Conference Programme

Members and Guests may wish to attend Evensong marking Harvest Thanksgiving on Sunday 27 September. The service will be held at St Ann’s Church, St Ann Street, Manchester, M2 7LF

Speaker: Simon Hyde, CEO, HMC

Speaker: Dr Anne Cotton, HMC Chair 2026-27 and Head, King’s College School Wimbledon

Speaker: David Marquet

Served among the exhibitors

Presented by: Mark Higgins, Head of Education Business Development, The Outward Bound Trust

Chaired by: Keri Moorhouse, Education Officer, HMC

Speakers: Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive, Chartered College of Teaching, will lead an in conversation with Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, CEO of Stemettes and Chair of the Institute for the Future of Work

Presented by: Ben Stork, Founder, Biorhythms.Exercise.Nutrition (B.E.N App)

Chaired by:  Becca Barnett, Education Officer, HMC

The HMC Bookshelf: Books Worth Talking About
Led by Will Goldsmith, Head, Bedales

Members were invited to share two reading recommendations: a book that captured their imagination as a child, and a book that has informed or influenced their leadership practice.

In this informal and interactive session, Will Goldsmith will explore some of the books submitted and invite members to reflect on the stories and ideas that have stayed with them. What did we read when we were young that still shapes how we see the world? Which books have challenged or changed the way we lead? And what should be on every Head’s reading list?

Chair: Jaideep Barot, Head, Bristol Grammar School

In this session, members will share various approaches to research informed practice in their schools, highlighting the benefits and impact of research initiatives and partnerships. Case studies will include:

• Mount Kelly School’s nature connectedness research programme, run in partnership with local primary schools and the University of Oxford
• Harrow International School Bangkok’s research informed reflective leadership framework
• HMC’s Action Research Hub in partnership with the University of Warwick, including pedagogical research insights from member schools

An opportunity to share an informal dining experience.

Refreshments available

• East Division  -Exchange 2, Manchester Central
• International Division -Exchange 10, Manchester Central
• Irish Division –Exchange 3, Manchester Central
• London Division -Exchange 9, Manchester Central
• North East Division -Exchange 4, Manchester Central
• North West Division -Exchange 5, Manchester Central
• Scottish Division -Exchange 6, Manchester Central
• South Central Division -Exchange 1, Manchester Central
• South East Division -Exchange 7, Manchester Central
• South West and Wales Division -Exchange 11, Manchester Central
• West Division -Exchange 8, Manchester Central

Chair: Daniel Franklin, Executive Editor and Senior Editor, Britain, The Economist

Panel Speakers:

• Raya Bidshahri, Educator and Entrepreneur, Founder/CEO, School of Humanity
• Raphael Mokades, Founder and Managing Director, Rare Technology
• Freya Capsey, Creative and Digital Design R&D Degree Apprentice, Unilever

30-minute roundtable discussions designed to spark lively conversation between heads on topics that matter most to them. A valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share learning, and explore practical approaches to the opportunities and challenges facing schools today.

• 1A: The evolution of the international market for HMC school branch campuses Facilitated by: Alex McGrath, Castlegate Education
• 1B: Curriculum intelligence: How can data and AI improve outcomes? Facilitated by: Amy Martin, Deesha AI
• 1C: What stays, what changes? School identity during mergers and co-ed transitions Facilitated by: Simon Burgess & Taryn Kallie, Pinnacle
• 1D: AI, data and the Head’s accountability Facilitated by: Mark Orchison, 9ine
• 1E: SEND reform: Setting a course for the future Facilitated by: Tabitha Cave, VWV
• 1F: How can your school stand out and build a stronger recruitment pipeline? Facilitated by: Rhys Howells, Eteach Group
• 1G: Building regular giving: what makes the easiest ask so important? Facilitated by Courtney Cook Williamson, Director of Brand Communications, Veracross and Judith Solberg, Associate Director of Advancement, Cardigan Mountain School

