BSA Autumn term Guardian “Toolbox Talks”, 05.10.21

5 October @ 2.00pm – 3.00pm

Course Outline

The aim of the “Toolbox Talks” is to provide ‘bite-sized’ presentations on relevant areas and then an opportunity to meet with other BSA Certified Guardians in breakout rooms. In this session, our guest speakers will be Robin Fletcher, CEO, BSA and BSA Group, and Dale Wilkins, Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation, BSA Group.

Topics

• Boarding and safeguarding updates.

Learning outcomes

• A greater understanding and knowledge of the current boarding market and update on key safeguarding points.

Audience:

• BSA certified Guardians

DOWNLOAD FLYER

Speaker(s)

Chair: Ammy Davies-Potter, Director of Guardianship and Inclusion
Ammy joined the BSA Group as Director of Guardianship and Inclusion in 2020. She qualified as a teacher in 1991 and then spent her career in boarding school roles. Prior to that, she was educated at Downend School, Bristol. Gaining a First-Class degree in Human Biology and Geology from Hertfordshire University, she then went on to study for a PGCE at the University of Oxford. She holds an MEd from the University of Bristol and is working towards her MA in Inclusive Education at Bath Spa University. She initially taught at Bromsgrove School and then at St John’s College School Cambridge, before moving in 1995 to become a Housemistress at Westonbirt School. In 2010 she joined St Mary’s Calne, initially as a Housemistress and subsequently joining the SLT as Senior Mistress and DSL and finally as Deputy Head (Pastoral).

Prior to moving on to post-graduate study, she spent a year working for the NHS in the field of genetics. She completed her NPQH in 2000 as well as her AMBDA and APC in 2019. When she isn’t working, Ammy can be found spending time with her family, exploring parts of the UK and abroad or walking the Pembrokeshire coastal path with her Labrador Odin.

Robin Fletcher, Chief Executive, BSA and BSA Group
Robin Fletcher, MBA, MPhil, is CEO of BSA Group, comprising the BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), Sacpa (Safeguarding and Child Protection Association) and BAISIS (British Association of Independent Schools with International Students). Robin was a journalist, editor and communications director before joining BSA in 2014.

As BSA CEO, Robin is a member of the Department for Education’s Systems Partnership Oversight Board. Outside BSA, he is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an Honorary Fellow of Cardiff Metropolitan University, a Governor of Rugby School, President of the Rugbeian Society and a non-executive director of the national trade body Make UK. He lives in Bath in south west England and has two daughters, two stepdaughters, and two stepsons.

Dale Wilkins, Director of Safeguarding, Professional Development and Accreditation, BSA Group
Dale joined the BSA during Summer 2017 with responsibility for safeguarding and standards. In July 2019 he also assumed responsibility for the BSA’s accredited training programme. Dale leads on all safeguarding and inspection matters for the BSA, including managing the Commitment to Care Charter, the annual Safeguarding Conference, and the Safeguarding Forum. He has also developed a process of BSA Accreditation for our overseas members.

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 and has been closely involved in inspection in state and independent boarding since 2002.

Dale had previously been a BSA course tutor since 1998 and developed the BSA Self-Assessment Toolkit.