Annual Conference for Heads – Boarding perspectives: Learning within, leading beyond

Well thought out sessions. Relevant and current. A great opportunity to meet with like-minded people.

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• Date: May 06-07, 2025
• Time: 09:00 – 17:00
• Audience: Heads
• Cost: Included in 2024/25 membership for UK full members; £750 for international full members; £1,125 for affiliates and day schools; £1,500 for non-members
• Venue: York Racecourse, Knavesmire Road, YO23 1EX
• Accommodation: Discounted rooms available via Roomex – we anticipate most delegates will stay at The Grand or the Marriott (‘Delta’)
• Conference guide: Click here to download

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Headline sponsor: 

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VIEW THE PROGRAMME 

RSVP NOW

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We’re looking forward to welcoming Heads from our member schools to our Annual Conference for Heads on May 06-07, 2025.

This year, all UK full member schools receive one delegate place; an RSVP is essential to confirm your booking.

Our two-day conference will bring together heads to learn, share and debate all things boarding, including the latest challenges and opportunities for leaders.

Chaired by Dr Chris Pyle, Head, Lancaster Royal Grammar, the theme is ‘Boarding perspectives: Learning within, leading beyond’. Topics will include global trends in boarding, managing stress and anxiety, and the future of leadership. Full programme details will be announced shortly.

The event also includes the BSA Annual Awards and Conference Dinner, which will take place on May 06, 2025 following a drinks reception with musical entertainment from St Peter’s York.

A brilliant conference.

Jane Gandee, Head, St Swithun’s School

Jane began her teaching career in 1993 having dabbled briefly in accountancy after a degree in French and Spanish at Girton College, Cambridge. She taught languages at Lord Wandsworth College and Oakham School before becoming head of Spanish and then head of languages at Queenswood School. In 2005, she became director of studies at City of London School for Girls and she took up her current post in 2010. Jane is a keen sportswoman, having represented Cambridge at athletics and cross country and captained the university women’s football team. She still runs competitively when time allows and particularly enjoys running with colleagues at BSA conferences.

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Jim Lawless, CEO, SYMMETRY and Bestselling Author

Beginning his career as a solicitor, Jim now helps clients adjust to the future of work and the constant rate of change in modern society. He has worked with the likes of ITV, BP, Fiat, Virgin, Vitality, Xerox, Microsoft, Unilever and Apple. Author of “Taming Tigers: Do Things You Never Thought You Could”, Jim has developed several rules to change a business or an individual’s life around. These rules have been tried and tested by Jim himself, by becoming a televised jockey in 12 months and taking the British freediving record. Jim was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts in recognition of his business writing.

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Carrie Herbert MBE, Chair and Founder, Red Balloon Learning

Carrie trained as a teacher before emigrating to Australia, returned to the UK in the eighties to complete a Master’s Degree at UEA and a PhD at Cambridge. Carrie worked as a consultant in equal opportunities before founding Red Balloon in 1996. She has written a number of books on the subject of bullying and harassment in schools and in the workplace. Carrie Herbert was Master of the WC of Cutlers from 2020-2022.

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Gareth Jones, Head, Bilton Grange Prep 

Gareth has worked in prep boarding schools for over 25 years, leading two over the last 10 years. Formerly a Housemaster and Director of Sport at the Dragon School, Oxford, he then became Head of St Andrew’s Prep, Eastbourne before taking up his current role as Head of Bilton Grange Prep, part of the Rugby School Group, in September 2021. Gareth sits on the IAPS Pastoral Committee, having also sat on their Sports Committee previously, and has experience of governance in both the independent and state sectors.

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Mark Lauder FTIOB, Head, Strathallan School

Mark began his teaching career at Shiplake College in Henley-on-Thames, where he was Head of the History Department, Resident Tutor and Master I/C of Rowing. He then headed to Oxford in 1999, to become Head of History at St Edward’s School, as well as a Housemaster. While there, he continued with his rugby refereeing, coaching U16s rugby and U15s rowing, and ran the naval section of the CCF. In 2007, Mark was appointed Deputy Headmaster and Head of Boarding at Felsted School, where he maintained his coaching and teaching roles. It was from there, in 2010, that he headed north, to take on the role of Headmaster at Ashville College in Harrogate. In 2017, Mark moved to Strathallan School.

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Geoff Marsh, Head of Frensham, Frensham Schools

Geoff has been Head of Frensham Schools for the past two years (coed P-6, girls’ boarding and day 7-12). Prior to this he was Principal of the Riverina Anglican College in Wagga Wagga (coed K-12). Before going to Wagga Geoff was Deputy Head of Frensham Schools for 17 years. Geoff had a brief interlude helping run the Sydney 2000 Olympics for three years. Prior to this he worked as a physics and chemistry teacher at Chevalier College in Bowral for six years where he also worked in boys’ boarding.

