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.

We are working on the programme at the moment so please do return to this page for updates.
Speaker
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Pepe Di'Iasio

ASCL General Secretary

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Gurpall Badesha

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

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Julia Harnden

Deputy Director of Policy

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Chris Ingate

Conditions of Employment Specialist: Pay

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Tom Middlehurst

Deputy Director of Policy

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Tiffnie Harris

Primary and Data Specialist

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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 McNellie, Regional Director South West
 
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

Visit the following exhibitors at the conference

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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.