2D: Head to Head | HMC Autumn Conference 2023

Closed workshop, open to HMC member heads only

Workshop synopsis:

The focus of this workshop will be ‘moving from surviving to thriving in headship’. Panellists will share a time when they have faced a significant challenge during their headship, and the approaches that they took to look after their wellbeing and move from surviving to thriving.

About Chris Wheeler:

Chris Wheeler joined Monkton as Principal in January 2016. He previously served as Principal and CEO at Hillcrest International Schools in Kenya, Headmaster at St Christopher’s, Hove, and has variously been Deputy Head, Housemaster (day and boarding) and Head of English. He completed his MBA in Education Leadership in 2022 with distinction specialising in system development and change leadership. He is currently Chair of The Institute of Boarding (TIOB) and a member of the HMC Finance and Risk Committee. He has previously served as Vice Chair of HMC, Chair of HMC South West Division and as a member of the HMC Inspection Sub Committee. 

Chris leads on various partnership projects including supporting Royal Springboard and the Boarding Schools Partnership, the foundation of the Bath Schools’ Voices and Bath Student Parliament.  

When not doing any of these things, he likes to take to the hills with his paraglider, or head to the Alps to snowboard; in quieter moments he walks his dogs or reads a good book. 

About Louise Simpson:

Louise Simpson is an environmental scientist; she started working as a teacher in the biology department at Gresham’s School in the early 90s.  After almost 30 years in the independent sector in a wide range of day and boarding schools, she is now in her third headship, at Exeter School, a co-ed HMC day school in the West Country.  Prior to this she was head in a large GDST school in London followed by a large British international school in Brazil.  She has experience of board membership in the UK and international sector, serving both on the COBIS board and the LAHC (three years as the chair), as well as a prep school in Sussex and an HMC school in Oxfordshire.  Now back home in the UK, she has a passion for developing character in her school and enjoying the joys of Devon life. 

About Martin Reader:

Martin Reader, was educated at University College, Oxford, where he was an Exhibitioner in English and English Literature. He continued at Oxford reading for an MPhil in English Studies (1100-1500). Whilst at Oxford, he played for the university at rugby and was on the bench at the Varsity Match. He also has an MBA in School Leadership International from Hull University. Passionate about boarding, he served as Chair of the Boarding Schools’ Association in 2018, and Vice Chair in 2017 and 2019.

Mr Reader began his teaching career at St Edward’s Oxford, before moving to Oundle School and then to Reigate Grammar School where he was Senior Deputy Head. Prior to moving to Cranleigh, he was Headmaster of Wellington School, Somerset for eight years.

Mr Reader is married to Amanda and they have two children who were both educated at Cranleigh. He remains a sports fan and is also a trustee of Hawk and Owl Trust and the Boarding Schools Association Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Fellow of the Institute of Boarding.

About Toby Seth:

Following a brief and ultimately unsatisfying stint at a marketing agency, Toby began his teaching career at Dulwich College and never looked back. After Dulwich, Toby worked at Wellington College, Godolphin & Latymer, The King’s School in Macclesfield and is currently the Head at Pocklington School.