Conference Programme

30 September 2024 - 2 October 2024

Europa Hotel, Belfast

Conference headline sponsors:

Welcome to the HMC Autumn Conference Programme 2024, ‘Innovation and Impact: Independence for the Wider Good’. See the full HMC Autumn Conference 2024 programme below:

Download Programme PDF

Sunday 29 September 2024

Time	Event
Between 14.00 - 19.00	Fringe Sessions Available Pre-booking required
19.30 - 22.00	Dinner Dinner for delegates arriving on Sunday. Pre-booking required. If you would like to attend and have not yet booked, please contact [email protected] Penthouse Suite, The Europa Hotel

Monday 30 September 2024

Time	Event
11.00 – 14.00	Registration Open Hotel Lobby
11.00 – 13.00	Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Meeting Copenhagen Room
12.00 – 12.45	IBDP Schools Meeting Amsterdam Room
12.00 – 13.00	Schools in Cathedral Closes Meeting Helsinki Room
12.00 – 13.00	Affiliate Member Meeting Paris
12.00 – 13.00	Boarding Schools' Meeting Berlin
12.45 - 13.50	Lunch and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
12.45 – 13.50	Private drinks and lunch for new members and their partners/spouses The Penthouse Suite Kindly sponsored by Perry
13.50 – 14.00	Move to the Conference Centre for the start of conference proceedings
14.00 – 14.10	Conference Welcome Speaker: Simon Hyde, General Secretary, HMC Conference Centre
14.10 - 14.45	Chair’s Opening Address Speaker: Jaideep Barot, HMC Chair 2024-25 and Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School Conference Centre
14.45 - 16.00	Keynote session 1: The fascinating connection between human and synthetic intelligence Speaker: Shivvy Jervis, Futurist Conference Centre Kindly sponsored by Castlegate Education
16.00 - 16.30	Refreshments and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
17.00 - 17.30	Walk to Belfast Cathedral
17.30 – 18.15	Annual Service The Very Rev Stephen Forde, The Dean of Belfast Belfast Cathedral – The Cathedral Church of St Anne
19.00 - 22.30	Fringe Session Available
Available between 18.00 - 20.30	Dinner A hot buffet supper will be provided at the Europa Hotel; this will be available from 18.30 and will run throughout the evening until 20.30. Conference Centre