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Alice Philips, Head, St Catherine’s, Bramley

Alice Phillips was educated at Kendal High School for Girls and went on to read English at Newnham College, Cambridge. After ten years as an English teacher, and then Head of English at the Royal Masonic School, Rickmansworth, she moved on to Deputy Headship at Tormead School, Guildford in 1993 and has been Headmistress of St Catherine’s, Bramley, an independent school for girls aged 4-18, near Guildford, since 2000.

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Simon Pither, Director, PRS Training

Simon started martial arts at a local Judo club when he was 14. Ten years later he got his first instructor qualification and has been teaching martial arts and running self-defence courses ever since, culminating in his current role as the President of the UK Sector of the European Federation of Krav Maga. While running courses for students, teachers, nurses, community clubs, charities and corporate organisations over the years, it became apparent that everyone wished they had learned it earlier.

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Guy Schady-Beckett, Director and Head of Research, Next Step Education

Guy has served as Director and Head of Research at Next Step Education Limited
(Independent Schools Show & Bonas MacFarlane) since 2014. Previously he ran Drayson Beckett Limited, a specialist education consultancy working long-term with schools and universities on business development (with a focus on digital
transition), market research and brand / product repositioning for 20 years. Prior to that he taught English at Windlesham and Durston House. He holds a PhD and an MA in History from Birkbeck, University of London, with distinction honours, as well as a second MA from University of the Arts London. His BA was in English from UCL.

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Dr Heather Tracy, Executive Director & Co-Founder, New Summit Academy and The Bridge – Costa Rica

Heather studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, earning a Master of Education in Human Development & Psychology. In 2014, Heather completed her Doctorate in K-12 Leadership with a dissertation about the importance of academic enablers for at-risk adolescents to build resilience and learn and live more effectively and efficiently. Previously, Heather researched Math and English support programmes for the MCAS in Boston Public Schools, taught English as a Second Language to teenagers and adults, taught college reading and writing courses, and served one year as a volunteer English teacher in the Costa Rican public school system. Being a part of the founding team of New Summit Academy in 2004 has been the highlight of her career, and she feels blessed to be able to be a part of the team creating innovative, holistic, and quality education for unique young men. Heather co-authored Supportive Immersion theory (2016) and articulated PROPS skills as the 21st century skill set needed to thrive in today’s world.

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Fiona Boulton OBE, Director of Independent Schools, United Learning

Fiona became Director of Independent Schools in 2022. She joined United Learning in 1995 when it was the Church Schools Company. She was Head of Guildford High School from 2002 – 2022 and is currently Executive Head there. Guildford High became a Teaching School in 2013 and Fiona was appointed an NLE, leading the United Learning Teaching School Alliance from 2013 – 2020. She has a variety of governance roles; she is an Associate Director of Cumbria University, on the governing body of Epsom College and St Ives Prep School and a member of the ‘Learning Partners Academy Trust’. Fiona is on the Advisory Board of the School Partnerships Alliance and has helped to establish the West Surrey Partnership of state and independent schools. She was Chair of HMC in 2019-2020, and on the Advisory Council of the Institute for Ethical AI in Education (IEAIED) between 2018 – 2021. In 2023, Fiona was awarded an OBE for services to education.

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Emma Goldsmith, Head, Dragon School Oxford

Emma is the twelfth person to lead Dragon School Oxford, a co-educational prep school, since it was founded in 1877 and the first female to do so. Emma joined the Dragon after a successful few years as Head of Winchester House Prep. Emma taught at Oakham and Rugby Schools and went on to become Deputy Head at Bloxham School where she also worked as Housemistress, setting up the first girls’ boarding house. Emma is a board member of IAPS. She is an experienced governor having been on the board of Cheltenham College and is currently a governor of Wellington College and Gordonstoun. She is also host of the podcast ‘The Educational DilEmma’.

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Nick Wergan, Global Education Director, Inspired Education Group

Nick joined Inspired in 2020 and is now the Chief Executive Officer for the UK. This followed six years as Headteacher at Steyning Grammar School. Nick was elected Chair of the BSA in 2019, appointed National Leader of Education by the UK Department for Education, and founded the Pavilion and Downs Teaching School Alliance. Following a successful international career in Investment Banking (leading Emerging European Equity teams at US, UK, and European investment banks, including Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and HSBC), Nick began his career in education following his teacher training at Pembroke College, Oxford in 2004. Presently, Nick is an elected fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a winning recipient of the 2007 UK National Teaching Award and holds an MA in Education Studies (University of Sussex).

