Explore every episode of the podcast ASCL Leadership Podcast

In this episode of The ASCL Business Brunch, host Emma Harrison (ASCL Business Leadership Specialist) is joined by Sophie Vipond, Director of External Affairs at the Climate Change Committee, and Paul Edmund, 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 ASCL and Tracey Field are supporting education leaders through the new Leading and Managing an Education Estate CPD-accredited programme, launching autumn 2026.

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 the second episode, he picks up the story — from gaining a coaching qualification and finding his USP outside of education, to practical tips on setting up a consultancy and the sense of purpose that has carried him through. www.ascl.org.uk/associates

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 the first episode, Steve speaks candidly about leaving headship, the emotional impact of stepping away, and the first steps he took to find his footing again. www.ascl.org.uk/associates

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 a driver to whole school improvement. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/send

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 Future on 5 June, please visit www.ascl.org.uk/sustainability2025 www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

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 limit on branded school uniform items.

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, Tiffnie Harris, ASCL Primary Specialist, summarises the plans and the problems for breakfast clubs in every primary school in England.

February 2025 Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist talks to Scott Sivier, Business Manager from Havant Academy about men’s mental health. 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. The plans for report cards are the first subject that ASCL’s Director of Public Affairs Richard Bettsworth and ASCL’s Deputy Director of Policy Tom Middlehurst tackles.

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, discuss cyber crime with Dave Cobb, Business Manager, Saint Cecilia's Church of England School and Aston Smith, Headteacher, Charles Darwin, Biggin Hill. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/brunch

Listen to our policy specialists as they give a brief outline of what to expect at the upcoming Autumn Leadership Conference 2024 October-November 2024 Book your place now www.ascl.org.uk/alc

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Louise Hatswell, ASCL Conditions of Employment Specialist: Pay, discuss flexible working in the education sector for all staff with Antonia Spinks, CEO, Pioneer Educational Trust.

Richard Bettsworth, ASCL Director of PR, and Julie McCulloch, ASCL Director of Policy, discuss the pre-election debate, ASCL's General Election campaign for education, and how school and college leaders can get involved via the hashtag #EducationMatters www.ascl.org.uk/manifesto

Julie McCulloch, ASCL Director of Policy and Richard Bettsworth, ASCL Director of PR, discuss what the political parties are saying on education. www.ascl.org.uk/manifesto | #educationmatters

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks with Soofia Amin, Assistant Headteacher, Kensington Primary School and John Claughton, Retired Headmaster, King Edward’s School Birmingham and Co-founder of WoLLoW about languages and highlighting the fundamental opportunities that school leaders face around inclusion, as well as celebrating young people and their potential. www.ascl.org.uk/podcasts/send

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist, discuss PFI contract in schools with Cheryl Campbell from Thomas Tallis School and Sian Turner from The Co-operative Academies Trust.

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks to Clare Belli who is an SEND leader for Southampton Inclusion Partnership, Whole School SEND and HISS. Clare shares the learning and impact of the Autism in Schools Project in which all Southampton Schools have participated. Having seen the impact of the programme on school improvement and family engagement, Post-16 Settings are now taking up the opportunity.

In this edition, Emma Harrison, ASCL Business Leadership Specialist, and Julia Harnden, ASCL Funding Specialist, discuss allergy awareness and management in schools with Helen Blythe from The Benedict Blythe Foundation. https://www.benedictblythe.com/

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland discusses family hubs with Julie Greer, Regional Coordinator and SEND Advisor, National Centre for Family Hubs, and Sally Kendrick, who leads on family hub development in Plymouth.

April 2024 In this episode, Anne Longfield, Executive Chair of the Centre for Young Lives, talks with Geoff Barton about her forthcoming book, 'Young Lives: Big Ambitions (published on 18 April).

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks with Charlotte O'Regan, Senior Schools Engagement Manager at the Sutton Trust and former vice principal, regarding the launch of a pledge to review school admissions.

In this edition, ASCL SEND and Inclusion Specialist Margaret Mulholland speaks with Dr Irfan Khawaja, Senior Lecturer in Physical Education at Birmingham City University, regarding 'Ramadan Guidance for Schools and Educational Settings: Physical Education and Physical Activity'.

To give a flavour of this year’s annual conference, General Secretary Geoff Barton had a brief conversation with each of the keynote speakers. (The numbers in brackets indicates when each interview begins) Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector (0:04) Rt Hon Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education (2:48) James Kerr, author of ‘Legacy’ (4:26) Dr Tessy Ojo, CEO, The Diana Award (7:26) Bridget Phillipson, MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Education (10:48) Ed Balls & Justine Greening, former Education Secretaries (12:55) Munira Wilson, MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, Children and Young People (18:20) Anu Manthri, Google for Education & Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Founder of PedTech: How to be Human in the Age of AI (22:10) Nick Brook, CEO, Speakers for Schools, & Marcus Wareing, Celebrity Chef (24:37)

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Simon Cook, Principal/Chief Exec of MidKent College, and chair of ASCL's FE advisory group.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Tanya Douglas, Headteacher, Chace Community School.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Sue Collings, CEO, The Denbigh Alliance.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Sarah Bone, Executive Headteacher, Headlands School.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Russell Clarke, Headteacher, Haslingden High School, and ASCL Membership Officer.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Rob Carpenter, CEO, Inspire Partnership Academy Trust.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Rich Atterton, Assistant Headteacher, The Marlborough Science Academy, and ASCL Council DASH Representative.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Rachel Johnson, CEO, PiXL.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Pepe Di'Iasio, Headteacher, Wales High School, and ASCL General Secretary Designate.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Dr Nicola Crossley, CEO, Liberty Academy Trust, and ASCL Council SEN Representative.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Manny Botwe, ASCL Vice President 2023-24 and Headteacher, Tytherington School.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Lindsey Hughes, Headmistress, Channing School, and ASCL Council GSA Representative.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Jude Enright, Headteacher and Trust Leader, Queen's Park Community School Academy Trust.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to John Trueman, Director, ASCL Northern Ireland.

In this edition of ASCL 150: Leadership Legacies, General Secretary Geoff Barton talks to Hamira Shah, Deputy Headteacher, North Huddersfield Trust School.