1.
The
Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) represents over
18,000 heads, principals, deputies, vice-principals, assistant
heads, business managers and other senior staff of maintained and
independent schools and colleges throughout the UK.
ASCL Cymru represents school leaders in more than 90 per cent of
the secondary schools in Wales.
2.
The timescale
for the introduction of the new Professional Standards is, at least
superficially, reasonable. However, this is set against a
background of schools having to cope with a period of transition
and unprecedented change to curriculum and assessment reform.
If this was the only major change that was being expected of
schools, we would have no problem with the timescale.
However, despite our enthusiasm for and support of the new
standards, we are not confident that the timescales can be achieved
without some degree of support.
3.
As far as we
are aware, no provision has been made by the Welsh Government for
staff training for the implementation of these standards. We
would suggest that it would be reasonable to provide schools with
some additional staff-training time and a degree of financial
support. With the plethora of other changes happening at the
moment, we fear that otherwise this may not be seen as a priority
by schools, and as a result given less than the amount of time and
attention it needs to be effective.
4.
We are
concerned that, with both the proposed timescale and lack of
central training provision, unless time and resources are given to
schools, these important reforms will end up being a “damp
squib”. If they are to have the impact which they
ought, then they will need to be given sufficient time and
resources so that all teachers and school leaders are able to make
sense of them properly and then use them effectively.
Conclusion
5. I hope that this gives you a clear perspective of our views of this important matter. ASCL Cymru would be happy to contribute to further discussions.