>>>
Stop tinkering with GCSEs
27 June 2011
It would be inappropriate and a waste of money to introduce changes to the GCSE exam structure now, says... more>>>
Teacher training doesn’t need fixing
27 June 2011
The proposed changes to initial teacher training set out for consultation today are a solution to a problem... more>>>
ASCL comment on SoS strike letter to schools
23 June 2011
Responding to the letter sent to schools and local authorities today by the secretary of state regarding... more>>>
KS2 tests not just about accountability
23 June 2011
The Bew Review of Key Stage 2 testing published today is a move in the right direction, says the Association... more>>>
Response to Treasury announcement on pensions
17 June 2011
On the announcement today that the Treasury intends to push ahead with increased contributions and a... more>>>
Threats and perverse incentives not the best way to raise standards
16 June 2011
In response to Michael Gove’s remarks today about measures to increase standards in ‘failing’... more>>>
“Feelings running high” amongst all staff regarding pensions
15 June 2011
In response to the news that ATL and NUT have backed strike action by their members, ASCL General Secretary... more>>>
Pension cuts threaten education reform
10 June 2011
ASCL and NAHT, the two professional associations representing the vast majority of school and college... more>>>
