The Association of School and College Leaders has confirmed its next general secretary will be Pepe Di’Iasio, Schools Week reports.
The head of Wales High School in Rotherham who served as ASCL president from in the 2021/22 academic year, will replace Geoff Barton in April 2024. Mr Barton is standing down after seven years as general secretary.
Mr Di’Iasio, who served as assistant director of education at Rotherham borough council from 2018 to 2020, said it was a “huge honour” to be selected as general secretary.
He said: “I will speak truth to power, with the courtesy and respect that is a hallmark of ASCL, but with an absolute determination to produce a better settlement for education.”
The new general secretary will have a bulging in-tray when he starts, and is expected to lead on issues of funding and staffing in the state sector.
He said: “I look forward to leading a superb team of highly committed and talented ASCL staff and working alongside our elected members on ASCL Council whose invaluable work ensures that the association is able to represent the voice of leaders accurately and authentically.”
Geoff Barton said of Di’Iasio: “He is an outstanding leader with a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives, and a total commitment to support and represent our members in their vital work in the nation’s schools, colleges and trusts.
“He will be an eloquent advocate for the profession who speaks from the heart.”