Our news and press releases

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 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, 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

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

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 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 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 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 the decision to suspend the reception baseline assessment until September 2021

• Primary
• Key Stage 1
• Early years

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

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, 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, 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 Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s comments about schools reopening to all pupils in September. 

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

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

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 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 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 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

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 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

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 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 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 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 UCAS statistics on undergraduate applications

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the government announcement on minimum funding levels for schools

• Funding
• Budget

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

ASCL leader Geoff Barton will today call on the government to reform school performance tables to rid them of ‘perverse incentives’ which lead to unacceptable practices such as gaming and off-rolling in a minority of schools.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the UCAS forecast of a significant decline in ‘conditional unconditional offers’ in 2020

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

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 British Council and Education Policy Institute on the gender gap in foreign languages

• Post-16
• Curriculum
• MFL
• Key Stage 3
• Key Stage 4
• GCSE
• A Levels

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

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, responds to the annual report of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills

• Primary
• Accountability
• Inspection
• Ofsted
• Key Stage 2
• SEND
• Off-rolling

Members of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) on the Isle of Man have voted for industrial action in a dispute with the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) over the inadequacy of the pay settlement for teachers on the island and the implications for recruitment and retention.

• Conditions
• Pay
• Recruitment and Retention
• Isle of Man

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

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the launch of a government scheme to make free period products available to all schools and colleges in England

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report by the Education Policy Institute about the development of the early years workforce in England

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

Stephen Rollett, curriculum and inspection specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report from Ofsted about ‘stuck schools’

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 UCAS end of cycle report 2019

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the education commitments in the Conservative Party Manifesto

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

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the school funding plans announced by the Liberal Democrats

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

Michael Kidd, national negotiator for the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), comments on the proposals for a new model of secondary education in Guernsey

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Labour’s plans for lifelong learning and National Education Service.

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

The Association of School and College Leaders today publishes its General Election Manifesto calling on politicians not to use education as a political football and instead to focus on the things that matter – sufficient funding, teacher supply, and an exam system which is less harsh on pupils.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on Ofqual’s decision to make an adjustment to grading standards in GCSE French and German

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

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Knife Crime

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the report of the House of Commons Education Committee on support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities

Eithne Hughes, Director of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) Cymru, responds to the announcement by Minister for Education Kirsty Williams on the teacher pay award in Wales

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the publication of provisional secondary school performance tables in England

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.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on the Education Policy Institute’s report on unexplained pupil exits from English schools.  

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on the teacher workload survey.

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.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders comments on Labour’s plans to abolish Ofsted if elected.

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