ASCL’s first independent schools conference heard how the key challenges of a modern, self-improving education system are actually common to schools and colleges of all kinds, says Rosanne Musgrave.

Thinking alike...

The first ASCL Information Conference for Independent School Leaders took place in London in June. The event focused on the needs of the association’s independent school members with a programme designed to address the concerns of senior leaders from all types of independent schools and colleges in the UK.

The keynote address from the then ASCL President Ian Bauckham was on ‘Working together – a shared vision of education’ and the outstanding theme of the day was that of shared values. Although sometimes viewed from a slightly different angle, the major areas of interest and challenge emerged as being very much those that concern all members. Equally, the elements of a self-improving, school-led system – partnership, collaboration, intelligent accountability, governance and teacher professionalism – are clearly common to all types of school and college.

General Secretary Brian Lightman spoke about current challenges in the contexts of domestic policy and politics and also from a global perspective. The pace and level of recent reforms and the resulting uncertainties around planning for the future have been as real a cause for disquiet for those leading independent schools as for those in other sectors, and this is now compounded by the political parties’ manoeuvring in the run up to next May’s General Election.

ASCL’s own manifesto priorities – autonomy and accountability, intelligent resourcing and teacher professionalism – were highlighted by Brian alongside the global and national issues of demographics and social conditions.

All this was of real significance to those in the independent sector and there was considerable discussion afterwards on both of these matters and on the recent Independent Schools Council (ISC) report on the impact of independent schools on the British economy.

Curriculum reform

Curriculum and Assessment Specialist Sue Kirkham talked about the various aspects of curriculum and qualification reform and highlighted the differing requirements that will be placed on schools in the future and in the immediate transitional period. She dealt with changes in assessment and with the expectations of government and Ofsted as well as detailing the reforms for GCSE and A level until 2018 and beyond.

Contrasting the demands of the new qualifications and the skills required by employers, Sue drew attention to the tensions inherent in preparing students for examinations and for their future professional and personal lives and to the issues facing school leaders when preparing staff – and parents – for the changes ahead.

Deputy General Secretary Malcolm Trobe later picked up on many questions about reform in an overview of changing pay arrangements, including appraisal and performance-related pay (PRP), headteacher and teacher standards, teacher supply and teacher education. He also outlined concerns with regard to funding in various areas.

Pensions Specialist David Binnie also spoke about transition, this time examining the changes happening in the teachers’ pension scheme. He took the audience through the issues of contributions, retirement age, the care scheme, auto-enrolment, annual and lifetime allowances, income tax, National Insurance (NI) and Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) freedoms and concluded with a list of ‘must dos’. At least one person present was observed checking his service record and nominations on his mobile during the lunch-break, suggesting David certainly dealt with concerns common to all senior school leaders! 

Independent school leaders in all sectors look at the areas of employment law and HR from two perspectives: on the one hand they carry out the management responsibilities delegated to them by governors and others; on the other, they are themselves employees. Both viewpoints were addressed during the day.

ASCL Hotline Leader David Snashall gave a whirlwind tour of current and forthcoming legislation on ‘family-friendly’ topics, such as parental rights, flexible working and emergency leave; employment tribunals; whistleblowing; settlement agreements; data protection; investigations and changes to the Equality Act 2010. He also offered a reminder of the teacher standards common to all sectors.

Member support

Director of Member Support Richard Tanton outlined the association’s member support function and went through the various stages that can arise from an initial enquiry to the ASCL advice line through to the eventual resolution of what may have been a very complex and difficult situation. Richard also explained the development of a regional ASCL presence and its significance to members.

Other speakers included Barbara Stanley, who shared her very positive experience of being a member of ASCL Council, and Peter Bodkin, General Secretary of The Society of Heads, who, together with Charlotte Vere, Executive Director of the Girls’ Schools Association, offered their perspectives.

To return to Ian Bauckham’s theme, ‘Working together – a shared vision of education’ was the distinctive leitmotif of the day. Ian spoke frankly of the differing views that exist about private schools and looked at their contributions and the differences between the sectors. He quoted the philosopher and essayist Nassim Nicholas Taleb on the positive effects that stress can offer to any system and concluded with a holiday reading list featuring the work of Carol Dweck, Matthew Syed, James Heckman, Paul Tough and Daniel Willingham.

Whatever the perspective, it was clear that the day was a very useful and productive addition to ASCL’s calendar.

Rosanne Musgrave is ASCL Independent Schools Specialist

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