Deputy Directors of Policy Julia Harnden and Tom Middlehurst highlight how ASCL’s policy team has been working constructively with the government and others on key education issues over the last few months.

Shaping the Future of Education: ASCL’s policy work in action

As the education landscape continues to shift, ASCL remains at the forefront, championing the voice of school and college leaders, influencing policy, and driving change that matters. From pay settlements to inspection reform, our policy team is working tirelessly to ensure that your concerns are heard and acted upon.

Funding and Pay: Fighting for fairness
The 2025/26 pay awards have once again highlighted disparities in recognition. While teachers received a 4% increase, support staff were offered 3.2%, and business leaders continue to be undervalued. We are pushing for their inclusion in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) to ensure parity.

The additional funding via the School Budget Support Grant (SBSG) was welcome, however schools are expected to absorb 1% of the cost, placing further strain on already stretched budgets. Our September funding survey has provided critical evidence to challenge this expectation and advocate for a more sustainable funding model.

Spending Review and Autumn Budget: What’s next?
The June Spending Review set out modest growth in per-pupil funding (0.9% real terms annually) and capital investment (1.3%). But the devil is in the detail. We await the Autumn Budget in November to understand how these figures will translate into actual allocations. The results of our funding survey with ASCL members will be central to our discussions with the DfE on adequacy and fairness.

Teacher Pay and Working Hours: A welcome shift in timing
The School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) remit for 2026/27 and 2027/28 includes a review of working hours, a long-overdue conversation. We’re pleased the process timeline is being brought forward, allowing better budget planning and reducing the stress of late announcements. This is something that ASCL has been calling for, for a long time.

Improving Education Together (IET): Promise and pitfalls
Our involvement in the IET partnership offers a platform to influence workforce development, accountability, and SEND. However, progress is slow at times and coherence across subgroups and DfE initiatives remains a challenge. We continue to push for alignment and tangible outcomes.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: Advocating for practicality
We’re actively engaging with policymakers on the following key concerns:

Breakfast clubs: Funding must reflect the true cost of quality provision.
Uniform policy: A cap on costs may be more effective than limiting branded items.
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) requirement: We’re urging caution, especially given the recruitment crisis and its impact on special schools.

Employment Rights Bill: Preparing for change
With Royal Assent expected this autumn, we’re working with ASCL’s industrial relations team to develop guidance and tools to support members through the legislative changes, both as individuals and as employers.

Inspection Reform: Supporting members through transition
Ofsted’s revised framework, launching in November, reduces evaluation areas and introduces new grading terminology. But, in truth, they're minor and cosmetic changes to a flawed rationale, and the implementation remains far too rushed. We remain gravely worried about the reliability of the new system and its impact on leader and teacher wellbeing. It feels as though lessons simply haven't been learned. We’ve responded with webinars, FAQs, and ongoing member engagement to ensure our members are supported (see here), and ASCL will continue to represent your best interests on this with Ofsted and the DfE.

SEND Reform: Reframing the narrative
Education, health, and care plans (EHCPs) are often blamed for budget pressures, but we argue that they are victims of an underfunded system. We’re advocating for a phased approach to SEND reform and a funding model that ensures transparency and sufficiency across all stakeholders.

Protecting Student Choice: A call to rethink qualifications reform
We’ve raised serious concerns with the Minister for Skills, Baroness Jacqui Smith, about the removal of applied general qualifications (AGQs). These pathways are vital for many young people, and their loss risks increasing not in education, employment, or training (NEET) rates. We’ve asked for a two-year extension to allow for a smoother transition.

Other key developments:
Free school meals (FSM) Expansion: From September 2026, eligibility will include all families on Universal Credit, something that we have long campaigned for.

Skills policy shift: Responsibility has moved to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with implications for NEET reduction strategies. We await the skills white paper for further clarity.

ASCL is here to represent, support, and empower you. Every conversation, survey, and meeting helps us shape policy that reflects your reality. Thank you for your continued engagement. Together, we are shaping the future of education.