Our news and press releases

According to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders, the most common problem headteachers have faced in providing Covid tests to pupils for the full reopening of schools is obtaining parental consent.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru, comments on the plan for Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils to return to schools in Wales for ‘wellbeing catch-up sessions’.

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Mental Health
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on today’s Budget announcement.

• Financial planning
• Budget
• Finance
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Wednesday’s Budget and the priorities for education.

• Funding
• Budget
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the latest statistics on school attendance.

• Leadership
• Teaching
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the interim advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) over phase 2 of the Covid vaccine programme.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Vaccination

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government’s plans for awarding grades this summer following the cancellation of exams.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Appeals
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Grading

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the education recovery package announced by the government.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Prime Minister’s statement on the full reopening of schools.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru, comments on the proposed full reopening of primary schools and the return of exam-age secondary pupils in Wales on February March 15.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Cymru
• Health and safety
• Examinations
• Secondary

Nine education organisations have joined together to issue a statement on the wider opening of schools and colleges in England. This statement is issued ahead of the Prime Minister’s expected announcement on Monday. The signatories are the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), GMB, National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), NASUWT, National Education Union (NEU), National Governance Association (NGA), Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA), Unison, and Unite.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer at ASCL Northern Ireland, comments on the proposed phased reopening of schools in Northern Ireland from Monday 8 March.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Health and safety
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) about the catch-up plans for the four UK nations. 

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Coronavirus
• EPI
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the UCAS undergraduate application analysis.

• Post-16
• FE
• Careers
• UCAS
• University
• Post-18
• College

Organisations representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England have united in opposing the Government’s pay freeze.

• Pay
• Recruitment and Retention
• STRB
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government letter about avoiding the use of school buildings for polls on 6 May. 

• Business Leadership
• Planning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to ongoing speculation about extending the school day and summer term.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Children’s Commissioner’s report on gang involvement and youth violence.

• Leadership
• Pastoral
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Community

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru comments on the return to primary schools of the youngest pupils in Wales on 22 February.

• Cymru
• Wales
• Primary
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

A set of principles to ensure that students are assessed fairly following the cancellation of exams in England has been drawn up by six education unions and professional associations.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• FE
• Governors and Trustees
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• T Levels
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus
• Secondary

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on the national food voucher scheme.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Business Leadership
• Resources
• Procurement
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Free school meals

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the first wave of the school rebuilding programme.

• Funding
• Business Leadership
• Finance
• Health and safety
• Resources

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on figures from UCAS about a shift towards technology-based degrees

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the latest school attendance statistics.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Parents
• Planning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer for ASCL Northern Ireland comments on the announcement of changes to the qualification system for summer 2021.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• FE
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus
• Secondary

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies on the cost of lost schooling.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Financial planning
• Finance
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute’s proposals on exams and grading in 2021.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Coronavirus
• Grading

The Association of School and College Leaders today warns that plans for assessing GCSEs and A-levels in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic must not become exams by another name.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Grading

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer for ASCL Northern Ireland, comments on the announcement that schools in Northern Ireland will not reopen before March 5.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru, comments on the announcement that the youngest pupils may return to primary schools in Wales following the February half-term holiday.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Wales
• Primary
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Education Endowment Foundation study on the impact on KS1 pupils of disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Key Stage 1
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report by the Education Policy Institute and The Prince’s Trust on the mental health and wellbeing of Generation Z.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Social Media
• Mental Health
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee on the financial sustainability of colleges.

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• Finance
• Government
• College

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the announcement that the full reopening of schools is planned to begin from 8 March.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Parents
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the question of the full reopening of schools, and research published by Ofsted on remote education.

• Teaching
• Ofsted
• Health and safety
• Parents
• Planning
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute’s research about Covid-related teacher and pupil absences in the autumn term.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Sutton Trust’s report, ‘Learning in Lockdown’.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Digital
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper.

