Repositioning girls’ boarding in 2026
🏷️ From £99
📍 Queenswood School
Conference outline:
Repositioning Girls’ Boarding in 2026 brings together sector leaders and practitioners to explore how boarding environments can evolve to better meet the needs of girls in a rapidly changing world. Through a series of expert-led discussions and practical sessions, the conference will examine current challenges and future opportunities across wellbeing, safeguarding, pastoral care, and student experience.
From rethinking boarding models and addressing emerging risks such as online harms and misogyny, to supporting physical health, nutrition, and inclusive participation in sport, the programme offers a holistic approach to girls’ development. Delegates will leave with fresh insights, practical strategies, and renewed confidence to create supportive, inclusive, and future-focused boarding environments.
PROGRAMME
10:00 – 10:30
Registration and refreshments
10:30 – 11:30
Session 1: Opening discussion; Current position of girls boarding
Speakers: David Walker, Executive Director, Boarding & Education and Director, BSA/TIOB
Jo Cameron, Principal, Queenswood School
11:30 – 12:00
Session 2: Remodelling boarding
This session will explore how boarding provision can be reimagined to meet the evolving needs of girls in 2026 and beyond. It will consider changes in student expectations, wellbeing, pastoral care, and the role of boarding in modern school life, offering practical insights into how schools can adapt and innovate their boarding models to remain relevant, inclusive, and impactful.
Speaker: Jo Cameron, Principal, Queenswood School
12:00 – 13:00
Networking lunch
13:00 – 14:00
Session 3: Preparing Young People: Sexual Harassment, Digital Harms and Online Misogyny
Young women and girls are navigating a changing landscape of sexual harassment, in public spaces, and increasingly, online. Drawing on Our Streets Now’s frontline work in sexual violence prevention with young people across the UK, this session will explore the role of school staff in challenging the normalisation of harmful sexual behaviour.
We will cover how technology is shifting the nature of sexual violence, including the rise of image-based abuse, online misogyny and what this means for safeguarding pupils.
This will be an interactive session, offering practical examples, space to reflect on challenges, and opportunities to share best practice with attendees. Attendees will leave with greater confidence in empowering young women and girls to navigate these issues, and in creating environments where harmful behaviour is challenged, not normalised.
Speaker: Issy, Our Streets Now
14:00 – 15:00
Session 4: Fuel, Focus, Flourish: Nutrition for Girls in Boarding Life
This session explores how nutrition supports girls in boarding to maintain energy, focus and overall wellbeing. With practical, real-life strategies, it will cover building healthy habits, navigating busy school routines, and supporting both academic and sporting performance.
15:00 – 15:30
Refreshments
15:30 – 16:15
Session 4: Beyond the Team Sheet: Rethinking Sport for Every Girl in Boarding Schools
This talk challenges traditional definitions of sport and participation, and considers how schools can broaden access and engagement for all girls. It explores the cultural and emotional factors that influence participation, and how boarding schools can create more inclusive, identity-affirming environments that encourage lifelong physical activity.
Speaker: Joanna (Joey) Gamper Cuthbert, Squad Safe training and consultancy for Cheer, Dance and Gymnastics
16:15 – 16:30
Conference Close
Speakers:
David Walker, 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.
Joanna (Joey) Gamper Cuthbert, Squad Safe training and consultancy for Cheer, Dance and Gymnastics
Joey Gamper Cuthbert is a best-selling author, speaker, and leading voice in youth sport, athlete welfare, and culture change. She is Chair of SportCheer England, guiding the national growth of competitive cheerleading as an Olympic sport. A former dancer, athlete, head coach, and programme owner, she has worked across sport at all levels. As Team Manager for Team England Adaptive Abilities, she won gold and silver medals at the ICU World Championships (2016–17). Joey is also Head of Engagement at Impact Dance, founder of Squad Safe consultancy, and author of Squad Safe; championing safer, empowering environments for young athletes.
