The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus

The ASCL team sends our best wishes to all celebrating St David's Day today.

#Wales #Cymru #DyddGwylDewi#StDavidsDay

#ASCLCouncil is the engine room of our policymaking, run by members for our members.

We currently have several vacancies available to represent #ASCLmembers in different regions and primary, and post-16 and FE.

Details at www.ascl.org.uk/councilelections (nominations close noon, 16 March).

ASCL briefing | 27 February 2026 ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. www.ascl.org.uk

#ASCLmembers: more on the Schools White Paper in today's video briefing with Pepe Di’Iasio , including some of the questions you've been raising with us around several key areas, particularly funding and resources: https://ow.ly/envE50Yn1Bx

#education #SEND #funding

ASCL Cymru briefing 27 Febuary 2026 ASCL Cymru Education Policy Officer, Cath Falcus, updates school and college leaders with the latest information.

#ASCLmembers in #Wales: today's video briefing with @catherine-falcus.bsky.social includes the latest attendance figures, information on the new GCSE double award grades, and the interim report on the evaluation of universal primary free school meals: https://ow.ly/q6Yw50YmTj2

#Cymru #education

Just two weeks until #ASCL2026 in Liverpool. Our theme this year is 'Forward Together', reflecting our commitment to champion collaboration and collective action.

Join us as we share ideas and reignite our collective sense of purpose.

Full details at www.ascl.org.uk/annualconference

#ASCLmembers: it's a packed edition of Post-16 News by Claire Green this month, including the latest on the Schools White Paper, and our response to the Alan Milburn #NEETReview,.

Subscribe to our newsletters at www.ascl.org.uk/MyASCL and select via 'Preferences'.

#education #post16 #FE #college

*JOIN THE ASCL TEAM*

We're looking for a Marketing Coordinator to join our busy team, where you'll be supporting member #recruitment, working with #data and online platforms as well as being creative and solution focused.

Find out more at www.ascl.org.uk/vacancies

#vacancies #jobs #marketing

👀 Happy to have a piece featured in this week’s @feweek.bsky.social summarising our response @ascl-uk.bsky.social to the NEET crisis:

feweek.co.uk/we-need-a-14...

ASCL Northern Ireland briefing | 26 February 2026 ASCL Director of Northern Ireland, Michael McAuley, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. This edition includes updates on the School…

#ASCLmembers in #NorthernIreland: this week's video briefing includes updates on the School Uniforms Bill, SEN reforms and the enhanced support model published by the Education Authority, and the EA consultation on the five-year savings plan: https://vimeo.com/1168457964?fl=ip&fe=ec

BBC Sounds - SEND in the Spotlight - Available Episodes Listen to the latest episodes of SEND in the Spotlight on BBC Sounds.

BBC #WomansHour has recorded a special #SEND in the Spotlight edition looking at the impact of the Government's SEND reforms following this week's publication of the Schools White Paper, with Margaret Mulholland joining the guests.

Listen to the recording at https://ow.ly/SC7450Yml8G

#education

#ASCLmembers: February's edition of Independent Sector News by Neil is out now and includes a summary of the Schools White Paper, the Independent Sector Forum, and reflections on the recent #ASCLCouncil.

Subscribe to this and our other newsletters via www.ascl.org.uk/MyASCL and 'Preferences'.

#ASCL2026 delegates: you can now download the Conference app. It's free, easy to download and available now (instructions have been issued to you this week by email).

Make sure you book your workshop sessions so you don't miss out on your preferred choices.

Thanks to Pearson, our app sponsors.

ASCL briefing | 24 February 2026 ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. www.ascl.org.uk

#ASCLmembers: our video briefings with Pepe Di’Iasio return this week, with today's briefing focused on the publication yesterday of the long-awaited Schools White Paper: https://ow.ly/3Tu250Yl5VE

#SEND #education #SchoolsWhitePaper

Forward Together: we’re celebrating all that is positive in education and working collectively to tackle the toughest challenges.

Hear from inspirational leaders in education and beyond at @ascl-uk.bsky.social

We'll be on stand 78 and look forward to seeing you there.
buff.ly/Jk5b5yE

#ASCL2026

ASCL Cymru briefing 24 Febuary 2026 ASCL Director of Cymru, Claire Armitstead, updates school and college leaders with the latest information.

#ASCLmembers in #Wales: welcome back to a new term. Today's video briefing includes details of our webinars on safeguarding and effective pupil support, and coaching and team building, #ASCL2026, plus resources to celebrate St David's Day with 'random acts of Welshness':
https://ow.ly/5j5h50YkWec

“School and college leaders will have two questions in mind – will there be enough money to deliver what the government is setting out, and how on earth are we going to meet all these new expectations?

