ASCL Leadership Podcast

Education, Actually 15 October 2026 podcast by ASCL

In this episode, host Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, is joined by Claire Archibald, legal director in the education team at Browne Jacobson, to talk about all things data protection and data governance. They share practical insight into good practice for schools and trusts, and what it means for business leaders day to day.

Kathryn Morgan, ASCL Leadership and Workforce Specialist, is joined by Alex Quigley, independent consultant, educator, and author to have a thoughtful conversation on literacy, inclusion and adaptive teaching. They explore how anticipating barriers, checking understanding, and adapting in response can make inclusion part of everyday practice, and why literacy, SEND, curriculum and teaching should...

ASCL Policy snapshot funding implications Mel x Julia podcast October 2026 by ASCL

Deep dives into topical issues hosted by ASCL General Secretary Pepe Di'Iasio and Laura McInerney, education expert, co-founder of Teacher Tapp and former editor of Schools Week. In this episode, Pepe and Laura are joined by Tom Middlehurst, ASCL Deputy Director of Policy, to discuss vocational qualifications and Ofsted.

Deep dives into topical issues hosted by ASCL General Secretary Pepe Di'Iasio and Laura McInerney, education expert, co-founder of Teacher Tapp and former editor of Schools Week. In this episode, Pepe and Laura examine the PISA results, exam pressure for students' mental health and school lunches.

Deep dives into topical issues hosted by ASCL General Secretary Pepe Di'Iasio and Laura McInerney, education expert, co-founder of Teacher Tapp, and former editor of Schools Week. In this episode, Pepe and Laura talk about plans for schools and colleges under Andy Burnham’s government.

In this episode, host Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, is joined by Sophie Vipond, Director of External Affairs at the Climate Change Committee, and Paul Edmond, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer at Heart Academies Trust, to discuss what climate change means for school and college estates and the practical steps leaders can take now.

How can education leaders manage their estates effectively in an increasingly demanding landscape? In this episode of Business Brunch, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist Emma Harrison and education estates specialist Tracy Field explore the growing responsibilities surrounding estate leadership, including compliance, accountability, strategic planning and capital programmes. Also, discover how AS...

Deep dives into topical issues hosted by ASCL General Secretary Pepe Di'Iasio and Laura McInerney, education expert, co-founder of Teacher Tapp, and former editor of Schools Week. In this episode, Pepe and Laura are joined by ASCL Deputy Director of Policy, Tom Middlehurst, to examine 16-19 outcomes, progression, and Andy Burnham's focus on 'parity of esteem'. www.ascl.org.uk/EducationActually

In our series of Associates podcasts, ASCL Professional Leadership Communities Manager Sharon Ealing talks with ASCL Associates and Professional Associates— former heads, business leaders, CEOs and other senior leaders — about life beyond school and college leadership. In this two-part conversation, Sharon Ealing talks with ASCL Professional Associate Steve Playford about life after headship. In t...

In our series of Associates podcasts, ASCL Professional Leadership Communities Manager Sharon Ealing talks with ASCL Associates and Professional Associates— former heads, business leaders, CEOs and other senior leaders — about life beyond school and college leadership. In this two-part conversation, Sharon Ealing talks with ASCL Professional Associate Steve Playford about life after headship. In t...

ASCL Independent Sector Specialist Neil Smith considers how viable and desirable formalising relationships between independent schools and MATs might be. www.ascl.org.uk/PolicySnapshots

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to James Browning, COO of Lift Schools about AI and all things digital. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Heena Dave, Co-founder, Climate Adapted Pathways for Education (CAPE) and Paul Edmond, Chief Financial Officer, Heart Academies Trust about sustainability and climate change. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

December 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Melanie Moffatt, ASCL Pensions Specialist to discuss all things pension related. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

September 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Tiff Harris, ASCL Primary and Data specialist and Rob Gould from Barker, to discuss the latest round of school-based nursery application phases. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks with Elizabeth Harris, Headteacher at Monega Primary School and Katie Ives,SENCO, Monega Primary School about the work done over the last few years to improve and strengthen inclusive teaching and learning in their schools. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/send

September 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Emma Searl, Chief Finance Officer at The New Guild Trust who won the National SBL of the Year at the School Business Services awards. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

April 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist is joined by Kelly Potton, Advocate Director, Education Mutual, and Pam Burrows, People Booster to announce our new series of roadshows for business leaders which will be taking place in June 2025. To find out more or book your place visit www.ascl.org.uk/business/roadshows www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

Join our policy specialists, for our new series of short engaging and informative podcasts aimed at giving you a quick digest of key issues. In this edition, Julie McCulloch, ASCL Senior Director of Strategy, Policy & Professional Development, focuses on the interim report from the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks with Philip Stock, Deputy Headteacher at Greenshaw High School and Director of Greenshaw research school and Amelie Thompson, Assistant Director of Education, SEND and Specialist Provision, Greenshaw Learning Trust about the value of adopting a graduated approach to support barriers to learning at classroom level and as...

February 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Paul Edmond, Chief Finance and Sustainability Officer, HEART Academies Trust and Co-chair of UK Schools Sustainability Network and Helen Burge, Consultant School Business Leader and Co-chair of UK Schools Sustainability Network about sustainability and climate change. To book your place at ASCL's Conference for a Sustainable...

March 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist are joined by Nigel Brunning, Chief Operating Officer, South East Essex Academy Trust and Gareth Edmonds, Chief Operating Financial Officer, Northern Education Trust to talk about treasury management. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

Join our policy specialists for our series of short, engaging and informative podcasts aimed at giving you a quick digest of key issues. In this edition, Richard Bettsworth, ASCL Director of Public Relations, is joined by Julie McCulloch, ASCL Senior Director of Policy, Strategy and Professional Development, to talk about another measure in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools' Bill, namely a limi...