• Funding
• Post-16
• Career Progression
• Government
• University
• Post-18

Eithne Hughes, Director of ASCL Cymru, comments on the announcement of changes to the qualification system for summer 2021. 

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the decision on the use of lateral flow tests in schools and colleges.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on government statistics on school attendance and delivery of laptops.

• Leadership
• Funding
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Digital
• Attendance
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to Ofqual’s consultation on arrangements for assessing GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications in summer 2021.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Ofqual

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Secretary’s letter to Ofqual setting out further detail on the arrangements for replacing exams. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on funding announced to support T-levels.

• Funding
• Post-16
• T Levels
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government’s announcement of extra laptops to support disadvantaged pupils to learn at home.

• Funding
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Digital
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofsted’s press release about remote education.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Inspection
• Ofsted
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Education Secretary’s statement today about arrangements for GCSEs, A-levels, and other qualifications following the decision to cancel this summer’s exams.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Northern Ireland, comments on the decision to cancel GCSE, A-level and AS exams in Northern Ireland this year.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on the decision of the Welsh Government to move schools and colleges to remote learning until 18 January. 

• Leadership
• Teaching
• Cymru
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the Prime Minister’s announcement about the spring term in England.

• Leadership
• Teaching
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the situation regarding plans for the start of the spring term. 

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

An emergency meeting of ASCL’s executive committee held this afternoon agreed to call on the government to move all schools and colleges in England to remote education for at least the first two weeks of the spring term in the light of rising Covid infections and the impact of the new variant of the virus.

• Teaching
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the Education Secretary’s announcement today on arrangements for the spring term in England. 

• Funding
• Post-16
• Health and Wellbeing
• Primary
• Health and safety
• Government
• Early years
• Coronavirus
• Secondary
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the government guidance published today on rapid Covid tests in schools and colleges. 

• Health and safety
• Planning
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Education Policy Institute (EPI) report, ‘Assessing Covid-19 cost pressures on England’s schools’.

• Funding
• Business Leadership
• Finance
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• EPI

Education unions and associations have today joined together in advising secondary schools and colleges that they are not required to begin mass Covid testing from the start of the spring term.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on government plans for secondary schools in January.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Secondary
• Remote learning

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the arrangements set out today for assessing GCSEs, AS levels, and A levels in Wales in 2021.

• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Coronavirus

Three education unions – ASCL, NAHT and NEU – are today making a statement on the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB) and the remit given to it yesterday by Gavin Williamson.

• Pay
• Teaching
• STRB
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofsted’s latest briefing on its autumn visits.

• Ofsted
• Finance
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to today’s announcement by Greenwich council over end-of-term arrangements.

• Teaching
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on government plans to roll-out rapid Covid lateral flow tests in schools and colleges.

• Funding
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Northern Ireland regional officer at the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to plans announced in Northern Ireland today for exams in 2021.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the situation regarding Covid infection rates and the final week of the school term.

• Teaching
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Remote learning

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the Welsh government’s decision to move to online learning in secondary schools and colleges in Wales from Monday 14 December. 

• Cymru
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Secondary
• Remote learning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on plans for Covid testing of secondary school-aged children in parts of London, Essex, and Kent. 

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Risk assessment

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the publication of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019.

• Funding
• Learning
• Curriculum
• Recruitment and Retention

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 49 school attendance statistics. 

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on news that schools will be allowed to take an inset day on Friday 18 December. 

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Planning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the government’s announcement on GCSEs and A-levels in 2021.

• Inspection
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Performance Tables
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the National Foundation for Educational Research report ‘The implications of Covid-19 on the school funding landscape’.

• Funding
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the National Audit Office report into the free school meals voucher scheme.

• Funding
• Pastoral
• Government
• Free school meals

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Week 48 school attendance statistics.

• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman’s comments, in launching her annual report, on the plight of vulnerable children.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the call by Independent SAGE for urgent action to address escalating Covid infection rates in schools.

• Learning
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the additional funding to support the costs of staff absences in schools and colleges.

