ASCL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026

13-14 March |The ACC, Liverpool

About

ASCL Annual Conference is an opportunity for school, college, and trust leadership teams to benefit from a wide range of professional development workshops, hear from high-profile keynote speakers, visit our extensive education exhibition, and network with colleagues from across the UK.
 
The theme of our 2026 conference is Forward Together, reflecting the association’s aim of working in partnership with policymakers and parents to find solutions to challenges and celebrate the excellence of our education system. It comes amidst significant government reforms and delegates will be able to hear directly from Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
 
Ticket prices have been reduced from 2025, and group booking discounts are available.
 
In response to delegate feedback, we will be hosting a drinks reception on Day 1 instead of the Annual Dinner. This will provide further opportunities to network with colleagues in a more relaxed environment.
 
If you have not been to our conference before, please see our highlights video from 2025 to get a flavour of what to expect. Watch it here.

Keynote speakers

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Bridget Phillipson MP

Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities.

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Sir Martyn Oliver

HMCI Ofsted

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Colin Jackson CBE

Olympic champion, broadcaster, and inspirational speaker

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Frank Cottrell-Boyce

Children's Laureate and award-winning children’s book author

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Susie Dent

Writer and broadcaster

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Sal Naseem

Award-winning public servant and best-selling author

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Katriona O’Sullivan

Professor, Maynooth University and psychologist and memoirist

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Evelyn Forde MBE

Author and former headteacher

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Jo Rowley

ASCL President 2025-26 and Deputy Headteacher, Walton High School

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Pepe Di'Iasio

ASCL General Secretary

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Anu Manthri

Head of Google for Education, UK and Ireland

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Grace Kelly

Head of Digital Transformation, UK and Ireland, Google for Education

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Fiona Law

Head of New Partnerships and Engagement, UK and Ireland, Google for Education

2024 delegate feedback

"This was a very well organised and run conference. The range of speakers was excellent and really supported me in some of my own thinking. I genuinely left feeling it had been a very worthwhile event."

"I thought the conference was excellent (and it was my first time)."

"It was good to hear from others who have a real understanding of educational leadership and understand how incredibly challenging it is but through the sense of how important it is to support each other in rising to meet that challenge."

"It was my first ASCL conference and didn't disappoint - great venue and food but more importantly, the keynotes were interesting and sometimes inspirational and the variety of workshops was impressive!"

"The day was excellent, speakers were varied in what they were presenting on and I left with good ideas, some challenging some supporting my ideas/schools steps."

Travel Information


TRAIN
ACC Liverpool is a short taxi or bus ride away from Liverpool Lime Street station and its direct services to London that take a little over two hours.

BUS
Many bus routes serve the bus station at the Liverpool ONE retail development, just a five-minute walk from ACC Liverpool.

CAR
Less than 20 minutes from the motorway network and adjacent to Liverpool’s main through road.

AIR
Liverpool John Lennon Airport features charter and low-cost scheduled flights to a range of domestic, European and international destinations.

Accommodation

The Conference is non residential and accommodation is not included in the conference fee. Accommodation (if required) can be booked through our agent, Reservation Highway. We have several hotels near the ACC in Liverpool to suit all tastes and budgets.
 
You can book your accommodation online by email admin@reservation-highway.co.uk or by phone on 01423 525577. 
 

Sponsors

ASCL ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2026