Barbara Stanley reports from ASCL’s annual information conference for leaders in the independent sector.

Independents’ Day

The ASCL Information Conference for Independent School Leaders offers a valuable opportunity for heads, deputies and assistant heads to hear from ASCL staff about key changes in the national education landscape affecting their roles as both employers and employees.

When planning the programme, we expected that there would be more change and probably some continuing upheaval as a new government established itself. In the event, as we know, this was not the case: so many of our initiatives are now going ahead as planned. In that sense, there was less to update members on than had been anticipated.

Former ASCL Curriculum and Assessment Specialist Cherry Ridgway explained the multitude of changes happening now, even revising her presentation on the day as new announcements were made. One of the items attracting most attention was old-style or ‘legacy’ GCSEs. While independent schools are increasingly dismissing a ‘zero’ in the school performance tables as a price worth paying in order to do what is best for pupils, confusion over whether or not papers will continue to be set in the ‘old’ GCSEs aroused considerable interest.

Greater co-operation

Director of Policy Leora Cruddas gave an analysis of the Conservative manifesto commitments for education and how they may affect us. Apart from the crucial aspects of curriculum and examinations, the independent sector may remain relatively unaffected but there are areas where co-operation for the good of the profession will be very advantageous – for example, in the provision of high-quality continuous professional development and learning (CPDL) and Initial Teacher Training (ITT), as we all need a pool of high-quality teachers. One interesting manifesto pledge is to increase the number of teachers able to teach Mandarin, a language relatively common in independent schools.

Future of education

The limited changes at the DfE meant that there was time for ASCL General Secretary Brian Lightman, Leora Cruddas and President Peter Kent to discuss with the delegates the ASCL blueprint (www.ascl.org. uk/blueprint) and how the profession can help shape the future of education. There was an amazing buzz of stimulating discussion around the blueprint and many colleagues said that the chance to be involved in debate about the future of education was very satisfying.

Dr William Richardson, General Secretary of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), spoke about developments in the independent sector and the future risks and opportunities. It was sobering and exciting in equal measure!

Role as employers

It is easy for busy school leaders to function inside a ‘bubble’ of one’s own school or sector. Consequently, ASCL Deputy General Secretary Malcolm Trobe’s annual round-up of current issues provides very useful insights. Deputy Senior Solicitor Sarah Linden gave a comprehensive talk on recent developments in HR and employment law, including changes to paternity legislation. As a number of delegates remarked, this session alone could have taken up at least a half-day seminar.

Being an employee

“Our members find increasingly imaginative ways of getting themselves into trouble,” I once heard an ASCL officer say!

Immersed as we are in work, independent school leaders tend to forget that we are employees as well as employers and that ASCL’s underlying function is to support its members. Director of Member Support Richard Tanton gave some timely warnings and explained the hotline and personal member support functions. It was a useful session especially for the deputy and assistant heads present, some of whom were unaware of this aspect of ASCL work. “I found the hotline very useful only yesterday…much appreciated,” one delegate wrote.

Pensions Specialist Stephen Casey was much in demand during the break following his talk on the changes to pension and salary arrangements that affect all school leaders. I would strongly urge all members to make time to consider their own position and to consult ASCL. If you don’t know about the Annual and Lifetime Allowances, you need to!

Finally…

This unique annual conference brings together many topics, specialists and spheres of influence geared to the independent sector in one place on one day. I attended the first one as a head and was very impressed that participants left the event so much better informed and with much food for thought. I am heartened by the positive feedback that supports the view that this year’s conference fulfilled the same objective. Arguably, it is particularly relevant for deputies and assistant heads and heads who are relatively new in post, but all benefit, as education and the law change so fast.

Some of the presentation slides can be made available. If you are interested, email me at barbara.stanley@ascl.org.uk

Booking for next year’s conference on the earlier date of Thursday 5 May 2016 is already open. For more information or to book your place go to www.ascl.org.uk/infoconfinde

Barbara Stanley is ASCL Independent Schools Specialist

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