• Funding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Chancellor’s spending review announcement.

• Pay
• Funding
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 47 school attendance statistics published today by the Department for Education.

• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to reports that public sector workers, including teachers, face a pay freeze next year.

• Pay
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 46 attendance statistics from the Department for Education. 

• Teaching
• Learning
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the recommendations of Universities UK’s Fair Admissions Review.

• A Levels
• University

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the paper published today by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies on children and Covid transmission.

• Learning
• Health and safety
• Mental Health
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Education Secretary’s plan to review the university admissions system.

• Post-16
• Government
• University
• Post-18

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the letter setting out the Education Select Committee’s findings over what went wrong with the awarding of GCSE and A-level grades this summer.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Ofqual
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofsted’s second report into the impact of the Covid pandemic.

• Funding
• Teaching
• Learning
• Ofsted
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels in Wales in 2021.

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 45 attendance statistics for schools in England.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute’s recommendations for GCSEs and A-levels in England in 2021.

• Assessment
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Planning
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the announcement of a £170m Covid Winter Grant Scheme and the expansion of the Holiday Activities and Food Programme in 2021.

• Funding
• Pastoral
• Health and Wellbeing
• Government
• Free school meals

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the lockdown guidance for schools issued today by the Department for Education.

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the IFS analysis of funding for further education and sixth forms in its annual report on education spending in England.

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• Government

Geoff Barton, ASCL General Secretary responds to the Prime Minister’s announcement that schools will remain open in a second national lockdown in England.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to research from the Sutton Trust showing most university applicants favour a move to post qualification applications.

• Post-16
• A Levels
• Coronavirus
• University
• Post-18

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report from the Education Policy Institute ‘School attendance rates across the UK since full reopening’.

• Health and safety
• Examinations
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, and Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comment on the recommendations from Qualification Wales over next summer’s GCSEs, AS and A levels in Wales. 

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 43 school attendance statistics published by the Department for Education today.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the government’s continued refusal to extend free school meal provision over the half-term holiday.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Kevin Gilmartin, Post-16 and Colleges Specialist from the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government’s announcement on the next stage of the overhaul of post-16 qualifications.

• Post-16
• FE
• A Levels
• BTEC
• T Levels
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the defeat of a Commons motion to extend free school meal provision into holiday periods until Easter 2021.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Government

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Week 42 school attendance figures published today by the Department for Education.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Jim Retallick, National Officer at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the arrangements for schools during the planned two-week ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales.

• Cymru
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Labour’s call to extend the provision of free school meals to school holiday periods until spring 2021.  

• Funding
• Health and Wellbeing
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the independent report into school spending in Wales.

• Funding
• Cymru
• Wales
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the latest Department for Education school attendance statistics.

• Ofsted
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus
• Attendance

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to plans for GCSEs and A-levels in 2021 outlined by the Secretary of State for Education today.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to UCL research which warns that primary school testing and inspections will do more harm than good if they go ahead as normal.

• Primary
• Accountability
• Ofsted
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute (EPI) report, ‘Education policy responses across the UK to the pandemic’.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the IPPR report ‘The New Normal: The future of education after Covid-19’.

• Funding
• Budget
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer of the Association of School and College Leaders in Northern Ireland, comments on changes to Northern Ireland exams in 2021.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Government
• Northern Ireland

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the latest Department for Education school attendance figures published today, showing the proportion of fully open secondary schools decreased from 84% on Thursday 24 September to 82% on Thursday 1 October.

• Key Stage 3
• Key Stage 4
• Government
• Secondary

Five education organisations, representing school leaders, teachers, and governors, have submitted a set of joint proposals to make next summer’s A-levels and GCSEs as fair as possible amidst the ongoing disruption of the Covid pandemic.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Coronavirus

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on talks this afternoon between education organisations, Schools Minister Nick Gibb, Ofqual Interim Chief Regulator Dame Glenys Stacey, and Department for Education officials, regarding plans for GCSEs and A-levels in 2021.

