“Teacher pay awards of the level required to meet workforce challenges can only be delivered if schools and colleges have the money to afford them and too often that is not the case." National Foundation for Educational Research report on fall in real terms teacher pay: https://ow.ly/lMFz50YyM2A

#ASCLmembers: look out for the spring edition of digital Leader, out today. Features include more on the ‘policy tsunami’ landing on schools and colleges, the white paper reforms, the impact of the new #Ofsted framework, and the troubling exodus of minority teachers from the profession.

🗞️This week's FE Week front page: EHCP curbs trigger new duties for colleges and Level 2 admin apprenticeship still out of office Subscribe | feweek.co.uk/subscribe/ #TomorrowsPapersToday

#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#ASCLmembers#NEETReviewnd select via 'Preferences'. #education #post16 #FE #college

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#ASCL2026

Join now for our @ascl-uk.bsky.social Business Leader Online Forum on: 11 March at 9.00 am for ASCL Cymru 18 March at 9.00 am 4.00 pm England - DfE updates

📢 BREAKING NEWS The @ascl-uk.bsky.social & Education Mutual Business Leader Roadshows are back for 2026 and bookings are now live. 📍 Wednesday 24 June, Birmingham lnkd.in/e5Texkyw 📍 Wednesday 1 July, Cardiff lnkd.in/eJJMtnXR Prices held at the same price as 2025 Book now!

👀 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...

It's #HeartUnions Week next week and because we ❤️ unions, we've a very special time-limited offer for new members. We're proud to support and represent more than 25,000 leaders of primary, secondary, and post-16 education from across the UK. Available 9 and 10 February here: www.ascl.org.uk/join#HeartUnions

Excited to be leading a post‑16 workshop at @ascl-uk.bsky.social Annual Conference with colleagues from Kent Pathways For All. We’ll explore govt plans for a guaranteed post‑16 place for every learner, what it means for schools & practical steps to prepare. ✨14:45 Workshop 2✨ tinyurl.com/4hamx2dk

🎬 A privilege to be at the launch of 'Molly vs The Machines' for @ascl-uk.bsky.social - a powerful film about Molly Russell's tragic story and the urgent need for increased online safety. Key message: young people aren’t the problem; algorithms are. More info + trailer: mollyrosefoundation.org

A great morning at the House of Commons APPG for Universities. Spoke on behalf of @ascl-uk.bsky.social about boosting access to higher‑level learning. Excellent insights from fellow speakers & a wide‑ranging discussion on pathways, apprenticeships, L4/5, widening participation & systemic barriers.

🗞️ Our latest Post‑16 News is out now, packed with December & January updates. Inside: Level 3 reforms, GCSE resits, Ofsted FE FAQs, NEETs Review, VAWG & RSE resources, IFS funding & much more. @ascl-uk.bsky.social members: update your preferences if you didn’t receive it.

@tiffharris.bsky.social gets the #ASCLLiteracy and Oracy Conference underway. @marcrowland73.bsky.social shares different ways to support disadvantaged and vulnerable learners with #literacy and #oracy and its importance in helping to unlock success and improve outcomes for all pupils.

🕛Reminder: the Post‑16 Level 3 & Below Pathways consultation closes at 12am, Mon 12 Jan. @ascl-uk.bsky.social has responded: lnkd.in/eXbfnKnv We support V levels in principle but warn against a rushed rollout, limited flexibility & premature removal of AGQs. #Vlevels #HaveYourSay

📊 Nov 2025 GCSE resits: ✅ English up (37.5% 4+, now above pre‑pandemic) ❌ Maths stuck (23.2%, below 2019) 📈 More resitting Progress is possible – but the current model, esp for maths, isn’t working for #TheForgottenThird. With reform on the table, we must act now. Full JCQ data: shorturl.at/dRz9K

Pleased to represent @ascl-uk.bsky.social members at today’s Westminster Education Forum conference on Level 3 reform. Highlighted implementation challenges and the need to prioritise accessibility & transition. ⏳Remember: consultation closes Mon 12th Jan - shorturl.at/8vUQF

#ASCLmembers: look out for January's edition of #Primary Focus by @tiffharris.bsky.social. This issue includes information on chicken pox vaccinations, early years funding rates, and school performance data. Subscribe for our newsletters via www.ascl.org.uk/MyASCL and 'Preferences'.

