A new EPI report makes clear the need for smarter and more sustained interventions to tackle disadvantage, argue these education leaders from the Coalition for Pupil Premium Reform

Catch-up and keep-up: eroding the disadvantage gap must be a long game

Education leaders who form the Coalition for Pupil Premium Reform say a new EPI report makes clear the need for smarter and more sustained interventions to tackle disadvantage

tes.com

Narrowing the disadvantage gap is the defining educational challenge of our time. This new report from @edupolicyinst.bsky.social & @theeef.bsky.social offers some grounds for cautious optimism that we can begin to tackle that challenge. More detail from lead author @msemilyhunt.bsky.social below.

Emily Hunt@msemilyhunt.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Today @edupolicyinst.bsky.social and @theeef.bsky.social have co-published a major new report ‘Growing Apart’. Using linked data, we examine how the disadvantage gap emerges and widens from age 5 through to post-16. It's a chunky report so here are some of the highlights: epi.org.uk/publications...

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

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)@ascl-uk.bsky.social · 11mo ago

“More needs to be done to clearly distinguish where the core responsibilities of #education staff start and end." Today, we launch our new paper, A Roadmap to a Sustainable Education System. ➡️Press release: ow.ly/Nv6O50WP8HZ ➡️Download report www.ascl.org.uk/RoadmapSustainableEducation #policy

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

Unions could ask school leaders to quit as Ofsted inspectors

ASCL and NAHT set out ‘unprecedented step’ being considered in letter to education secretary

tes.com

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.

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · last yr.

Sir Martyn Oliver will also tell an event run by Parentkind that new report cards would be 'much closer to a child’s school report', insisting they would give a 'more balanced picture of schools'

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

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'

schoolsweek.co.uk

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.

Tes magazine@tesmagazine.bsky.social · last yr.

The introduction of Ofsted’s new inspection system should be delayed, says @ascl-uk.bsky.social – warning that it will cause greater anxiety for heads and make judgements less reliable

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.

Schools Week@schoolsweek.bsky.social · last yr.

The @ascl-uk.bsky.social leaders' union has floated the idea of a '3+ point scale' for Ofsted judgments, as it called on the government and inspectorate to delay reforms to 2026 It warned current plans will leave leaders 'in a worse position than they are now' schoolsweek.co.uk/ascl-floats-...

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👇

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...

Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report

An independent review of the curriculum and assessment system in England, with statistical analysis.

gov.uk

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

Charlotte Santry@charlottesantry.bsky.social · last yr.

Gregg’s sausage rolls, awkward silences & villains: all the @tesmagazine.bsky.social stories from #ASCL2025 in 1 thread. First up: @cerysturner.bsky.social interviewed Ascl gen sec @pepediiasio.bsky.social who warned planned Ofsted reforms would effectively kill off Labour's 6,500 teachers pledge.

@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!

#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

Inclusion in Practice

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

inclusioninpractice.org.uk

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.

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

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

ASCL General Secretary @pepediiasio.bsky.social asks the Secretary of State her views on Ofsted's reform plans. She says we need smarter and more effective accountability, which identifies in a much more granular way what schools are doing well and where they need to improve.

Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson is up next at #ASCL2025. She talks about what we need to enable all children to succeed - great teachers, a curriculum that's fit for purpose, to tackle the attendance crisis, and strong and effective structures and accountability.

"..the proposed changes to the #Ofsted framework feel like a kick in the teeth. We're already under enormous pressure, balancing the needs of our students with increasingly limited resources. More accountability, more high-stakes scrutiny won’t solve the recruitment and retention crisis." #ASCL2025

ASCL President @mannybotwe.bsky.social with a rousing opening keynote at #ASCL2025, outlining what need to be the shared priorities for government and the profession.

🚨NEW PODCAST🚨 Do Ofsted's plans to reform inspections stand up to closer inspection? @ensermark.bsky.social and @juliemcculloch.bsky.social joined me to discuss the potential impact of Ofsted's proposed 'report cards', toolkits and new 5-point grading scale. Listen here: insideyoured.com

We’re looking for three new colleagues to join the brilliant @ascl-uk.bsky.social policy and PD teams: * Inspection and Accountabilty Specialist * Post-16 and Skills Specialist * Professional Leadership Communities Manager More info below, or DM me for a chat. www.ascl.org.uk/vacancies