ASCL Conference 2017
ASCL Conference 2017
ASCL Conference 2017
On April 18, I take up my elected post as General Secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders (ASCL).
Here’s the written text of my brief address to delegates at our 2017 conference in Birmingham:
‘We speak on behalf of members; we act on behalf of children’.
This is ASCL. This is what we stand for; this is what we do.
And whether you work at a maintained or independent school, a college or multi-academy trust; whether you are headteacher or chief executive, business manager, deputy, assistant head, a consultant or a someone with whole-school responsibilities, secondary or primary …
... I hope you know how proud I am and how privileged I feel to be elected your new General Secretary from April.
My pledge is to represent you without fear or favour.
For me, the range of institutions and the diversity of roles are what give us our strength. We represent leadership right across the education system.
In practice, that means helping teachers in every classroom to help every child - irrespective of background - to step into a more optimistic future
Great leadership has never mattered more.
‘We speak on behalf of members; we act on behalf of children’.
Whether you are a veteran like me, or one of our next generation leaders, I look forward to meeting you in person over the next two days, to listening to your views, and to enjoying with you this inspiring conference.
Geoff Barton
General Secretary Designate
Sunday, 12 March 2017