A warm welcome to the ASCL LGBTQIA+ Leaders' Community

Lead visibly. Lead as yourself. 

Welcome to the ASCL LGBTQIA+ Leaders' Community, a professional space for LGBTQIA+ school, college and trust leaders and their allies. Since our first network meeting in December 2020, we have grown into a community that offers support, challenge, information and networking. We also speak up for LGBTQIA+ leaders across the education system.

Who is this community for?
You belong here whether you're out at work, out to some people, still deciding what visibility means for you, or an ally who wants to stand alongside colleagues. We don't check credentials at the door, so please don't feel you have to be a particular letter to belong. We especially welcome leaders whose experiences sit at the intersection of more than one identity, and those from groups under-represented in leadership nationally. This community is included as part of your ASCL membership. It is shaped by LGBTQIA+ leaders for LGBTQIA+ leaders, and all of our sessions are underpinned by our values of integrity, expertise, kindness, courage and community.

The aims of this community
Our community aims to:
  • connect LGBTQIA+ leaders and their allies in a safe space where we can share experiences, offer support and challenge, and learn and grow from one another
  • support and signpost members' leadership and professional development, including career guidance and coaching for those under-represented in leadership
  • encourage and empower LGBTQIA+ teachers and middle leaders to become the next generation of school, college and trust leaders
  • make LGBTQIA+ leaders visible and challenge the narrative that they need to remain in the shadows rather than be their authentic selves at work, if they choose
  • advocate for LGBTQIA+ leaders and the wider LGBTQIA+ community, helping to challenge systemic prejudice and build inclusion for staff and students alike
  • bring an LGBTQIA+ lens to ASCL's policy work, so that our members' voices inform position statements and responses to government consultations
How we are led
The community is led by a steering group of members, co-chaired by Richard McDonald and Mark Pritchard. The steering group shapes our programme, listens to members, and works with ASCL to make sure LGBTQIA+ leaders' voices are heard across the association.

ASCL at Pride in London: Leading with Visibility

On 4 July 2026, ASCL joined Pride in London for the first time in its history. This was a significant step in our commitment to making sure LGBTQIA+ school, college and trust leaders can be visible and authentic in their roles.

Join our group on LinkedIn
ASCL members may also be interested in joining our free ASCL LGBTQIA+ Leaders' Community on LinkedIn. There you can keep up to date on meetings and collaborate beyond our network sessions. If you'd like to join, please contact Sharon Ealing, PLC Manager.

Forthcoming meetings and events
See the meeting dates tab below. 


We look forward to welcoming you to our community. 

Co-chairs
Richard McDonald, Assistant Principal, The Education Alliance (TEAL)
Mark Pritchard, Director of Education, Pioneer Educational Trust

To find out more and to join the ASCL LGBTQIA+ Leaders' Community, please complete the online form below.  If you have any further queries, please contact CorporateAdmin@ascl.org.uk  

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Richard McDonald
Assistant Principal, The Education Alliance (TEAL)
I am an Assistant Principal at TEAL, a trust with schools across North and East Yorkshire. Across the trust, I lead on curriculum, CPD, literacy and our AI strategy, as well as leading our staff LGBTQIA+ network.
My passion for LGBTQ+ inclusion led me to study the experiences of LGBTQ+ leaders in UK schools for my MBA dissertation, and to contribute to the book LGBTQ+ Leadership in Education. I am now studying part-time for a PhD at the University of Derby, exploring LGBTQ+ career progression in schools through an intersectional lens.

I have personally benefited from the support and solidarity that LGBTQ+ networks offer, and that is a key goal for our ASCL community. My research has also shown me how diverse the experiences under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella are, and how they can shape our professional lives and leadership. That is why I am passionate that this group also advocates for those diverse experiences, helping us build inclusion for staff and students alike.

Mark Pritchard
Director of Education, Pioneer Educational Trust
I am an experienced headteacher and school improvement specialist. My expertise is in system leadership, cross-school strategic planning, curriculum design and delivery, and leadership development at all levels. As an accredited coach, I work with individuals and teams to develop the leadership knowledge, skills and capacity that bring about impactful outcomes for pupils.

I am passionate about all things leadership development. I design and deliver leadership programmes for local authorities, MATs, Teach First, Ambition and UCL. I am especially interested in supporting groups under-represented in school leadership, including the LGBTQ+ community. As part of my doctoral studies, I designed and delivered Working Title, a bespoke programme that helps individuals from diverse backgrounds develop a leader identity and supports those who don't "fit the mould".

I am an experienced NPQ facilitator, a doctoral student in leadership development at UCL, and a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching. I co-chair our local authority's headteacher association and senior leader network, and I run a monthly coaching collective for diverse leaders in schools. I have seen the power of networks to bring people together to connect, learn, support each other and share perspectives. I do hope you will consider joining our wonderful network, and I look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you.
 

Meetings will usually begin at 6.00pm but any changes to this will be confirmed as appropriate. 

Monday 30 November, 6.00pm on Teams
The magic of new beginnings

The first LGBTQ+ PLC meeting of the year is a chance to reconnect, meet the people shaping the community, and look ahead together. After a warm welcome back, new co-chairs, Mark and Richard (see the 'Meet the co-chairs' tab), will share a little about their backgrounds and why the work of this community matters so much to them, along with introductions from our steering group members. We'll then explore what we mean by "The Magic of (New) Beginnings" and share some early ideas and plans for the year, including dates and proposals for meeting face to face at Pride and the ASCL Annual Conference.

In the second half of the session, we're delighted to welcome Jo Brassington, co-founder of Pride & Progress and co-author of the award-winning book Pride & Progress: Making Schools LGBT+ Inclusive Spaces. A former primary school teacher, Jo now works with schools, colleges and universities to help them become more inclusive, and is in the final year of a PhD exploring the experiences of LGBT+ teachers, voice and silence in the workplace, and the power of identity-based networks to amplify minority voices. Jo will share their research on LGBTQ+ networks, followed by time for questions and reflections. Whether you've been part of the community from the start or are joining us for the first time, we'd love to see you there.

Details of our 2026–27 programme will follow shortly after this initial meeting.