Julie McCulloch

We believe that implementing the actions proposed in this paper would put England on a clear path to recognising and addressing the major challenges in the current system, to ensuring all children and young people succeed and thrive, and to creating a roadmap for a sustainable education system. 7/7

Instead, what's important is that there is sufficient funding and infrastructure to meet the needs of children and families, and that different agencies work together to ensure those needs are met in the most appropriate and effective way. 6/7

We've tried to recognise the complexities of the education landscape. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. 5/7

- Ensure that school and college performance tables and Ofsted inspections are based only on core education responsibilities
- Introduce a system which enables schools, colleges, or other local agencies to flag up if they don’t think another agency is fulfilling its remit 4/7

- Invest in children’s services to ensure that pupils’ health and social care needs are met
- Map out who is responsible for what in each local area with clarity about the roles of education, health and social care 3/7

The report highlights the scale of these responsibilities & the impact this is having on the recruitment & retention of staff. It ends with a series of recommendations for central government, local government & other middle tier bodies, and schools, colleges and trusts themselves. These include: 2/7

I'm pleased to publish this new @ascl-uk.bsky.social‬ report. The policy team has been working with ASCL Council to explore the many responsibilities schools and colleges have felt the need to take on over the last few years, as poverty rises and wider children's and family services crumble. 1/7

Unions could ask school leaders to quit as Ofsted inspectors ASCL and NAHT set out ‘unprecedented step’ being considered in letter to education secretary

Unions @naht.org.uk‬ and @ascl-uk.bsky.social are considering asking members to stop working as Ofsted inspectors amid concerns over report card plans

Many educationalists - including @ascl-uk.bsky.social - share parents' support for report cards. But they'll only deliver the benefits we want to see if they're accurate & reliable, and if they improve recruitment & retention by reducing pressure. Our concern is that Ofsted's approach does neither.

ASCL floats '3+ point' grading scale for Ofsted Union warns Ofsted's five-point grading plan would leave leaders 'in a worse position than they are now'

Important from @ascl-uk.bsky.social Many members are inspectors and share concerns that plans are flawed. This deep thinking on accountability is needed. To be great leaders we need to be held to account reliably, fairly and consistently. schoolsweek.co.uk/ascl-floats-...
@schoolsweek.bsky.social

Thanks @johngroberts.bsky.social, @jasminenorden.bsky.social & @cerysturner.bsky.social for this summary of @ascl-uk.bsky.social's responses to the Ofsted and DfE accountability consultations.

We “are committed to robust accountability for schools and colleges, but disagree that this approach is the right way to achieve that end.” Thanks
@fcdwhittaker.bsky.social for this detailed write-up of the key points in @ascl-uk.bsky.social’s response to Ofsted’s consultation on inspection reform.

ASCL FE Advisory Board member and College Principal and CEO @darrenhankey.bsky.social appeared as a witness at today's Education Select Committee session to discuss 'Are young people being offered the right opportunities and support to excel in their futures?'

💻 parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

We've partnered with @ascl-uk.bsky.social for a panel at #LibDem Spring conference looking at Ofsted's school report card plans.

Highlights below👇

Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report An independent review of the curriculum and assessment system in England, with statistical analysis.

The next stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Review will look to create a more inclusive and fair system, address subject-specific challenges, and assess available pathways beyond GCSEs.

Find out more ➡️ www.gov.uk/government/p...

Great summary of the main stories from #ASCL2025. Lovely to see you and the rest of the @tesmagazine.bsky.social team, Charlotte.

@sineadmc.bsky.social urges us all to focus on what we can change, and to 'hold lightly' what we can't. And I love her suggestion that people consider their membership of organisations like ASCL as outsourcing their desire to influence the wider system. We do our best to do that for you. #ASCL2025

The fabulous @sineadmc.bsky.social is now on stage at #ASCL2025, sharing some worrying stats about the mental health and wellbeing of school and college staff and the reasons behind these, including the decimation of wider services and the pressures of a high-stakes, low-trust accountability system.

Not already an ASCL member? Ruth is ready to let you know all about our special #ASCL2025 joining offer.

Representatives from our member support and professional development teams and leaders' networks are also on hand to answer any queries.

We're in Hall 2 and looking forward to seeing you!

Inclusion in Practice An inclusive education hub, to bring together examples of what successful inclusion looks like in practice.

#ASCL2025 - @tomrees.bsky.social provides more information about the launch of @inclusioninpractice.org.uk, where inclusive education is a national priority—and a shared responsibility.

You can read more here: inclusioninpractice.org.uk

#inclusion #education

Next at #ASCL2025, our SEND & Inclusion Specialist @mmulholland.bsky.social interviews @tomrees.bsky.social, Chair of DfE's
Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion. Tom says we need to acknowledge that the current system just isn't working, despite the best efforts of all those working within it.

Areas for attention include the Ebacc and its impact on curriculum breadth, the volume and content of some subjects, the extent to which the curriculum recognises changes in society and technology, and how well the curriculum prepares young people for life and work.

Chair of the Curriculum & Assessment Review @beckyfrancis.bsky.social tells #ASCL2025 what she & the team have heard as they’ve consulted over the last few months. There’s strong support from educators & families for the ‘evolution not revolution’ approach, but also a clear sense of changes needed.

General secretary @pepediiasio.bsky.social tells #ASCL2025 that the last thing the sector needs is an inspection system that “intensifies the pressures they face”.

“And yet incredibly that’s exactly what is being proposed.”

“We support the principle of report cards - but not like this.”

To applause from delegates at #ASCL2025, General Secretary Pepe Di’Iasio proposes a simpler, fairer, more intelligent approach to implementing school report cards.

You can read more about this proposal here: www.ascl.org.uk/ASCL/media/A...

ASCL General Secretary @pepediiasio.bsky.social opens Day 2 of #ASCL2025 by referencing two of our Association's founding mothers- the formidable Frances Mary Buss and Sophie Bryant.

Sir Martyn Oliver references the recommendation in ASCL's Blueprint for a Fairer Education System for a balanced scorecard - but disagrees with our suggestion that schools & colleges should be evaluated as simply having met or not met standards in different aspects of education. #ASCL2025

You did - apologies Darren, that was my omission.

HMCI Sir Martyn Oliver tells @ASCL2025 that it's really important that serving school and college leaders respond to Ofsted'current consultation. ASCL will be submitting our response, and sharing it with members, next week.

Really welcome recognition from the Secretary of State that many of the challenges schools are currently facing can't be fixed within schools themselves, but need wider system reform. #ASCL2025