Irish boarding conference

🏷️ From £110
🎧 Heads, Deputies, Bursars, all boarding staff, EAL staff, Admissions and Marketing.
📍 Clongowes Wood College, Kildare, W91 DN40

Part of CPDSAVE: 4 tickets for the price of 3 across 1-day conferences

Sponsored by:

This year’s Irish Boarding Conference, sponsored by Noble + Eaton, welcomes an opportunity to reflect, think creatively, and share experiences with fellow boarding colleagues. Kindly hosted at Clongowes Wood College, the programme will explore strategic ways to grow your school’s reach while tackling the latest local and international trends shaping boarding.

Whether you’re a senior leader shaping boarding provision or a frontline practitioner driving the day-to-day experience, this event offers the perfect blend of practical insights, strategic thinking, and peer-to-peer connection, all within the unique context of Irish boarding.

Traditionally attracting a combination of school leaders and boarding professionals, the conference is open to member and non-member schools and designed to provide insight and support best practice.

Early booking is recommended.

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Programme:

09:30 – 10:00 Registration and refreshments

10:00 – 10:15  Welcome

Director, BSA, David Walker will welcome delegates and outline the programme and key themes for the day.

10:15 – 11:00 Tech Now: a strategic update for school leaders

This opening session will provide a thought-provoking exploration of the current issues around technology specific to the boarding landscape, offering strategic insight into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for schools in Ireland and beyond.

• Speaker: Wayne Denner, speaker, author and trainer

11:00 – 11:30 Use of technology in boarding – a 360 view

• Panel: Wayne Denner, speaker, author and trainer
• Jane McGarrigle, National Coordinator, Webwise
• Pupils from Clongowes Wood College

11:30 – 12:15 Safeguarding and child protection headlines 2025/26

This session examines the latest safeguarding and child protection developments relevant to boarding schools. It will highlight forthcoming policy changes, practical implications, and emerging areas of risk, equipping delegates to plan confidently for the 2025/26 academic year.

• Speaker: Dale Wilkins, Executive Director Accreditation/Compliance, BSA Group

12:15 – 13:00 Networking lunch and school/boarding tour

13:00 – 13:45 Designing Thriving Spaces to Support Pupil Numbers

• Speaker: Noble & Eaton

13:45 – 14:30 Inspection and school improvement

Inspections are evolving, and schools must adapt to meet changing expectations. This session unpacks inspection priorities in the Irish context and highlights how boarding schools can use the process as a lever for continuous improvement, driving standards and outcomes across their communities.

• Speaker: David Walker, Executive Director, Boarding and Director, BSA/TIOB, BSA Group

14:30 – 15:00 Refreshments and networking

15:00 – 15:30 Cultural competence in boarding

This concise session explores cultural awareness as an essential part of boarding practice. Delegates will consider how to build inclusive communities where every pupil feels respected, valued, and supported in their identity.

• Speaker: Bethan Hudson, Executive Director, Consultancy and Director, BAISIS/HIEDA, BSA Group

15:00 – 15:30 Bursars’ discussion forum

• Facilitator: Kathleen Sweeney, Scotland and All-Ireland Regional Secretary, ISBA

15:30 – 16:00 Making the most of your GAP and Graduate boarding assistants

GAP students and graduate assistants can add real value to boarding life. This session looks at effective ways to recruit, train, and support these staff members, ensuring they enrich the boarding experience while also developing their own skills and confidence.

• Speaker: Ken James, General Manager, LetzLive

16:30 Conference close

Speakers:

Wayne Denner, speaker, author and trainer

Wayne is a seasoned specialist in Online Safeguarding, Cybersecurity and Digital Engagement with over 25 years of international experience. He is the leading trainer and TF HSB (technology facilitated harmful sexual behaviour) consultant in Ireland, specialising in train the trainer learning at scale to empower individuals and organisations to protect themselves online. Wayne partners and collaborates with a diverse range of organisations across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Canada, USA and the Middle East, delivering in-person and virtual training.

Jane McGarrigle – National Coordinator, Webwise 

Jane oversees the development and delivery of Webwise – the Irish internet safety awareness centre. Within her 9 years, Jane has led the development of a range of award-winning internet safety programmes for children, parents, teachers and schools. McGarrigle also has responsibility for the coordination and promotion of Safer Internet Day in Ireland.  Jane sits on the Steering Committee of Media Literacy Ireland, is an active member of the Insafe network and recently sat on the Department of Education Anti-Bullying Steering Committee and the National Advisory Council for Online Safety.

Dale Wilkins, Executive Director, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance

Dale joined the BSA in 2017 to lead safeguarding, inspection, and compliance across the UK, building on his experience as a course tutor since 1998. He works closely with ISI, Ofsted, and DfE, and oversees the Group’s work in Scotland and Wales. A trainer and consultant for BSA and SACPA, Dale is Vice Chair of SAFCAB. Previously, he was a boarding practitioner for 31 years, including Housemaster and Deputy Head at Old Swinford Hospital. He also trains for the Methodist Church, is a trustee of the National Youth String Orchestra, chairs a performing arts charity, and volunteers in sport and Scouting.

Bethan Hudson MTIOB, Executive Director, Consultancy and Director, BAISIS/HIEDA

Bethan joined the BSA team as Training Manager in September 2017. She has worked in two independent boarding schools in the UK and Switzerland, where she was Housemistress to 36 pupils. After Switzerland, she became Pastoral Manager at an inner-city state academy before leading the Debrett’s Foundation training programme. At BSA, Bethan plans and manages Day Seminars, Conferences, INSET, and Consultancy, as well as serving as Director of BAISIS. Passionate about CPD, she believes boarding can be a powerful force for young people and is committed to ensuring staff are fully equipped to support their needs.

David Walker FTIOB, Executive Director, Boarding and Director, BSA/TIOB

David Walker has over 20 years’ experience in boarding education, having worked in a variety of schools across the UK and Africa. His career includes leadership roles in both senior and prep school settings, complemented by service as a prep school governor and trustee of a multi-academy trust. Before joining the BSA, David was Deputy Head Pastoral at a large co-educational independent school in the South-East, where he oversaw student welfare and pastoral care. His extensive background in safeguarding, boarding leadership, and governance gives him a broad perspective on the sector, enabling him to support schools in delivering outstanding pastoral provision.

Kathleen Sweeney, Scotland and All-Ireland Regional Secretary, ISBA

Kathleen joined ISBA in April 2023, bringing over 16 years of experience as a Bursar in a Scottish independent school and six years on the Board of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools. Well known in the sector, she understands the challenges facing Scottish members and is keen to learn from Irish and Northern Irish colleagues. Before becoming a Bursar, she spent 21 years in Higher Education and now serves on the Board of a Further Education College, giving her deep insight across all levels of education.

Ken James, General Manager, LetzLive