ASCL Conference for Strategic Leadership of Languages

The Studio, Birmingham

How can school leaders drive sustainable and inclusive language education?

In a time of educational reform and shifting policy landscapes, school leaders are uniquely placed to shape and secure the future of languages education.

Developed by ASCL and the British Council, this timely and thought-provoking conference invites school and system leaders to explore how to lead languages strategically, ensuring they thrive within inclusive, sustainable, and globally-minded curricula.

Join us to discover how language learning can be a powerful driver of equity, diversity, and student belonging.
 
Key themes
  • Navigating policy change
    Stay ahead of evolving government reforms affecting languages in both primary and secondary education.
  • Strategic leadership of languages
    Learn how leadership teams can embed languages into whole-school improvement strategies aligning with values of inclusion, sustainability, and global citizenship.
  • Building sustainable provision
    Understand the financial and logistical implications of different curriculum models across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5.
  • Line managing language departments when you’re not a linguist
    Gain practical insights into line management and quality assurance for language departments when you're not a subject specialist.
  • Ensuring continuity and progression
    Discover strategies to  address learner motivation and build learner confidence and progression across key stages.
  • Strengthen pupils’ oracy through language learning
    Examine how language education supports and enhances a school's work on oracy and communication.
  • Creating a culture of language learning
    Inspire all students to learn languages, including home, heritage, and community languages, regardless of background or ability.
Speaker
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Tom Middlehurst

Deputy Director of Policy

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Suzanne O'Farrell

ASCL MFL Consultant

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Sir Ian Bauckham CBE

Chief Regulator, Ofqual

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Rebecca Bollands MBE

Headteacher, Earlsdon Primary School

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Andy Jordan

ASCL Inspection and Accountability Specialist

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Tracy Williams

Subject Pedagogy Lead for MFL, Arthur Terry SCITT

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Luke Payton

Principal, St Augustine's Catholic High School and Sixth Form

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Fee: £199+VAT
Groups of 2 or more £175+VAT
 

ASCL reserve the right to amend the programme should circumstances dictate 
 

08.45       Registration and exhibition
 
09.30      

Welcome and introductions 

Vicky Gough, Schools Adviser, British Council 
Suzanne O’Farrell,ASCL MFL Consultant

09.35       The value of languages to the UK
Speaker tbc 
 
09.50      

The value of languages in the inclusive school 
Sir Ian Bauckham CBE, Chief Regulator, Ofqual 

         
10.15      

Keynote 
Bernardette Holmes MBE, Director, National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE) (invited) 
Tracy Williams, Subject Pedagogy Lead for MFL, Arthur Terry SCITT

10.50       Refreshment break and exhibition 
         
11.10      

Headteacher Panel - Developing strategy for languages growth and success (Part 1) 
Chair: Suzanne O’Farrell 

Senior leaders will discuss the following potential questions: 

  • Effective line management of languages departments when you’re not a linguist 
  • School’s response to CAR for languages  
  • What are your preferred curriculum models for languages and why? 
  • What does transition between key stages look like in your school? 
  • How do you support professional learning for language leaders in your school?  
  • ​How has your school’s languages education vision come about? 
11.45      

Keynote 
Gillian Machin, Policy Adviser, Department for Education 

12.10      

The changing education landscape and it’s impact on languages 
Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy 

12.40       Lunch and exhibition
 
13.20      

Keynote 
Andy Jordan, ASCL Inspection and Accountability Specialist

         
13.45       Keynote
Speaker tbc
         
13.55      

Headteacher Panel - Developing strategy for languages growth and success (Part 2) 
Chair: Rene Kogelbauer, Professor of Learning and Leadership, Newcastle University 

Senior leaders will discuss the following potential questions: 

  • How do the languages taught in your school embody your school’s values and ethos? 
  • How can language learning contribute to raising standards in oracy? 
  • How do you support home, heritage and community languages in your school? 
  • In what ways does your school offer opportunities for language learners to experience languages beyond the curriculum? 
  • How do you support  recruitment and retention of languages teachers ? 
  • ​What successful strategies have you used to maintain numbers in your school? 
         
14.30       Refreshment break and exhibition
         
14.45      

Erasmus+ Supporting school partnerships and cultural visits - what this could mean for you and your school
Speaker tbc

15.00      

Closing remarks 
Rene Kogelbauer 

15.10       Close

Language teachers and leads, Heads of Department, Assistant Heads and Deputy Heads, in secondary, primary and trusts