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government’s response to the removal of the outstanding exemption consultation.

• Inspection
• Ofsted

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on school attendance statistics published by the Department for Education today, which show the number of secondary schools fully open has fallen from 92% to 84%.

• Key Stage 3
• Key Stage 4
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Secondary

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on plans set out by the Prime Minister to transform the training and skills system.

• Funding
• FE
• Government
• Post-18

Funding for pupil catch-up support could be almost entirely wiped out by the cost of the Covid safety measures that schools have put in place in order to fully reopen, the Association of School and College Leaders has warned.

• Funding
• Coronavirus

Kevin Gilmartin, post-16 specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to UCAS analysis showing more students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK are set to start degrees this autumn.

• Post-16
• UCAS
• University

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the UCL-led research about teacher wellbeing during lockdown.

• Health and Wellbeing
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the school attendance figures published today.

• Learning
• Health and Wellbeing
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on teacher training applications.

• Employment
• Funding
• Teaching
• Recruitment and Retention
• Careers

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the IFS report about school funding in England.

• Funding
• Finance
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the National Audit Office report on the financial sustainability of colleges in England.

• Funding
• Post-16
• Government
• Coronavirus

Three associations representing school leaders and governors have written jointly to the Prime Minister to express mounting concern about difficulties in obtaining Covid tests and accessing timely advice from local health protection teams.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the evidence of the Secretary of State for Education to the House of Commons Education Committee over the process for awarding GCSE and A-level grades this summer.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Government

ASCL response to Ofqual's reply to our proposal to address some remaining injustices around centre-assessed grading. 

• Assessment
• Post-16
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Four education unions – ASCL, NAHT, NEU and Voice – have today written to education secretary Gavin Williamson regarding the Government’s response to the recommendations of the 30th report of the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). The deadline for submissions is today.  

• Conditions
• Employment
• Pay
• Funding
• Recruitment and Retention
• Finance
• Government

ASCL leader Geoff Barton today warned that the work of schools and colleges in reopening to all students is being undermined by widespread problems in accessing Covid-19 tests.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to comments by Schools Minister Nick Gibb about the process for awarding grades this year, and next summer’s exams

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Ofqual
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Ofqual’s evidence to the House of Commons Education Select Committee regarding the awarding of grades this summer. 

• ASCL
• Assessment
• Post-16
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Ofsted’s plans to visit schools and colleges in the autumn term.

• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the statement by the Secretary of State for Education on qualification results and school openings for the autumn term.

• Leadership
• Funding
• Assessment
• Finance
• Examinations
• Resources
• Ofqual
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Labour’s call to push back the date of next year’s GCSE and A level exams in England. 

• Assessment
• Post-16
• FE
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Four education unions have written to the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, calling for an urgent and independent inquiry into what went wrong with the process for awarding grades in A-levels, GCSEs and other qualifications this summer.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leader comments on government guidance published tonight on contingency planning for schools.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Planning
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus

Our statement on this year's exam grading process.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on news that Department for Education permanent secretary Jonathan Slater will step down on 1 September. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Government
• Coronavirus

Letter from ASCL to Sally Collier, Chief Regulator and Chair, Ofqual on the injustice some students may have suffered as a result of the decision to revert to the higher of either centre-assessed grades (CAGs) or calculated results for most qualifications this year.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders following the decision in Scotland over face coverings in schools.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Planning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the announcement that Sally Collier is standing down as chief regulator of Ofqual.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Ofqual
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the new policy on face coverings in secondary schools and colleges in England.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Planning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the GCSE results awarded to students today. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus
• Secondary

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on GCSE results issued in Wales today.

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Northern Ireland regional officer of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on GCSE results awarded in Northern Ireland today. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• Government
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Letter from ASCL to Peter Weir MLA, Minister of Education, formally requesting the Department of Education commissions an independent review as a matter of urgency into the process for awarding grades in GCSE, AS levels, and A levels in Northern Ireland in summer, 2020. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Letter from ASCL to Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education, formally requesting the Department for Education commissions an independent review as a matter of urgency into the process for awarding grades in GCSE, AS levels, A levels and Vocational and Technical qualifications in summer, 2020. 

