Issue 134 - 2025 Summer term

Issue 134 - 2025 Summer term

Leader, the magazine of the Association of School and College Leaders, reaches and influences the decision makers of today and tomorrow.

Interactive edition

Lifesaver
When bad luck plunged a family into crisis, ASCL's Benevolent Fund came to the rescue.
  • Your Association
  • Membership

Where will the chips fall?

Pepe Di’Iasio: Education faces unease and uncertainty, with key developments expected to take shape in the months ahead.
  • Your Association
  • General Secretary

A true privilege

It has been an honour to serve you as ASCL President over the past year.
  • Your Association

ASCL influence
Julie McCulloch: How ASCL is working on your behalf to influence government policy.
  • Your Association
  • Policy

ASCL UK

The latest information from our colleagues across the nation - Cymru, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
  • Your Association

Building a sustainable school culture
Key takeaways from the first Greener Schools Index.
  • Features
  • Sustainability

Evolution not revolution
Professor Becky Francis CBE provides members with an update on the progress of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
  • Features
  • Curriculum

Improving attendance
The latest research on how to effectively address student absence.
  • Features
  • Attendance

Investment! Investment! Investment!
The challenges FE colleges face in this severely underfunded and neglected sector.
  • Features
  • Funding
  • FE

Reception Baseline Assessment
Key changes from Autumn 2025.
  • The Know Zone
  • Primary

Where are we now?
Latest updates on T levels and other Level 3 technical qualifications.
  • The Know Zone
  • FE

Embracing AI
A reflection on the AI journey in business functions in schools, colleges, and trusts.
  • The Know Zone
  • AI

Securing your future
Not all pensions are created equally, and members need to act while they are young to protect their retirement future.
  • The Know Zone
  • Pensions

Are you retiring?
Continue to be part of our great community when you retire from a school or college leadership role, with ASCL Associate membership.
  • Your Association

Under review
For this issue, we asked ASCL members to share their views on the interim report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review. Here’s what they said…
  • Viewpoint
  • Curriculum

The Great Escape

Assistant Headteacher Melissa Jackson shares her passion for ASCL Council, school leadership, and escape rooms!
  • Profile

In the news
ASCL has been quoted widely in the media over the recent period on a range of issues.
  • News and Guidance
  • Your Association

Guidance: Court of Appeal decision on exclusions
The Court of Appeal recently clarified several issues surrounding student exclusions.
  • News and Guidance

Guidance: Employment law developments

Significant changes to employment law.
  • News and Guidance

Equality, diversity and inclusion
ASCL is committed to supporting and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) among school, college and trust leaders, and in our own organisation.
 
 

Guidance: Managing AI-generated complaints

How schools and colleges can effectively manage AI-generated correspondence.
  • News and Guidance

Guidance: New DfE statistics on exclusions
Latest data on suspensions and permanent exclusions across state-funded schools.
  • News and Guidance

Guidance: Novel, contentious and repercussive transactions
The DfE has issued new guidance for academy trusts.
  • News and Guidance

Guidance: Understanding PFI expiry
Affected schools must prepare for the transition and plan early.
  • News and Guidance

Guidance: Arranging alternative provision (AP)
Details of the recently updated guidance.
  • News and Guidance

We’re here for you

Details of all the great benefits of your ASCL membership.
  • Your Association

[Anti] Social Media
Carl Smith issues a rallying cry for us to break free and seize back control of social media.
  • Last word
  • Social media
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