ASCL Independent Sector News | June 2026 Dear colleague
Welcome to the last independent sector newsletter of the
2025/26 academic year. I hope that you can reflect in a positive light on this
year, and you are close to closing off all those jobs which need to be
completed before the end of term.
In this edition, I’ve provided a summary of events at ASCL Council from last week, my
experiences at the GSA Summer Briefing, and an update on the ongoing situation
with closures within the sector.
After completing my first full year in post, I’d like to
express my gratitude for the welcome, advice and support which leaders in the sector
have provided, and the feedback on how they believe ASCL can support members in
independent schools most effectively. During the year, I have been collating
this feedback and have developed a plan for how the association can work most
effectively with its members, and this will be shared with members in my
September newsletter. (Now there’s a teaser to tantalise over the summer
holidays!)
I wish you and your staff a restful and relaxing break as
and when it comes.
Best wishes CURRENT ISSUESASCL Council
The summer term meeting of ASCL
Council on 11 and 12 June once again prompted lively and constructive
discussion around the major issues currently facing schools and colleges, and
included a helpful review of the large number of initiatives and polices which
have emerged from the DfE during the last nine months. Although I have recently
published a blog assessing how the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act will impact on
independent schools, I shall shortly be providing a meta-analysis of how the
many policies and guidance issued during this academic year are likely to
impact upon independent schools.
During our Council meeting of independent sector
representatives, we discussed the ambitions for the Education Sector Action
Group (ESAG), a body set up to deliver the Government’s 2026 international
education strategy, and how ESAG adviser organisations such as ASCL might help
inform the work of the ESAG. GSA representative Julie Keller, Head of
Nottingham Girls’ High School, provided a fascinating insight into how they
have implemented an online learning model for students across a small number of
Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) schools as a means of maintaining access to A level
subjects which the individual schools might financially struggle to offer
separately. This certainly sounded like a model which is worth considering by
other schools who are finding it difficult to continue offering a curriculum
which provides a crucial point of difference to non-fee-paying schools and emphatically
highlighted the importance of independent schools working together, rather than
in competition, for the benefit of their children.
As a reminder, the representatives from the three independent
sector associations affiliated to ASCL are: Shaun Fenton (HMC); Julie Keller
(GSA); Martyn Beer (representing the Yorkshire region). A special mention must
be made of Roland Martin, who has completed his two four-year terms
representing the Society of Heads, including chairing the independent sector
group during the course of this year. Thank you, Roland, for all that you have
done during your time on ASCL Council. Details of his replacement as Society of
Heads representative will follow in September.
GSA summer briefing
Earlier this week I was delighted to be given the opportunity to address the
GSA Summer Briefing, speaking alongside the Independent Schools Council (ISC)
leadership on the ‘State of the Nation’. Following the detailed, and quite
sobering, summary of the new ISC Census delivered by the ISC’s CEO Julie
Robinson, Deputy CEO and Head of Policy Simon Nathan, and Public Affairs and
Policy Manager Tacho Onuluk, my emphasis was on the importance for all leaders
and their governing boards of not being complacent about their current position
and instead, challenging themselves to ‘think the unthinkable’ when it came to
evaluating long-term strategies and which will maximise their chances of being in a
strong position in six to ten years.
Whilst I appreciate that not all of my
suggestions may be close to the top of leaders’ strategic priorities, I hope
the presentation gave some pause for thought regarding the actions which
leaders and their boards need to review now if their long-term future is to be
a bright one. New blog and related podcast
As part of my thinking about the future of the independent sector landscape, I
have been considering how viable and desirable formalising relationships
between independent schools and multi-academy trusts might be. I have shared my
current thinking in my latest blog and related podcast.
School closures
It will have not escaped anyone’s notice that the shape of the independent
sector is shifting on a rapid basis and increasingly, bears less and less
resemblance to the nature of the sector even twelve months ago. Mergers between
schools, and takeovers of schools by charities and for-profit organisations are
being announced frequently, as are, unfortunately, announcements of school
closures.
In some cases, closures are following earlier takeovers when
school leaders believed that the future of their school had been preserved, a
phenomenon which has recently and sadly been illustrated by events in
Derbyshire.
Whatever the circumstances surrounding a school closure, the
pressure on leaders to manage this process cannot be underestimated, and it is
to be hoped that their governing boards or school proprietors are providing all
necessary support as their employees perform the most undesirable task a school
leader can possibly ever have to do.
Should your school be considering closure, or it is going
through the process of closing, please make use of our excellent hotline team
Whilst they will not be
able to reverse events, they will provide invaluable advice and professional
support for you. It can be all too easy to forget your own needs when so much
of your focus is on smoothing the journeys of others but knowing that there is
someone who you can go to for such support will hopefully provide a degree of
comfort and reassurance. In my role as policy specialist, I am not indemnified
to provide employment advice, but I am more than willing to speak to or meet
any leaders whose school is considering closure or is going through a closure
process to provide informal support (or even just to provide a sounding board
for spleen to be vented!). If you would like to get in touch, please do so via
our hotline or my email. YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Headteacher
Essentials Programme: Starting in July, our programme complements the
NPQH and addresses real-life challenges that school leaders face daily,
from managing staff and parental relationships to fostering an inclusive,
ethical leadership culture in challenging times. Book
your place here.
- ASCL Autumn Data Leader and Accountability
Conference 2026: With major changes to curriculum, assessment, inspection
and accountability reshaping education, our conference is the essential event
for data leaders seeking the latest national updates, practical strategies and
expert insight to lead with confidence. Last year's conference sold out, so
make sure you book early – click on the links to book your place 24
September | London and 29
September | Leeds.
- Our
revamped Leadership Essentials events (previously Autumn Leadership Conferences) return this November, bringing school and college leaders
together for expert policy insights, forward planning, deep-dive
workshops, and opportunities for discussion and reflection during a period
of major education reform. Events will take place in Birmingham,
Manchester, Leeds, and London, with an early bird discount of £55
available for bookings made now. Full
details here.
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The programme can be taught as part of PSHE or as a standalone module. It also includes ready-made lesson plans and resources, and four virtual sessions hosted by HSBC. For more information, please email: educationteam@hsbc.com The National College June 2026
A clearer view of professional development across your whole school How do you identify training needs across every role - and ensure nothing is overlooked?
At Bromsgrove School, leaders wanted a more complete picture of staff development across academic, pastoral and co-curricular teams.
By bringing together appraisal, professional development and day-to-day contributions in one place, they created a more transparent approach to identifying development needs and supporting staff growth. Leaders can review training records, discuss priorities with staff and recommend targeted development opportunities with confidence.
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Read the full case study LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENT
Recruiting a new member of your senior team can be a daunting task, from managing significant change to overseeing the recruitment process. ASCL is here as your trusted recruitment partner, offering support every step of the way.
Whether you need a fully managed end-to-end service or expert advice on designing your final selection process, we can provide tailored solutions to suit your needs. For more information, email consultancy@ascl.org.uk using ‘ASCL LAS’ in the subject line, or visit our website.
To receive updates on vacancies that may be of interest to you, register your details for our Leadership Vacancy Signposting service. NOTICEBOARDAre your details up to date?
If you’ve moved role or employer or you’ve recently changed your home address, email or phone number, please take a few moments to let us know. You can do this easily by logging into your MyASCL account on the website. Ensuring that we have your most up-to-date details will enable us to help you quicker should you need to contact us for support. It will also allow us to make sure that you receive all your member benefits. This message contains privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of the message you must not use, disclose, distribute, copy, print or take action in reliance on it. The views expressed in this email are not the views of the individual sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of ASCL. |