• Assessment
• Post-16
• Examinations
• Appeals
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• T Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on GCSE results day tomorrow. 

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Appeals
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• Ofqual

The Association of School and College Leaders will be formally writing to the Secretary of State for Education to request an immediate independent review into the grading fiasco.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• FE
• Examinations
• Appeals
• Key Stage 4
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Government

Robert Wilson, Northern Ireland Regional Officer, of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Northern Ireland Department of Education’s decision over changes to the awarding of grades for GCSEs, AS and A levels. 

• Assessment
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Government
• Northern Ireland

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on the Welsh government’s decision to revert to teacher-assessed grades in A-levels and GCSEs, instead of grades which have been moderated down. 

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Ofqual’s decision to revert to teacher-assessed grades in A-levels and GCSEs, instead of grades which have been moderated down.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• FE
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to Ofqual’s criteria on using mock results in GCSE and A-level appeals.

• Examinations
• Appeals
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on today’s A level results in England.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• Data
• Examinations
• Appeals
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Government
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on today’s AS and A-level results in Wales.

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• Appeals
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on reports that mock exam results will carry equal weight to calculated grades

Julia Harnden, funding specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the analysis from the Education Policy Institute on the school funding allocations for 2021-22. 

• Funding
• Finance
• Planning
• Resources
• Government

Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofqual’s confirmed changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels next year, Duncan Baldwin

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Coronavirus

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Prime Minister’s comment in his press conference today that getting pupils back to school in September is “a national priority”

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, responds to the proposals for teacher pay in Wales

• Pay
• Funding
• Cymru
• Wales

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the proposed teacher pay award for 2020/21.

• Conditions
• Pay
• Funding
• Pensions
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the announcement of the school funding settlement for 2021

• Funding
• Coronavirus

ASCL says proposed changes to next summer’s GCSEs and A levels fail to fully recognise the disruption to students of the coronavirus pandemic and amount to no more than tinkering at the edges.

• Post-16
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Joint statement by the Joint Trade Unions (ASCL, NAHT, NASUWT, NEU) following the meeting on 14 July 2020 with representatives of the Isle of Man Government to resume pay dispute negotiations paused on 17 March due to the Covid crisis. 

• Conditions
• Employment
• Pay
• Government
• Isle of Man

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Prime Minister’s address to school leavers

• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the House of Commons Education Committee, ‘Getting the grades they’ve earned’

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Ofqual

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Secretary’s speech ‘Further education will be central to our mission of levelling up the nation’

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• HE

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the plans announced today for the full reopening of schools in Wales in September

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

A coalition of partners is today putting forward to Government a strategy to boost language learning, which has fallen drastically in recent years. The British Academy, the British Council, Universities UK and the Association of School and College Leaders believe this strategy is essential to the economic and social strength of the UK as it emerges from COVID-19.

• Funding
• MFL
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofsted’s plan to visit schools and colleges in the autumn term

• Inspection
• Ofsted

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the consultation published by Ofqual today about GCSEs, AS levels, and A levels in 2021

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government guidance about the full reopening of schools in the autumn

• Curriculum
• Inspection
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofqual’s decision for a full suite of GCSE, AS and A level exams in the autumn

• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Ofqual

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the capital investment in schools and colleges announced by the Prime Minister

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on UCAS figures showing a rise in the number of students planning to start university this autumn

• Post-16
• Examinations
• Coronavirus
• UCAS

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report in the Daily Telegraph, ‘Schools to scrap social distancing’

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the decision to suspend the reception baseline assessment until September 2021

• Primary
• Key Stage 1
• Early years

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on Education Minister Kirsty Williams’ briefing today on the coronavirus emergency and plans for the wider opening of schools

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the relaxation of the 2m distancing rule.