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Time	Event
06.30 - 08.45	Breakfast
06.30 - 07.30 TBC	Fringe Session Available Pre-booking required
07.30 - 08.30	Catholic Mass Fr Gerry Clarke SJ, Belfast Jesuit Centre Amsterdam Room
07.30 - 08.30	Holy Communion Reverend Anthony Bewes Berlin Room
09.00 – 09.05	Welcome to day two Speaker: Jaideep Barot, HMC Chair 2024-25 and Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School Conference Centre
09.05 – 09.45	Panel Session 1: A new environment? Political and economic developments Speakers: Richard Harman, CEO, AGBIS Simon Hyde, General Secretary, HMC Jonathan Simons, Partner and Head of the Education Practice, Public First David Woodgate, Chief Executive, ISBA Chair: Leon Spence, Public Affairs Officer, HMC Conference Centre
09.45 – 10.40	Keynote 2: Evidence-based practices to support student flourishing in schools Speakers: Dr Christina Hinton, Research Associate at the Human Flourishing Program, Harvard University and Founder and CEO of Research Schools International Jim Heal, Director of Practice, Research Schools International Conference Centre
10.40 – 11.10	Refreshments and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
11.10 - 11.55	Workshop session 1 1A: Creating Research-Informed Interventions to Promote Flourishing at Your School, Christina Hinton, Research Associate at the Human Flourishing Program and Founder and CEO of Research Schools International and Jim Heal, Director of Practice, Research Schools International Helsinki Room 1B: Relationship building in your community, Lisa Kerr, Principal, George Watson’s College; Huw Williams, Headmaster, Yarm School and Leon Spence, Public Affairs Officer, HMC Paris Room 1C: Education Law update (with special focus on neurodiversity), Adam McRae-Taylor, Legal Director and Ben Collingwood, Partner, Moore Barlow Dublin Suite 1D: Igniting the Home-School Partnership: Optimal Approaches To Support Pupils’ Mental Health, Resilience and Ability to Thrive, Kathy Weston, Tooled Up Education Copenhagen Room 1F: Neuroscience, norms and outcomes: understanding the experiences of students of Black and South Asian heritage, Yasmina Kone, Deputy Lead of Hemisphere Education Amsterdam Room 1G: What can be learnt from schools around the world, Antony Clark, Rector, Michaelhouse, South Africa; Ann Haydon, Head, Harrow International School Hong Kong; Michael Lambert, Headmaster, Dubai College and Vanita Uppal, Director, The British School New Delhi Penthouse Suite 1H: RileyBot: How AI in the hands of pupils improves their performance, Adam Webster, Deputy Head (Innovation), Caterham School and CEO, Sphinx AI Conference Centre 1I: Partnerships for Stronger Schools and Stronger Communities, Oliver Blond, Chief Executive, School Partnerships Alliance Berlin Room
11.55 - 12.05	Move to the next session
12.05 – 13.15	Members' only session: Divisional Meetings East – Piano Restaurant Irish – Amsterdam Room London – Conference Centre North East – Helsinki Room North West – Berlin Room Scottish – Library Bar South Central – Dublin Suite South East – Copenhagen Room South West – Penthouse Suite West – Paris Room
13.15 – 14.15	Lunch and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
14.15 – 15.00	Workshop Session 2 2A: Creating Research-Informed Interventions to Promote Flourishing at Your School, Christina Hinton, Research Associate at the Human Flourishing Program and Founder and CEO of Research Schools International and Jim Heal, Director of Practice, Research Schools International Helsinki Room 2B: Educational Reform – where next for HMC?, Sarah Fletcher, High Mistress, St Paul’s Girls’ School Paris Room 2C: Education Law update (with special focus on neurodiversity), Adam McRae-Taylor, Legal Director and Ben Collingwood, Partner, Moore Barlow Dublin Suite 2D: Generative AI, reading, writing and assessments, Sofia Fenichell, Study Hall Copenhagen Room 2E: Harnessing independent school opportunities to improve outcomes for children in care: the DfE’s Broadening Educational Pathways scheme, Ali Henderson, CEO, Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation (RNCSF) Berlin Room 2F: Developing pupils’ resilience, Alicia Drummond, Founder, The Wellbeing Hub Amsterdam Room 2G: To recognise unions or not, that is the question…?, Sue Woodroofe, Principal, The Grammar School at Leeds and Richard Jones, Head, Bryanston Penthouse Suite 2H: What next? – Life after Headship, Emma Hattersley, Consultant and Head of the Schools’ Practice, Saxton Bampfylde; Jo Ogilvy, Partner, Consultant, Saxton Bampfylde; Heather Styche-Patel, CEO, RSAcademics and Claire Oulton, Head of Leadership Appointments, UK, RSAcademics Conference Centre
15.10 – 16.00	Keynote 3: Independent leadership Speaker: Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education, No More Marking Daisy will explore some of the different justifications for independent education and look at the ways independent schools can provide leadership and innovation at a system level, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like AI. Conference Centre Kindly sponsored by Toddle
16.00 - 16.10	Close of day two Day two concluding remarks and introduction to HMC Autumn Conference dinner sponsor HP. Speaker: Jaideep Barot, HMC Chair 2024-25 and Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School Conference Centre Kindly sponsored by HP
16.10 – 16.30	Refreshments and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
16.30 - 17.15	Optional Workshop Session: Paris 2024 - A Sport, Arts and Physical Activity Legacy Opportunity 4 All Speaker: Geoff Thompson MBE, HMC Board Member and Founder and Chair of the Youth Charter Following the sporting success of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, this session will present the Youth Charter’s Community Campus as a ‘Legacy Opportunity 4 All’ and how it can map, track, measure and promote the mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing benefits to the underserved disadvantaged and disaffected. The independent sector is in the spotlight with the emphasis on the few at the expense of the many. The Collaboration Partnerships provide an extraordinary contribution of independent/state school public benefit that goes unnoticed to society at large. This session will present the art of the possible and the social, cultural and economic impact of this approach not just for the 7%, but for all. Amsterdam Room
16.30 - 18.00	Fringe Sessions Available Pre-booking required
18.00 – 18.30	Transport to The Culloden Estate and Spa for the conference dinner From the Europa Hotel Kindly sponsored by Vectare
18.30 - 20.00	Drinks reception The Culloden Estate and Spa
20.00 - 22.30	HMC Autumn Conference Dinner After Dinner Entertainment from Hal Cruttenden, stand-up comedian, actor, presenter, and writer. The Culloden Estate and Spa Kindly sponsored by HP
From 22.30	Transport back to The Europa Hotel Kindly sponsored by Vectare

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Time	Event
06.30 - 08.45	Breakfast available at allocated hotel
07.30 – 08.30	Catholic Mass Fr Gerry Clarke SJ, Belfast Jesuit Centre Amsterdam Room
07.30 – 08.30	Prayer Meeting Reverend Anthony Bewes Berlin Room
08.45 – 09.00	AGM Registration All members must register upon entry to the Conference Centre Conference Centre
09.00 – 10.00	Members' only session: AGM Conference Centre
10.00 – 10.45	Panel Session 2: Curriculum and Assessment – modelling pathways for change Speakers: Sarah Fletcher, High Mistress, St Paul’s Girls’ School Alistair McConville, Deputy Head, King Alfred School Philip Seal – Deputy Head (Academic), King’s High School, Warwick John Taylor, Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation, Cranleigh School Conference Centre
10.45 – 11.15	Refreshments and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom
11.15 – 12.15	Keynote 4: DNA of a champion leader Speaker: Clive Woodward Conference Centre Kindly sponsored by Moore Barlow
12.15 – 12.20	Closing Remarks Speaker: Jaideep Barot, HMC Chair 2024-25 and Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School Conference Centre
12.20 – 13.30	Lunch and Networking Served among the exhibitors The Library Bar and Rotunda is available for members who wish to have a quiet meeting space for informal networking and discussions. Grand Ballroom

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