Leadership Essentials: Birmingham

(previously known as the Autumn Leadership Conferences)

Conference Aston, Birmingham

"A concise overview of key policy changes and current developments, delivered by knowledgeable speakers."
Delegate, Birmingham 2025

“Totally current information which was intuitive and really well presented by the ASCL specialists."
Delegate, London 2025

A significant period of reform demands clarity. Our Autumn Leadership Conferences are returning this November, now known as Leadership Essentials, reimagined in response to your feedback and better than ever. You’ve told us what works: the expert intelligence, the horizon scanning, the reassurance that ASCL has the full picture.

This year, we’re bringing the series to four larger venues in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and London. ASCL specialists will deliver in their own areas of expertise with genuine space for discussion and reflection, and deep-dive workshops built into the day. Our specialist team cuts through the noise, bringing you carefully curated intelligence with the context and analysis to help you decide what to act on now and what can wait.

Building on the roadmap
At the ASCL Summer Leadership Summit on 6 May, Julia Harnden and Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Directors of Policy, provided delegates with a strategic picture with every major reform through to 2030 mapped out: the legislation, the timelines, and the implications for your students and your organisation.

By November, the landscape will have moved. Guidance will have landed, implementation will have begun. The Leadership Essentials series is where you check your position with current intelligence from our specialist team, deep-dive workshops in the areas that matter most to you now, and the space to think through what these changes mean in practice.

*Early bird offer|12 May - 10 September*
Members: ~~£285~~ £230
Non members: ~~£315~~ £255

Alternative dates and locations
18 November | Manchester
24 November | Leeds
25 November | London

Speaker

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.

Early Bird rate from 12 May to 10 September
Member: £230
Non member: £255

Standard rates from 11 September
Member: £285 member
Non member: £315

Discounted rates

Groups - one full price delegate can bring additional colleagues for £150 per person
ASCL Council Members benefit from a 25% discount off standard costs £210 instead of £255 and can attend a private meeting with the General Secretary on the morning of the event.
ASCL Local Representatives benefit from free attendance at this event and can attend a private meeting with the General Secretary on the morning of the event.

Programme

Registration and breakfast exchange
A chance to meet our exhibitors and connect with the ASCL team in an informal space.

ASCL Local Representatives Meeting
(closed meeting for ASCL Local Representatives and Council Members only)

Welcome-housekeeping

General Secretary Address: State of the Nation
Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary

Horizon scanning: The essentials update 1
Focused updates from ASCL policy specialists and member support on the issues shaping school and college leadership right now.

Meet our exhibitors and breakouts
An introduction to the sponsors and exhibitors joining us on the day, and the breakout choices ahead.

Refreshments and exhibition

Essentials in practice-choice of 3 breakout sessions - 30 mins
A choice of one of three sessions, exploring a topic from the horizon scanning session earlier in more depth. These sessions are deliberately collaborative, with space to ask questions and contextualise the content for your own setting.

Essentials in practice-choice of 3 breakout sessions - 30 mins
A further choice of one of three sessions, building on the horizon scanning themes with more detailed, collaborative exploration.

Lunch and networking

Welcome back and reflections

Horizon scanning: The essentials update 2 - 1 hour
Further keynote updates from ASCL policy specialists and member support.

Essentials in practice-choice of 3 breakout sessions - 30 mins
A choice of one of three sessions, as above.

Essentials in practice-choice of 3 breakout sessions - 30 mins
A further choice of one of three sessions, as above.

Conference close and sensemaking

ASCL reserve the right to amend the programme should circumstances dictate

Suitable for

Leadership Essentials is for school, college and trust leaders who need to stay ahead. If you lead at any level, in any phase, and you want to understand not just what’s changing but what it means for your organisation and how to act on these changes, this is the day for you.

What to expect on the day

The big picture - a welcome and state-of-the-nation from Pepe, setting the context for the day ahead.
Horizon scanning: The essentials update - focused updates from ASCL policy and member support specialists on the issues shaping school and college leadership right now.
Essentials in practice - breakout sessions where you can put what you've heard into practice, exploring the topics that matter most to you in more depth, asking questions, and thinking through what they mean for your own context. With more than one session running, you choose where to spend your time.
Space to connect - time built in throughout the day to meet other leaders, compare notes, and make the kind of connections that often turn out to be the most valuable part of the day.
A chance to meet our sponsors and exhibitors - an opportunity to explore products and services relevant to school and college leadership.
A shared close - we'll bring the day together with a collective sensemaking session, helping you leave with clarity on what matters most from everything you've heard.