Geoff Barton, a well-known headteacher, will challenge Chris Kirk for the leadership of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), TES has learned.
Earlier this month, ASCL announced that it had nominated educationalist Mr Kirk as its preferred candidate for the role of general secretary.
But TES can reveal that Mr Barton (pictured), headteacher of the King Edward VI School, in Suffolk, will challenge Mr Kirk, a leading education consultant, for the job.
Mr Barton has worked in school leadership for two decades and has been head at King Edward VI School for more than 14 years
He has also been a council member of ASCL for eight years, serving most recently as chair of the pedagogy committee.
As a regular TES contributor, he has written about Ofsted, Ofqual and government policy-making over the years.
Mr Barton said: “I believe that I would contribute further strong, unflinching support to our members, wherever their schools, and would work with the current ASCL team to continue to give the association a powerful and distinctive voice in responding to government policies.”
He added: “I believe I have a strong track-record in demonstrating resilient leadership and would bring my long-standing experience of working with students, staff, governors and colleagues from a range of organisations to give ASCL a refreshed sense of purpose and direction.
‘A robust and powerful voice’
“School leaders have never needed a more robust and powerful voice to articulate the challenges inherent in our education system.”
Mr Barton requires 75 nominations from ASCL members across 10 branches by November 14 to secure an election run-off against Mr Kirk, who has worked in leadership posts at PwC.
An election is expected to take place in December and January this year and the result would be declared in February 2017.
Earlier this month, Sian Carr, ASCL president and chair of the association’s nomination committee, said of its nominaton of Mr Kirk: “We felt that Chris has the experience and skills to ensure that ASCL is able to play a key role in helping to shape future education policy and provide excellent representation for the association’s members.
“He will be able to provide the leadership which enables ASCL to take forward our vision of a school-led, self-improving system that creates the conditions in which every child and young person can realise achievement, no matter what their social background.”
