Issue 138 - 2026 Autumn Term

Julia Harnden and Tom Middlehurst explore the pivotal role of ASCL Council and how its strategic approach to policy provides a guiding light in uncertain times.

Recordings are an increasingly common and contested part of school and college life. Deborah Allen explains how policies, boundaries and well-trained staff can protect everyone without limiting reasonable access.

Schools that keep children safest are those that embed safeguarding into everyday culture, where professional curiosity, shared responsibility, and decisive action shape every conversation, behaviour, and leadership decision says Delyth Lynch. 

Each year, we report back to members on what we’ve been doing on your behalf, and how we spend our budget in providing member support, communications and representation.
 
Here is our report for 2026.

Improving school attendance starts with understanding what lies behind absence says Senior Research Manager at the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Dr Emma Moore. Here, she highlights the latest findings.

With prevailing working conditions affecting the sustainability of school improvement and leadership capacity, Chris Ingate looks at one school that is prioritising staff wellbeing as a key strategic objective.

Kathryn Morgan and Professor Toby Greany argue that sustainable school and college leadership requires more than managing workload. For reform to succeed, leaders need the capacity and agency to lead it.

Headteacher Manny Botwe says he is proud to return as Acting President and play his role alongside all of you in making the lives of children and young people brighter.

The Autumn Budget takes place on Wednesday 28 October, and ASCL has put in our submission to the Treasury.

As financial pressures reshape the independent school sector, collaboration, creativity and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking are becoming essential to building sustainable futures says Neil Smith.

The role of the sixth form leader has always been one of the most complex in education and today, says Claire Green, it is becoming even more demanding.

The 2026 School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document (STPCD) brings many significant changes, more than we have seen in many years says Louise Hatswell. Here, she highlights what this means for schools.

Emma Harrison and Louise Hatswell explore the recent government publication to the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) consultation response.

Family court proceedings do not pause over the summer.

By 31 December 2026, all mainstream schools will need to ensure they have published an inclusion strategy.

New rules are now in place for schools and academies directing pupils off-site.

England's attendance crisis is now driving school-specific accountability

S.61 of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 came into force on 29 June, introducing a duty of co-operation between schools/academies and local authorities (LAs) in carrying out their functions with regard to place planning.

The government's proposed ‘data spine’, a national infrastructure to link pupil records, attendance, attainment, pastoral and health data across every school in England is an ambitious proposal in the schools white paper.

Associate membership allows you to remain part of a trusted professional community while embracing the next chapter.

ASCL has been quoted widely in the media over the recent period on a range of issues.

The fund is here to support you when you most need it.

We invited members to share their hard-earned wisdom for anyone beginning a leadership journey, and here is what they said…

Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Jacqueline Straw relishes the opportunities that come with serving on ASCL Council. Here, she shares her passion for Council, leadership and pen making.

If attendance is now a crisis of pupils simply not wanting to come to school, perhaps all we need is a better incentive. Cake, birthdays and a named minibus could surely do the trick says Carl Smith.

ASCL members are welcome to arrange a no-obligation demonstration or discussion and receive a free trial of the SMID platform.