• CPD Seminar A1: Value, choice and confidence: understanding parental expectations in a changing school market Speaker: Heather Styche-Patel, CEO, RSAcademics – Exchange 9, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A2: Lessons for independent schools from MATs Speaker: Stephen Ravenscroft, Partner, Head of Independent Schools, Stone King – Exchange 10, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A3:The Employment Rights Act Arrives in Earnest – What changes in your school this term Speaker: Alistair Wood, Edapt – Exchange 1, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A4: How do you take your school overseas? Speakers: Leigh Webb, CEO, ISC Research; Doug Locke, Partner, VWV; Will Dixon, COO, Lord Wandsworth College; Paul Vicars, Headmaster, Birkenhead School – Exchange 2-3, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A5: Three years of ISI’s inspection framework; what we have learned Speaker: Vanessa Ward Chief Inspector, Chief Executive Officer, ISI and Michelle Winter Senior Director Inspections ISI – Exchange 4-5, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A6: Evidence in action: doing, using and sharing research in schools Speakers: Dr Tom Perry, Associate Professor – Reader, Department for Education Studies University of Warwick; Kate Howell, Director of Education, HMC and Emma Hellyer, Head of Assessment and Innovation, HMC) – Exchange 6-7, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A7: How Heads can lead commercial activities, driving revenues beyond the boundaries of the traditional school day Speaker: Dorothy McLaren, CEO, SEA – Exchange 11, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar A8: Does your governing body bring out the best in you? Speaker: Virginia (Ginny) Parkes, Acting Chief Executive at AGBIS (Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools) – Exchange 8, Manchester Central

Served among the exhibitors

Presented by: Paul McKnight, Head of Operations, VEX Robotics EMEA

Chaired by: Emma Hellyer, Head of Assessment and Innovation, HMC

Presented by: Stephen Lowe, Stadium Tours Education Manager, Manchester City Football Club

Chaired by:  Keri Moorhouse, Education Officer, HMC

Speaker: Dr Daniel Susskind, Mercers’ School Memorial Professor of Business at Gresham College

Speaker: Ben Jordan, Director of Strategy, UCAS

Speaker: Jane Hallas, Head of Team & Solicitor and Education Lead, Worknest

Speakers: Judith Solberg, Associate Director of Advancement, Cardigan Mountain School and Lou Bennett, CEO, IDPE

• CPD Seminar B1: Leading Teams/Restructuring Teams to drive improved transformation outcome Speaker: Mike Fekete, Founder and Director, Bespoke Change – Exchange 11, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar B2: Viral, visible, vulnerable: protecting your school’s reputation when things go wrong Speaker: Miriam Rich, Director, Miriam Rich Communications Ltd – Exchange 1, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar B3: Developing a Financial Strategy for Your School Speaker: Dan Leaman, Partner, Moore Kingston Smith – Exchange 2-3, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar B4: Managed school closure: How can HMC schools offer meaningful support when other schools face closure? Speakers: Amber Waite, Principal & CEO, St Albans Education Group and Mike Lewis MBE, COO of St Albans Education Group – Exchange 6-7, Manchester Central

• CPD Seminar B6: Supporting Girls’ Physical Activity: Creating Inclusive Cultures for Lifelong Engagement Speakers: Chris Dossett, Chair, Professional Association of Directors of Sport in Independent Schools (PADSIS) and Rachael Masterman, Director of Sport, Barnard Castle School – Exchange 4-5, Manchester Central

30-minute roundtable discussions designed to spark lively conversation between heads on topics that matter most to them. A valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share learning, and explore practical approaches to the opportunities and challenges facing schools today.

• 2A: The evolution of the international market for HMC school branch campuses Facilitated by: Alex McGrath, Castlegate Education
• 2B: From bricks to bytes: How can sustainable buildings and smarter technology prepare education for a changing climate? Facilitated by: Chris Davies, Managed Services Specialist, HP with Intel and Tom Waddicor, Associate Director, Maccreanor Lavington
• 2C: Unions are getting more powers. What does that mean for you and your staff? Facilitated by: Alistair Wood, Edapt
• 2D: Creating a culture of strong yet compassionate leadership: what responsibility do we have for our colleagues’ wellbeing? Facilitated by: Sue Woodroofe, HMC Professional Services
• 2E: SEND reform: Setting a course for the future Facilitated by: Tabitha Cave, VWV
• 2F: How can your school stand out and build a stronger recruitment pipeline? Facilitated by: Rhys Howells, Eteach Group
• 2G: Could your school estate deliver more without compromising its educational purpose? Facilitated by: Amy Sweetapple & Sian Langton, Morleys

Speakers: Annie Auerbach and Adam Chmielowski, Co-Founders, Starling Strategy

Speaker: Joe Garner, Advisor to CEOs

All members must register upon entry to the Auditorium

Speaker: Dr Anne Cotton, HMC Chair 2026-27 and Head, King’s College School, Wimbledon

Facilitated by: Andrew Watson, CEO, Sustainability Education (SusEd)

In partnership with Sustainability Education (SusEd), we are delighted to offer members a free-of-charge opportunity to attend a workshop on Reimagining education for a more peaceful, more sustainable future. You will be invited to explore how education may evolve beyond traditional boundaries – curricular, cultural, and institutional – if it is to become a force for peace, sustainability, and systems transformation.