ASCL Summer Leadership Summit: The roadmap to 2030

Holiday Inn, London Bloomsbury

As the most significant wave of education reform in a generation takes shape, how do you plan strategically when the pace of change is this fast?

The next five years will bring more legislative and policy reform than any period in recent memory. The Employment Rights Act, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, the Schools White Paper, curriculum and qualification reform, SEND reform, post-16 changes; the scale and pace of what is coming is significant.

The ASCL Summer Leadership Summit gives school and college leaders the clarity they need to navigate what’s ahead. Our policy specialists will map out exactly what is changing, when, and what it means for each cohort of pupils through to 2030 so you know what to act on now and what can wait.
 
Leave with a comprehensive roadmap for the years ahead 
ASCL Deputy Directors of Policy, Julia Harnden and Tom Middlehurst, have built a clear, authoritative map of every major reform through to 2030 with milestones, implications and a year-by-year view of what matters when.
 
At this summit you will:
  • understand the full landscape of reform, including the Employment Rights Act, Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, Schools White Paper, Post-16 and Skills White Paper, SEND reform, and curriculum and qualification change
  • know when each change is expected to come in, when you need to start preparing, and the implications for your school, college or trust year by year to 2030
  • get updates on funding changes, including the latest on pupil premium
  • hear directly from  government on their vision for a school system that works for all
  • connect with headteachers and leaders navigating the same challenges in a panel discussion on leading for change
Speaker
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Pepe Di'Iasio

ASCL General Secretary

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Julia Harnden

Deputy Director of Policy

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Manny Botwe

ASCL Immediate Past President 2025-26 and Headteacher, Tytherington School, Macclesfield

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Tom Middlehurst

Deputy Director of Policy

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Margaret Mulholland

SEND and Inclusion Specialist

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Sharon Ealing

Professional Leadership Communities Manager

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Dale Bassett

Chief Qualifications Officer, AQA

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Sue Collings

CEO, Alliance Schools Trust

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ASCL member: £275+VAT 
Non-members: £295+VAT

Discounts available
10% discount for two or more delegates: 
ASCL members: £248+VAT
Non-members: £265+VAT

If you attended ASCL Annual Conference 2026, please see your special offer and code provided by email.
 

ASCL reserves the right to amend the programme should circumstances dictate.
 

8.30am     Registration, refreshments and exhibition
       
9.30am     Welcome
Pepe Di'Iasio, ASCL General Secretary
       
9.40am     The Government’s vision: every child achieving and thriving
Speaker tbc
       
10.00am     The Children’s Plan: learning from the School Census
Joe Lane, Executive Director, The Children’s Commissioner for England’s Office
       
10.30am     Panel Discussion: Why change is needed
       
10.55am     Making the most of ASCL partnerships
Bitesize introductions to the headline sponsor and exhibitors about the support they can offer schools and colleges over the next five years
       
11.00am     Refreshments and exhibition
       
11.30am     The roadmap to 2030: part one
Julia Harnden, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Margaret Mulholland, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist

Key leadership implications of the Employment Rights Act, Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, Post-16 and Skills White Paper and the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
       
12.20pm     Qualification reform: What we know
Dale Bassett, Chief Qualifications Officer, AQA

An update on qualification reform including GCSEs, A-levels and V-levels, including an opportunity to understand how exam boards are working with DfE and Ofqual, key milestones between now and first new exams, and how you can ensure your voice is heard.
       
12.40pm     Lunch and exhibition
       
1.20pm     The roadmap to 2030: part two
Julia Harnden, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Margaret Mulholland, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist

Key leadership implications in the current accountability reform consultation, SEND reform consultation, Schools White Paper and changes to school, college and disadvantage funding. 
       
1.50pm     The roadmap to 2030: part two
Julia Harnden, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy
Margaret Mulholland, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist

A year-by-year walkthrough of key milestones from today to 2030. Delegates will receive a digital and hardcopy version of the timeline that Julia, Margaret and Tom will walk through.
       
2.20pm     Panel Discussion: Leading Change
Caroline Barlow, Headteacher, Heathfield Community College
Manny Botwe, Headteacher, Tytherington High School and ASCL Immediate Past President 2025-26
Sue Collings, Chief Executive, The Alliance Schools Trust
       
2.55pm     Sense-making and opportunity to review your school/trust improvement plan
Facilitated by Sharon Ealing, ASCL Professional Leadership Communities Manager

Delegates are encouraged to bring and share their working school or trust improvement plan. ASCL will help delegates reflect on the key information from the day and the implications for their short and long-term priorities. 
       
3.30pm     Final remarks and close




 

This summit is for school and college leaders, working in the primary or secondary phases, who need to plan strategically for the reforms ahead:

  • Headteachers, Executive Headteachers, Principals and CEOs
  • Deputy and Assistant Headteachers with strategic planning responsibilities
  • Business Leaders and Chief Operating Officers
  • MAT and SAT leadership teams
The ASCL Summer Leadership Summit is designed for leaders who want to stay ahead of the curve, not be caught out by it.

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