Blog

ASCL is proud to be an official partner of this year's Schools & Acadamies Show. ASCL General Secretary Pepe Di'Iasio will be addressing delegates on 15 May at the event in London, and in this blog, he highlights some of the issues he will cover in his keynote. 

In the final blog in her three-part series, Tarina Chow, Executive Business Manager of a SEND-specialist MAT, shares her trust’s experiences in engaging pupils in a wide range of activities and initiatives to help them engage with sustainability and bring it to life. 

There’s no doubt that providing breakfast clubs in primary schools is a good idea, so why does the government’s direction of travel in this policy area raise so many concerns, asks Chief Education Officer Annette Montague in her guest blog. 

How can we best support students back into the classroom after school holidays? In this guest blog, Amy Husband of ASCL Premier Partner Academy21 shares insights and advice for a more settled transition back to learning.  

ASCL consultant and coach Steve Playford speaks with headteacher Sarah Holman and shares insights that may resonate with those in their first year of headship, aspiring headteachers, or those reflecting on their leadership journey. 

In part 2 of her three-part blog series on sustainability, Tarina Chow, Executive Business Manager of a SEND-specialist MAT shares more details of her trust’s sustainability journey, including resources and CPD. 

Sam Holderness of ASCL Premier Partner Academy21 highlights how MATs and schools are using digital solutions to enhance inclusion and address challenges such as staff shortages and rising student needs. 

Prioritising a diverse curriculum and inclusive culture is essential to building an environment where every student and colleague feels seen, valued, and empowered to succeed. EDI Leaders’ Network member Gemma Hathaway shares the evidence and different approaches used by her trust to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all. 

The government's recent announcement that Trust Capacity Funding is being withdrawn has prompted ASCL Vice President Stephen Brierley to reflect on collaboration, and whether in the long-term, making collaboration harder to achieve might eventually be seen as a mistake.

Following the recent change in government, now is the time to reflect on the progress made in governance and forming partnerships with other education settings, as well as explore what the future might hold for collaborative systems, writes ASCL’s Thomas Freeney.

Discover how assistive technologies are transforming classrooms, making learning accessible for every student. Learn how to implement these tools in your school and join us at ASCL's "Leading On: How Assistive Technologies Can Empower Every Learner" event. 

Promoting languages in your school isn’t just about fulfilling curriculum requirements but raising aspirations and giving all students a gateway to the wider world. In this guest blog, Philip Harding-Esch shares how the National Consortium for Languages Education (NCLE), Languages Hubs, and ASCL can help your school give your GCSE languages a boost.  

Another new HMCI, another new framework, another huge refocusing of the teaching workforce’s efforts to meet the new direction of travel. Is this what Ofsted should be doing, asks ASCL Vice President Stephen Brierley in his latest blog. 

In the first in a three-part series of guest blogs, Tarina Chow, Executive Business Manager of a SEND-specialist MAT shares the practical steps she and her trust took on the first steps of their sustainability journey. 

This blog by ASCL’s Rob Robson and ASCL Past President Richard Sheriff is one in a series exploring the future of education in England. We encourage other school, college and trust leaders to contribute their thoughts and perspectives to this important conversation.

The DfE has introduced updated statutory attendance code guidance for schools, academy trusts, governing bodies and local authorities.  ASCL’s Margaret Mulholland explains the changes and how they can be used to deepen understanding of their students’ needs and challenges.  

Are you currently a deputy headteacher or vice principal and considering whether your next move will be to headship? If so, should you apply as an internal candidate or seek opportunities at another setting? A serving principal shares their experiences and advice. 

Effective CPD can reignite passion, boost morale, and enhance the quality of teaching which are crucial for retaining staff. In this blog,  ASCL Leadership Development Manager Thomas Freeney invites leaders to contribute to an ongoing piece of research which aims to help understand the current CPD landscape and its impact on staff retention.

Strong skills in languages other than English would be good for pupils, their school communities and the UK as a whole.  In her latest blog, ASCL MFL Consultant Suzanne O’Farrell shares ideas and advice on how to involve all members of the senior team in promoting the importance of language learning. 

Developing robust trust-wide monitoring systems for assessment data across your schools can be complicated and time-consuming. In their guest blog, Sue Macgregor and Jevon Hirst from ASCL Premier Partner Alps, share some of the advantages to developing a trust-wide monitoring system.