• Regulations
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the rollout of the early career framework for new teachers amid a surge in applications

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the government’s announcement of a one billion pound Covid catch-up plan for children.

• Funding
• Finance
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s comments about schools reopening to all pupils in September. 

• Leadership
• Learning
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, Regional Officer of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Northern Ireland, comments on the Minister of Education’s plans for the wider opening of schools in Northern Ireland

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the National Foundation for Educational Research report on pupil engagement in remote learning

• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the wider opening of secondary schools and colleges to more pupils from today

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to government guidance giving primary schools greater flexibility to invite back more pupils

• Primary
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Nearly nine out of ten secondary schools and colleges in England will open to more pupils from Monday, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on Welsh Government guidance about the wider opening of schools

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on news that the government is to drop plans to bring back all primary years before the end of term

• Primary
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the Welsh government’s plans for the wider opening of schools in Wales

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the wider opening of primary schools to more pupils from today

• Primary
• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

ASCL comment on today’s government confirmation of the wider opening of schools from Monday.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on today’s announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the wider opening of schools and colleges.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the publication of scientific evidence underpinning the government’s approach to the wider opening of schools and colleges.

• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

The Sunday Times has reported that the Association of School and College Leaders will be advising schools to reopen from June 1 after a meeting with government scientific advisers over the coronavirus emergency.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on today’s talks with the government’s scientific advisers over plans to reopen schools to more pupils

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Prime Minister’s speech and the phased reopening of schools.  

• Leadership
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Government
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams’ statement that the situation for schools in Wales will not change on 1 June. 

• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Planning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, ‘Support for children with special educational needs and disabilities’

• Funding
• Health and Wellbeing
• SEND

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the Education Policy Institute, ‘Preventing the disadvantage gap from increasing during and after the Covid-19 pandemic’

• Funding
• Post-16
• Health and Wellbeing
• Pupil Premium
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Sutton Trust research about concern among university applicants over the cancellation of A level exams

• Assessment
• Post-16
• Examinations
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru responds to the comments of Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show today about the potential reopening of schools in Wales at the beginning of June.

• Leadership
• Cymru
• Wales
• Health and Wellbeing
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the review of evidence on remote learning published by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)

• Teaching
• Learning
• Curriculum
• Parents
• Lesson planning
• Resources
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s announcement about a new package to support online learning during the coronavirus emergency

• Teaching
• Learning
• Curriculum
• Parents
• Lesson planning
• Government
• Coronavirus

Robert Wilson, ASCL Northern Ireland regional officer, comments on Northern Ireland Education Minister Peter Weir’s statement on arrangements for summer exams

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• AS Levels
• Northern Ireland
• Coronavirus

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on primary school national offer day

• Primary
• Key Stage 1
• Key Stage 2
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Sutton Trust poll showing that only two-fifths of parents feel confident about teaching their children at home.

• Parents
• Coronavirus

Duncan Baldwin, Deputy Director of Policy, at the Association of School and College Leaders comments on guidance from Ofqual about the grading of vocational qualifications following the closure of schools and colleges. 

• Post-16
• Examinations
• BTEC
• T Levels
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Julia Harnden, Funding Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the extra support for schools announced by the government.  

• Funding
• Business Leadership
• Financial planning
• Finance
• Income
• Resources
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the joint UCAS and YouthSight survey

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the plan published today by Ofqual for grading A-levels and GCSEs this summer

• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Eithne Hughes of the Association of School and College Leaders, Wales comments on the plan published today by Qualifications Wales for grading A-levels and GCSEs this summer.

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government announcement about a national voucher scheme for free school meals

• Health and Wellbeing
• Parents
• Coronavirus

Proposals from Ofsted to improve the way it deals with complaints about inspections do not go far enough to tackle the lack of faith in the process, the Association of School and College Leaders says today

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has today published guidance about teacher-assessed grades following the decision to cancel this summer’s GCSE and A-level exams.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Marking
• Coronavirus

Today three education unions, NEU, ASCL and NAHT have issued joint advice to their members relating to Coronavirus

• Safeguarding
• Mental Health
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the first day of emergency provision in schools during the coronavirus crisis

• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on government guidance about sectors prioritised for educational provision during the coronavirus crisis.