@julia-harnden.bsky.social is such a font of edu-financial wisdom - it is a real privilege to work with her. This article provides a really balanced summary 👏🏻

Join us in Manchester next month when we'll be inviting leaders to examine how strong #pastoral leadership underpins a thriving, connected and successful school community. Full details at www.ascl.org.uk/pastoral#pastoral Many thanks to event sponsor humanutopia #ASCLPastoral #SEND

Lorna Newbrook appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to promote her #pintformike blood donation campaign. If you’re a post-16 leader, use Lorna’s 🆓 resources as part of your Y12/13 programme and help your students to save lives in memory of Mike♥️ pintformike.org

🎯 First term at ASCL done! Grateful to work with inspiring colleagues & excited for what’s ahead in post-16 education. 🎄 Wishing everyone a well-deserved Christmas break – thank you for all you do to support young people! 🫶🏻 #FestiveThanks #ChristmasWishes

“It is great news that more young people will get to benefit from studying abroad...through Erasmus+. Our hope is that this will help to incentivise language learning in schools...and put young people in the UK on an even footing with their European peers." Full comment: https://ow.ly/BlqG50XKOju

🆕 FE Outcomes 2022/23 for 544,050 learners aged 16–18: ✅ 85%➡️sustained positive destinations (-1ppt) 💼 48%➡️employment (-3ppt) 🎓 66%➡️learning (+1ppt) (51➡️FE;15➡️HE) ⚖️ 2% benefits V positive overall, but regional gaps remain tinyurl.ee/kDNQe 👏🏻THANK YOU FE staff👏🏻

🌟More wonderful wisdom from @mmulholland.bsky.social 🌟

📢 Maths & English funding rules 2026–27 ✅100 hrs per subject ✅Face-to-face, whole-class ✅+35 maths hrs encouraged ✅2.5% tolerance stays 👀DfE will consult on English & maths resit policy changes from the White Paper in early 2026. Full update: tinyurl.tools/bb1427eb

1 in 8 young people (16–24) in the UK are NEET - enough to fill Wembley Stadium x10. Alan Milburn has launched an inquiry & is calling for a “coalition of the concerned” – educators, employers, communities – to share evidence & ideas. 💻 Submit here by 30 Jan: shorturl.at/6Ofgy #NEET #Post16

Lorna is determined to get this out to post-16 providers & has created a 🆓PowerPoint with her powerful 3min video & letter for parents for schools & colleges to use with their Y13. This also links to calls in the post-16 white paper for enrichment to include civic engagement. #whatsstoppingyou?

✍️ Sixth form colleges and designated institutions will be able to apply to become one of 19 new ‘technical excellence colleges’ next year, under plans for wave two of the TEC programme feweek.co.uk/bids-open-fo...

Final week of term for post-16 leaders? Focus on 4 priorities: ✅ Check in on vulnerable students & complete safeguarding actions ✅ Share helplines & support for the break ✅ Thank your team personally ✅ Celebrate successes & bring some joy! Small actions = big impact. www.linkedin.com/posts/claire...

🎓 UCAS 2025 data: cost-of-living reshaping post-18 choices. • ~1 in 3 to live at home (⬆️ from 1 in 5 in 2015) • >50% of most disadv learners commute vs <20% least disadv • 43% 💬 living costs make HE less likely • Scholarships & proximity major factors in uni choice www.ucas.com/data-and-ana...

#ASCLmembers: December's festive-themed Team ASCL webinar, including NFF allocations, #AutumnBudget, #SEND funding, the college financial planning handbook, and lifelong learning entitlement, is available to watch or download: www.ascl.org.uk/teamascl#ASCLmembers#AutumnBudget#SENDlog in required)

"We also call for wider systemic support including improved access to mental health services, secure housing, and affordable transport, which are critical to enabling participation in education and training." Full comment on funding for training & workplace opportunities: https://ow.ly/J52H50XFLAv

With EHCP demand rising, tribunals increasing and councils facing unsustainable deficits, we look at the specialist colleges forming partnerships in their communities that could provide part of the solution to the SEND crisis @natspec.bsky.social @ohcandat.bsky.social feweek.co.uk/send-first-c...

c.1M young people set to benefit from new govt investment in post-16 pathways: ✅ £34m for NEET prevention & FE attendance ✅ Pilot: auto-enrolment for those without a post-16 place ✅ 350K new training/work opportunities ✅ Jobs Guarantee for 18–21 UC claimants 🔗 tinyurl.com/4srcytb5

Great to present for @ascl-uk.bsky.social at today’s trailblazing Kent #PathwaysForAll event! Fab to see schools, FE & specialist FE leaders, employers & LA united to ensure ambitious post-16 pathways, tackle NEET & address skills gaps.Grateful for all insights shared - true collaboration in action!

Thanks to @midkentcollege.bsky.social for hosting me today – great discussions on curriculum reform & fantastic to see such diverse provision in action! Special thanks to Chris Hare, Jim Mawby, James Egan & Simon Cook for organising. Excited for tomorrow’s Kent Sector-Wide #Post-16 Conversation.

Continuing visits to FE colleges this week to hear priorities & how CAR + White Paper proposals are landing. Thanks @midkentcollege.bsky.social & Simon Cook for arranging. Excited to keynote at Kent’s #PathwaysForAll event on Thurs & hear more about how #KentChoices is helping ⬇️ NEETs too.

Lovely to finally receive the certificate for this today. A lot of work to complete alongside working full time on SLT in school. Thank you to everyone who helped and supported along the way 🫶🏻

Thanks to all at #Netsixthform Autumn Conference! Great engagement from delegates. All resources are on Padlet, containing links to further detail. Remember: Join @ascl-uk.bsky.social by 7 Dec for discounted fees + chance to win £200 M&S hamper! ascl.org.uk/Membership

Looking forward to presenting two sessions for @ascl-uk.bsky.social at the (always brilliant) NetSixthForm Conference tomorrow, updating sixth form leaders on recent changes from the Post-16 White Paper & CAR as well as helping to prepare for the renewed Ofsted framework.

An outstanding analysis of the challenges around SEND & practical recommendations from the brilliant @mmulholland.bsky.social. Grateful to work alongside such expertise @ascl-uk.bsky.social. Thanks for including that 13.8% of EHCPs are held by post-16 students, to bring this group into focus too 👏🏻

Thanks to everyone who joined today’s #Esports webinar and engaged with our brilliant panel! 🎮 Huge thanks to Kalam Neale, Alice Whorley & Tom Dore for sharing expert insights on Esports in education. (1/2)

Huge thanks to Alison Maynard & the team at New College Durham for such a warm welcome & a brilliant insight into their impressive provision 👏 Great conversations on T Levels, V levels, apprenticeships, L2, foundation degrees & employer engagement. (1/2)

#ASCLmembers: the latest #Primary Focus by @tiffharris.bsky.social is out now, with a closer look at the #Curriculum and #Assessment Review and its implications for primary schools, updates on #Ofsted under the new inspection framework, and upcoming professional development opportunities.

💰 Sixth form college teachers have accepted a pay award of 4 per cent but have rejected workload proposals by leaders feweek.co.uk/sixth-form-c...

Essential reading: Shuab Gamote & @peterhyman.bsky.social amplify the voices of KS5 students, revealing the wisdom, clarity & hope they bring to today’s challenges. Let’s empower 16–19s as #rolemodels: credible, grounded, inspiring. Meet them where they are, & listen. The recommendations are 🎯

Today's briefing with @pepediiasio.bsky.social comes from ASCL HQ and includes reflections on the first #Ofsted inspections under the new framework, Progress 8 and Attainment 8 performance measures, and the latest on the post-16 and skills white paper and V levels: ow.ly/Bz8Z50Xq23b

Check my LinkedIn post for more detail on the context of the Level 3 landscape behind this blog too: www.linkedin.com/posts/claire...