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Leo Winkley, Head, Shrewsbury School

Leo began his teaching career as Head of Religious Studies at Ardingly College (1994-99) where he also looked after a Lower Sixth boarding house. From there, he moved to The Cheltenham Ladies’ College as Head of Religious Studies (1999-2004) where the subject became the most popular A Level choice. In 2004, he was appointed Deputy Head of Bedales School (2004-10) where he was responsible for boarding and pastoral care. He then spent eight years as Head Master of St Peter’s School in York. A passionate advocate of boarding, Leo was Chairman of BSA between 2016 and 2017. He believes strongly in community engagement and partnership work, chairing the City of York Independent State Schools Partnership (2017-18) and sitting on the Independent Schools’ Council expert group ‘Schools Together’.

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 Joanna Lada-Walicki, Partner, Moore Barlow

Head of the Schools Team, Joanna is recognised nationally as a leading adviser on complex and high profile employment and pastoral issues that impact schools, including allegations of abuse (against staff and child-on-child), other safeguarding issues as well as staff departures within the senior leadership team.  Joanna also has niche expertise on the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), including on issues arising from claims from Teachers’ Pensions for arrears of contributions. She is frequently requested to speak at industry sector events and has written many articles on a range of issues.

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Julie Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Schools Council (ISC)

Julie was head of Ardingly College Junior School and then Vinehall Prep School in Sussex before becoming education and training director for the Independent Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS). At IAPS, she served on the Standing Group of Teachers Associations and the Independent Schools Examination Board. Julie also chaired the Independent Schools Council’s Cross Association Leadership Group. In 2015, Julie became General Secretary of the ISC, representing schools across the independent education sector. She serves on the School Partnerships Oversight Board for the Department for Education promoting independent-state school partnership work. Julie liaises with influencers in education across schools, government and the media, serving the interests of ISC constituent associations and member schools

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Ben Mason, CEO, globalbridge

Following 16 years in teaching across the state and independent sectors, Ben founded globalbridge, a pioneering EdTech platform, to level the playing field of opportunity and help schools evidence student outcomes via a multimedia learner profile. globalbridge was created to support how schools evidence student talent and skills by enabling them to utilise the digital media advances in the emerging talent recruitment space. Listed in the Business Cloud UK EdTech top 50 for most innovative education technology creators, Ben himself was also listed in The Sunday Times top 100 entrepreneurs. Ben and globalbridge co-lead a number of OECD ‘Future of Education and Skills 2030’ projects. One looking at how educational outcomes can be more inclusive and equitable for all learners.

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Alex Foreman, Principal, Duke of York’s Royal Military School

Alex gained his Theology & Philosophy degree from Surrey University, initially teaching PE and Religious Education at Uppingham School in Rutland. He became Head of Year at an all-boys Leicester city comprehensive and then went on to become Assistant Headteacher and later Headteacher, at King’s School, an MoD school based in Germany. Alex joined the Duke of York’s Royal Military School in 2017. He has an indestructible attachment to Leicester Tigers and highlights of the year are playing the pupils’ First XIs at cricket and hockey, where he still thinks ‘he’s got it!’.

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Karl Hearn, Boarding Consultant, Noble + Eaton

Noble + Eaton is an education design consultancy based in London. At Noble + Eaton, Karl works closely with boarding schools to reimagine and reshape their environments into Thriving Spaces™, emphasising how physical space can enhance student outcomes. With a deep understanding of the dynamics of boarding life, he has a keen eye for identifying hidden potential within existing spaces—transforming underutilised areas into purposeful, student-centred environments. His work bridges strategy and design, helping schools align their physical settings with USPs and evolving educational and wellbeing priorities. Having recently led the ‘State of Boarding Spaces’ research project Karl shared his insights at the Future of Boarding Spaces Conference, contributing to discussions on the future of boarding environments. By combining practical expertise with visionary thinking, Karl supports schools in creating spaces that foster a strong sense of belonging and academic growth—unlocking the full value of their environments for students and staff alike.

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Martin Reader FTIOB, Senior Advisor, Saxton Bampfylde

Martin is a former Head of Cranleigh & Wellington Schools who now works as a consultant. He served as BSA Chair in 2018-19. He is a Fellow of the RSA, Emeritus Fellow of the BSA and Trustee of the BSA Foundation.

 

 

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Emma Hattersley, Partner and Head of Schools Practice, Saxton Bampfylde

Emma joined Saxton Bampfylde as a consultant in 2022. Emma worked in a variety of educational settings for more than three decades. She has experience of day and boarding schools, co-educational and single sex, prep and senior. Emma was Head of Godolphin School between 2014 and 2022. Prior to joining Godolphin, Emma was Housemistress at Canford School and then moved to Sherborne Girls to take up a Deputy Head position. Emma has examined for OCR and the ABRSM and is a Governor at Fairley House School and Port Regis. She has chaired the HMC Inspection sub-committee, served as an inspector for ISI and is a former member of the ISI Educational Advisory Forum.

