ASCL Autumn Leadership Conferences 2025 - South West

Holiday Inn Taunton

*Limited places remain*

'Comprehensive and relevant insight across all of the topics schools are working with, delivered with clarity and authority by presenters.' Delegate feedback from the 2024 series.

These popular conferences feature essential updates by our policy specialist team, delving into the latest developments in policy and procedures and how these will impact on you and your organisation, helping you plan with confidence for the year ahead.

Suitable for all leaders and decision makers working in all phases of education and types of school, these conferences are an essential event in the education calendar.

Speaker

Pepe Di'Iasio

ASCL General Secretary

Gurpall Badesha

ASCL Vice President 2025-26 and Deputy Headteacher, Crofton School

Julia Harnden

Deputy Director of Policy

Chris Ingate

Conditions of Employment Specialist: Pay

Tom Middlehurst

Deputy Director of Policy

Tiffnie Harris

Primary and Data Specialist

James McNeillie

Regional Director South West and West Midlands, Ofsted

Rhys Jones

Head of School Partnerships, Vivify Venues

Programme

8.30					Registration, refreshments and exhibition
8.35					ASCL Local Representatives Meeting (closed meeting for ASCL Local Representatives/Council Members only)
9.25					Welcome and Introduction Judy McBlain, Regional Officer, South West
9.30					Keynote Gurpall Badesha, ASCL Vice President 2025-26 and Deputy Head, Crofton School
09.50					General Secretary Address: State of the Nation Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary
10.10					Curriculum, assessment, SEND and behaviour Tiffnie Harris, Primary and Data Specialist This session will begin with an update on the Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report and what we can expect to see in the final recommendations to be published later in the autumn term. This section of the presentation will consider the implications of the CAR for school leaders and what they should be prepared for. The latest information on qualification reforms will also be covered and then detail on SEND, the new whitepaper, attendance and behaviour. The final section of the session will consider curriculum and assessment implications with a particular lens on inclusion and closing the gap.
10.50					Sponsor session – Academy21
11.00					Refreshments and exhibition
11.20					Securing the Future: Pay, Policy and People in Education Chris Ingate, Conditions of Employment Specialist: Pay This session will provide a strategic overview of current and forthcoming changes affecting the education workforce. We will highlight national trends in recruitment and retention, including teacher training and support staff data. Delegates will be briefed on significant legislative reforms under the Employment Rights Bill, such as enhanced parental leave, and flexible working rights. The session will also emphasise the importance of flexible working, offering practical guidance on policy development and cultural change. Finally, we will encourage a shift away from performance-related pay towards sustainable leadership and professional growth, equipping leaders with the tools to support staff wellbeing and retention in a changing landscape.
12.00					Funding and operations 2025/26: Building organisational resilience Julia Harnden, Deputy Director of Policy and Funding Specialist We will take you through the latest policy developments relating to funding and business leadership for the current academic year.
12.40					Sponsor session – Vivify
12.50					Lunch and exhibition
13.50					The new Ofsted Framework James McNeillie, Regional Director South West and West Midlands, Ofsted
14.30					Accountability, RISE and data Tom Middlehurst, Deputy Director of Policy Tom will reflect on the session from Ofsted’s HMI about what the changes mean in a practical sense for schools and colleges. The session will also cover the new RISE teams and what intervention looks like, the data from the summer, the lack of Progress 8 data and the upcoming school profiles.
15.10					Q&A and final remarks
15.30					Close

ASCL reserve the right to amend the programme should circumstances dictate

Exhibition

Visit the following exhibitors at the conference

Fees

The conference fee for this event has been frozen at 2024 rates and we would encourage you to bring colleague(s) to increase the benefits for your organisation.

Standard rates for bookings

£285 (ASCL member)
£315 (non-member)
ASCL Council members £210 - 25% discount
ASCL Local Representatives – free of charge
Additional colleague from your leadership team £150

ASCL Local Representatives and Council members will also have the opportunity to attend a private meeting with the General Secretary and representatives from our member support team on the morning of the conference.

Day

05 November 2025
time

08:30 - 16:00
location

Taunton
Day

See 'fees' tab below