Our full comment on the #schoolswhitepaper: https://ow.ly/IxkO50YkQEV

#SEND #education

Prioritise your #professionaldevelopment: keep up to date with the latest on all our CPD events and opportunities.

Whether you're an ASCL member or not yet a member, sign up to receive our weekly, term-time newsletter, next due out on 26 February.

ℹ️ www.ascl.org.uk/pd/newsletter

"We welcome the government’s plans to reduce the disadvantage gap and its recognition that schools cannot do this on their own...We look forward to discussing this in more detail, including major reform of the SEN system.”

Full comment on plan to halve disadvantage gap:
https://ow.ly/yAmw50Yk5r8

"The support I've had from ASCL has been extraordinary. I still have my family, a house and my job, and it's no exaggeration to say that without ASCL, I would have nothing."

ASCL is here to help.

Don't miss our fantastic joining offer available during February:
www.ascl.org.uk/join

Over the last few years, the car market has evolved rapidly, particularly with electric engines, but with so many options, which vehicle might be right for you? In their guest blog, Motor Source Group provide a guide and details of special offers for #ASCLmembers.
https://ow.ly/49PB50YcKqg

“...the government must ensure that prices are set at a level which is sufficient to meet the needs of children who require significant support."

Our full response to plans over independent special school fees: https://ow.ly/fMQs50YiEz7

#SEND #independent #education #funding

ASCL NI briefing 19 February 2026 ASCL Director of Northern Ireland, Michael McAuley, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. This edition includes key updates including…

#ASCLmembers in #NorthernIreland: this week's video briefing includes the DE's publication of its consultation on CCEA's GCSE and A level qualifications, the DE's five-year savings plan, and our member surveys on parental behaviour and discrimination: https://ow.ly/82H350Yi8ks

"...it will be essential that all schools have the resources they need to deliver this provision – the investment in staffing and swift access to specialist support that is required.”

Our full comment on reported #SEND reform plans: https://ow.ly/xSGm50Yi6bN

#education

Pepe Di'Iasio | BBC Radio 4 - 19 February 2026 Pepe Di'Iasio, ASCL General Secretary, speaks to BBC Radio 4 regarding the government's SEND reforms. www.ascl.org.uk

If you missed ASCL General Secretary @pepediiasio.bsky.social interview on BBC Radio 4 Today's programme earlier this morning on the Government's SEND reforms, you can listen to the discussion here:
vimeo.com/1166279356

#SEND #policy #education

"The very first conversation that I had with the Hotline was supportive, reassuring and it was clear that there was a lot of knowledge of similar situations."

#ASCLmembers: we're here to help, including during #halfterm. Find out more at www.ascl.org.uk/hotline

#education #leadership

"From the first call to hotline through to the resolution of my case, the whole process has been exemplary.”

We're here to help you in times of trouble, including providing expert legal advice.

Join ASCL today and receive 50% off membership fees until December 2026: www.ascl.org.uk/join

Uneven Ofsted inspection outcomes show change is needed An overview of the first inspections suggests a disparity is emerging between secondary and primary schools that needs addressing, says ASCL’s Andy Jordan

An overview of the first inspections suggests a disparity is emerging between secondary and primary schools that needs addressing, says ASCL's Andy Jordan in his article in Tes magazine

'Uneven #Ofsted inspection outcomes show change is needed':
https://ow.ly/eyxU50YcUcl

Whether you're on a half-term break this week or next week, or maybe there's still another week to go, whichever it is, we hope you find some time to rest and recharge.

#ASCLmembers: remember our member hotline is here for you. Check availability at www.ascl.org.uk/hotline

#education #halfterm

ASCL briefing | 13 February 2026 ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, updates school and college leaders with the latest information. www.ascl.org.uk

Our end-of-week and end-of-term video briefing comes from #ASCLCouncil with Pepe Di’Iasio joined by ASCL Vice President @gurpallb.bsky.social ASCL Immediate Past President Manny Botwe and ASCL President Jo Rowley who share their reflections of the past two days: https://ow.ly/C6Yb50Yf8sN

ASCL Cymru briefing | Neil Foley | 13 February 2026 ASCL Cymru President, Neil Foley updates school and college leaders with the latest information.

ASCL #Cymru President 2025-26 Neil Foley has also recorded an update for members in #Wales at today's #ASCLCouncil, and reiterates our four askes for #education in the #ASCLCymruManifesto : https://vimeo.com/1164671881

#policy