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David Woodgate, Chief Executive, Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA)

David was appointed Chief Executive of ISBA in 2016. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Accountants from 2007-2015 after which he spent a year as the Strategy Consultant to the Institute of Public Accountants in Australia. David qualified as a Barrister before moving into the City, holding several senior management and executive positions in the National Westminster Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. He ran an outsourcing business and a specialist consultancy providing market intelligence and competitor analysis. He completed an MBA at Warwick University Business School. A former Chief Executive of the Institute of Administrative Management, he also holds a postgraduate diploma in Charity Management from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and South Bank University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Banker, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. David is also a former Chairman of Governors of an HMC school and a Governor of the City of London School.

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Speakers from the BSA Team:

Kate Hollyer MTIOB, Executive Director (Legal), BSA Group & Director (Solicitor), BSA Legal

Kate is Legal and Public Affairs Director of BSA Group and Director of BSA Legal Services Ltd. As a qualified solicitor with more than 10 years’ experience advising clients on UK immigration law, Kate assists members with all immigration and safeguarding legal matters. Prior to joining BSA in 2022 Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading full-service UK law firm. Having resided in state, preparatory and senior school boarding houses since 2014 with her Housemaster husband, Kate has a unique perspective of boarding life.

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

Bethan joined the BSA team as Training Manager in September 2017. Bethan has worked in two independent boarding schools in the UK and Switzerland, the latter as Housemistress to 36 pupils. Following her time in Switzerland, she was a Pastoral Manager for an inner-city state academy before working in the charity sector for Debrett’s running the ‘Debrett’s Foundation’ training programme.

In her role, Bethan plans and manages all Day Seminars, Conferences, INSET and Consultancy, as well as being Director of BAISIS. She believes boarding can be a positive force for young people and in order to fully support their needs staff can never learn too much. As such she is passionate about the CPD BSA delivers to our pastoral communities in the UK and worldwide.

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Aileen Kane FTIOB, Chief Operating Officer, BSA Group

Aileen is COO of BSA Group, and the Director of SACPA (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association). Aileen leads operations at BSA providing guidance and training and works closely with government departments, local authorities and other agencies to support members. She heads up the group’s work to find places for refugee children escaping from conflict countries and is also a trustee for a children’s charity.

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

David is the Executive Director, Boarding and Director BSA/TIOB  and joined the BSA group in August 2023. He has over 20 years’ experience in boarding schools and has worked in a range of schools in the UK and Africa, alongside being a prep school governor and a trustee of a MAT. Before taking up his post at the BSA, David was Deputy Head Pastoral at a large co-ed independent school in the South-East.

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Dale Wilkins FTIOB, Executive Director, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance, BSA Group

Dale joined the BSA in 2017 with responsibility for safeguarding and standards, having previously been a course tutor since 1998. In 2019 he also assumed responsibility for the BSA’s training programme, including both day seminars and accredited training courses. Dale leads on all safeguarding and inspection matters for the BSA, including managing the Commitment to Care Charter, and has developed a process of BSA Accreditation for our international members. He also liaises with ISI, Ofsted and DfE on matters relating to compliance and inspection standards, and compiles the BSA Self-Assessment toolkit, which he first produced in 2002, since which time he has been closely involved in inspection in state and independent boarding.

For 31 years Dale was a boarding practitioner. After boarding positions at Norwich School and Tettenhall College, Dale became a Housemaster at Old Swinford Hospital in 1992, and was promoted to Deputy Head in 2007, and subsequently also DSL. He has also been a multi-agency trainer for the Dudley Safeguarding Children’s Board.

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Robin Fletcher MTIOB, CEO 

Robin Fletcher is CEO of BSA Group, comprising BAISIS (British Association of Independent Schools with International Students), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), BSA Legal, HIEDA (Health in Education Association) SACPA (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association) and TIOB (The Institute of Boarding). A former journalist, editor and communications director, Robin is a non-executive director of the manufacturers’ trade body Make UK, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University.

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Exhibiting and sponsorship: We are delighted to be able to offer sponsorship and exhibition opportunities at this event. For full details please reach out to Neil Rust, Head of Commercial neil.rust@bsagroup.org.uk or Laura Brain, Senior Commercial Consultant, laura.brain@bsagroup.org.uk or call on +44 (0)207 798 1580.

Thank you for your incredible hard work and dedication to the conference. I had the best time ever!

Drinks sponsor: 

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Dinner sponsor: