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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

We believe that implementing the actions proposed in this paper would put England on a clear path to recognising and addressing the major challenges in the current system, to ensuring all children and young people succeed and thrive, and to creating a roadmap for a sustainable education system. 7/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

Instead, what's important is that there is sufficient funding and infrastructure to meet the needs of children and families, and that different agencies work together to ensure those needs are met in the most appropriate and effective way. 6/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

We've tried to recognise the complexities of the education landscape. There's no one-size-fits-all solution. 5/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

- Ensure that school and college performance tables and Ofsted inspections are based only on core education responsibilities
- Introduce a system which enables schools, colleges, or other local agencies to flag up if they don’t think another agency is fulfilling its remit 4/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

- Invest in children’s services to ensure that pupils’ health and social care needs are met
- Map out who is responsible for what in each local area with clarity about the roles of education, health and social care 3/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

The report highlights the scale of these responsibilities & the impact this is having on the recruitment & retention of staff. It ends with a series of recommendations for central government, local government & other middle tier bodies, and schools, colleges and trusts themselves. These include: 2/7

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Sep 2

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 · Sep 2

“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

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

Tes magazine @tesmagazine.bsky.social · Jun 24

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

www.tes.com

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 26

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 · Mar 26

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'

Parents 'seem to support' new report cards, Oliver claims

Chief inspector to point to YouGov polling of parents as leaders continue to urge him to think again

buff.ly

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

Jude Enright @judeenright.bsky.social · Mar 25

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

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 25

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 · Mar 25

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

Delay Ofsted report cards and school profiles, heads urge

Ofsted’s plan for inspection report cards will cause greater anxiety for heads and make judgements less reliable, warns ASCL

www.tes.com

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 25

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 · Mar 25

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 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

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) @ascl-uk.bsky.social · Mar 25

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/...

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

Education Policy Institute @edupolicyinst.bsky.social · Mar 22

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👇

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

Becky Francis @beckyfrancis.bsky.social · Mar 18

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.

www.gov.uk

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

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 · Mar 15

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.

Ofsted plans will ‘sledgehammer’ teacher recruitment, warns ASCL

Speaking to Tes as ASCL’s annual conference begins, general secretary Pepe Di’Iasio issues a warning about Ofsted’s inspection changes and calls on the government to ‘show the money’ for its pledge to...

www.tes.com

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

@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

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

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.

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) @ascl-uk.bsky.social · Mar 15

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!

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) @ascl-uk.bsky.social · Mar 15

#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

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

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.

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

Areas for attention include the Ebacc and its impact on curriculum breadth, the volume and content of some subjects, the extent to which the curriculum recognises changes in society and technology, and how well the curriculum prepares young people for life and work.

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

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.

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Reposted by Julie McCulloch

Cerys Turner @cerysturner.bsky.social · Mar 15

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.”

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Julie McCulloch @juliemcculloch.bsky.social · Mar 15

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...

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