• Leadership
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Parents
• Planning
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the government announcement about how grades will be awarded following the decision to cancel all exams. 

• Assessment
• Key Stage 2
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• AS Levels
• BTEC
• Ofqual
• Coronavirus

Following yesterday’s announcements on school closures and the cancellation of this year’s exam series, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, is today writing to members of the association

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, responds to the decision of the Welsh Government to close schools in Wales in response to the coronavirus emergency

• Safeguarding
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the Education Secretary’s announcement about the coronavirus emergency

• Safeguarding
• GCSE
• A Levels
• Early years
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to today’s announcement that routine Ofsted inspections will be suspended in response to coronavirus.

• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders speaks ahead of a meeting this afternoon with the Secretary of State for Education about the coronavirus emergency.

• Leadership
• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Parents
• Planning
• Resources
• Government
• Coronavirus

Today, the leaders of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) met with Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

• Health and safety
• Safeguarding
• Examinations
• Coronavirus

Geoff Barton, ASCL General Secretary, addresses the audience at ASCL Annual Conference 2020 in Birmingham

Three-quarters of school and college leaders believe Ofsted’s new approach to inspections is an improvement on previous frameworks, according to an ASCL survey.

• Accountability
• Ofsted

ASCL General Secretary Geoff Barton has today called for a halt to all routine Ofsted inspections of schools and colleges during the coronavirus emergency

• Inspection
• Ofsted
• Coronavirus

ASCL President Rachael Warwick addresses the audience at ASCL Annual Conference 2020 in Birmingham

Eighty six per cent of school and college leaders have called for GCSEs to be reformed or scrapped in a survey carried out by ASCL.

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Key Stage 3
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to today’s Budget statement.

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• Budget
• Government

Kevin Gilmartin, post-16 and colleges specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) comments on the Education Policy Institute (EPI) report, ‘An international comparison of technical education funding systems’.

• Funding
• Curriculum
• Post-16

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the Education Policy Institute report ‘Teacher shortages in England’.

• Pay
• Funding
• Recruitment and Retention

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on national offer day for secondary school places on Monday 2 March.

• Parents

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Sutton Trust’s report about making school admissions fairer.

• Post-16
• Primary
• Parents

ASCL has warned that some 2,900 schools and colleges would be treated unfairly under government plans to remove the ‘outstanding exemption’.

• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted

Stephen Rollett, Curriculum and Inspection Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to comments made by Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman.

• Funding
• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted

Four education unions - The National Education Union (NEU), National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Voice, and the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) - are warning that government pay proposals would short-change most classroom teachers and all senior leaders. 

ASCL today warns that almost all of the extra £7.1 billion pledged for schools over the next three years will be eaten up by government spending commitments and increased costs.

• Funding
• Financial planning
• Budget
• Finance
• Government

Duncan Baldwin, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the publication of revised Key Stage 4 performance tables. 

• Accountability
• Inspection
• Key Stage 4
• Performance Tables
• Progress 8

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the report of the Children’s Commissioner ‘The state of children’s mental health services’.

• Pastoral
• Health and Wellbeing
• Health and safety
• Mental Health
• SEND

Members of the Association of School and College Leaders on the Isle of Man will withdraw their cooperation from a range of duties from today after recently voting for industrial action.

• Conditions
• Pay
• Isle of Man

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the report by the National Foundation for Educational Research about teacher autonomy.

• Leadership
• Teaching
• Career Progression
• Professional Development
• CPD

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru comments on the publication of the revised Curriculum for Wales guidance. 

• Leadership
• Learning
• Curriculum
• Cymru
• Wales
• Curriculum

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the report from the Education and Skills Funding Agency on the school resource management adviser (SRMA) pilot programme.

• Funding
• Business Leadership
• Financial planning
• Budget
• Finance
• Resources

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has today called for an uplift to all teacher pay scales over the next three years in line with the government’s proposal to increase starting salaries to £30,000 by 2022/23.

• Employment
• Pay
• Funding
• Recruitment and Retention
• Financial planning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the report by the Education Policy Institute Access to child and adolescent mental health services in 2019.

• Funding
• Pastoral
• Health and Wellbeing
• Resources
• Mental Health
• SEND

Duncan Baldwin, Deputy Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the government announcement that it is launching a consultation on the removal of the outstanding exemption.

• Post-16
• FE
• Primary
• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted
• Key Stage 3
• Key Stage 4

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the education briefing accompanying the Queen’s Speech.

• Funding
• Post-16
• Financial planning
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on UCAS statistics which show that ‘conditional unconditional’ offers continue to rise.

• Assessment
• Post-16
• A Levels

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the reappointment of Gavin Williamson as Education Secretary.

• Leadership
• Government

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has written to all Northern Ireland’s main political party leaders reminding them of the “bleak financial situation” in schools in Northern Ireland, and as the talks at Stormont resume with a view to re-establishing the Executive.

• Leadership
• Funding
• Resources
• Mental Health
• Government
• Northern Ireland

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders responds to the new report on T levels from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).

• Funding
• Teaching
• Post-16
• Examinations
• BTEC
• T Levels

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the analysis by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) of the political parties’ education plans. 

• Leadership
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on research by the Sutton Trust on the impact of GCSE reforms.  

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Labour’s plans for education being announced today.

• Leadership
• Funding
• Recruitment and Retention
• Financial planning
• Finance
• School Improvement
• Resources

Joint press release by the School Cuts coalition: School Cuts website updated to reflect what manifestos mean for every school in England

• Funding
• Financial planning
• Budget
• Finance
• Government

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the UK results in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

• Assessment
• Examinations
• Mental Health

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, comments on the results in Wales in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

• Assessment
• Cymru
• Wales
• Examinations
• International
• Performance Tables

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Conservative Party’s plans to give Ofsted greater powers and more funding.

At the ASCL Northern Ireland Annual Conference on 29 November 2019, ASCL Northern Ireland President Amanda McNamee paid tribute to the resilience of school leaders in challenging and demanding times.  

• Membership
• CPD
• Northern Ireland

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the letter from headteachers supporting the Worth Less? campaign to all prospective parliamentary candidates.

• Leadership
• Funding
• Financial planning
• Budget
• Finance
• Parents

A coalition of education unions has today welcomed Labour’s manifesto commitment to reverse all cuts to school budgets and to make a once-in-a-generation investment in education.    The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Education Union (NEU) are all non-politically affiliated unions and believe we are speaking for the profession in welcoming these proposals.

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• Primary
• Financial planning
• Budget
• Government

Education unions NEU, NAHT, ASCL and Voice, together representing the overwhelming majority of teachers and school leaders in England, have submitted a joint statement to the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), demanding a significant, above-inflation pay increase for all teachers and leaders, in order to reverse the real-terms cuts to salaries since 2010.

• Jobs
• Employment
• Pay
• Funding
• Recruitment and Retention
• STRB
• Financial planning

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute’s report ‘Further Education Pathways’.

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE
• Examinations
• GCSE
• T Levels

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the National Audit Office report on University Technical Colleges (UTCs).

• Funding
• Post-16
• FE

Today, the School Cuts coalition launches a fully updated interactive map of England’s schools. It shows that 83% of schools will be worse off next year than they were in 2015.

New figures, released today by the School Cuts coalition, reveal that four in five of England’s schools will be worse off next year than they were in 2015.

Eight in ten school leaders say that tough new GCSEs are having a detrimental impact on struggling students, according to a survey by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL).

Media release from the National Education Union, the Association of School and College Leaders, the National Association of Head Teachers, and the f40 education fair funding campaign group