The Future of Boarding Conference

• Date: June 12, 2025
• Time: 09:30 – 16:30
• Cost: BSA Full Member – £235, BSA Additional Full Member – £110, BSA Affiliate Member – £335, BSA Additional Affiliate Member – £145, Non-member – £470
• Platform: Zoom (online)

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This one-day conference brings together boarding professionals to explore how the sector is evolving and what lies ahead. Key themes include international recruitment, staff development, pupil mental health, residential space innovation, and governance. Sessions will provide practical strategies and case studies to support long-term planning and day-to-day operations.

Training topics will include: 

• International / Recruitment: Explore global boarding trends, post-pandemic market shifts, and ethical recruitment practices.
• Staffing: Tackle staff recruitment and retention through effective workload management and development pathways.
• Mental Health: Strengthen mental health support with early identification, staff training, and whole-house wellbeing approaches.
• Boarding Spaces / House: Rethink boarding environments through inclusive design, technology, and sustainable infrastructure planning.
• Future proofing your marketing strategy and plan: Practical hints and tips to adjust your marketing to directly impact the bottom line.
• Strategic Integration (Workshop): Align strategies across all themes to develop actionable plans through collaboration and peer benchmarking.

Learning Outcomes 

• International / Recruitment: Identify growth markets and implement compliant, effective international recruitment strategies.
• Staffing: Build and retain high-performing teams with tailored staffing models and ongoing professional support.
• Mental Health: Apply preventative and responsive mental health practices that foster resilient boarding communities.
• Boarding Spaces / House: Design future-ready boarding spaces that enhance student experience and operational flexibility.
• Strategic Integration (Workshop): Produce a targeted, school-specific development plan supported by peer insights.

Programme:

09:30 – 10:15 | International / Recruitment

• Speaker: Ed Richardson, Managing Director, Keystone Tutors

10:15 – 10:30 | Break

10:30 – 11:30 | Recruitment and retention of the best boarding staff

An analysis of research from the education and boarding sectors into trends and practical strategies to recruit and retain the brightest and best boarding staff.

• Speaker: Gaelle Sullivan, Director of Research, BSA Group

11:30 – 11:45 | Break

11:45 – 12:30 | Mental Health

• Speaker: Alicia Drummond BACP Accredited Therapist and Founder of the Wellbeing Hub

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch

13:30 – 14:30 | Boarding Spaces / House

• Speaker: Karl Hearn, Strategy Development Consultant, Noble + Eaton

14:30 – 14:45 | Break

14:45 – 15:30 | Future proofing your marketing strategy and plan

Practical hints and tips to adjust your marketing to directly impact the bottom line.

• Speaker: Aileen Kane, Deputy CEO and COO, BSA Group

15:30 – 15:45 | Break

15:45 – 16:30 | Strategic Integration

16:40 | Conference close

Speakers:

Ed Richardson, Managing Director, Keystone Tutors 

Ed read Zoology at St. Andrews University before completing a Secondary Science PGCE at Oxford University. He has since undertaken a Masters in Teaching and Learning at Oxford too. Prior to joining Keystone, he taught all three sciences to GCSE as well as A Level Biology at an outstanding state comprehensive academy in Oxfordshire.

Previously, Ed served as the Director of Education at Keystone, where he led the client management team, oversaw the tutor recruitment process, and was responsible for the professional development of Keystone’s employed tutors. Now, as Keystone’s Managing Director, he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations and strategy of the company.

Ed firmly believes that providing tutors with appropriate levels of training better equips them to support the individual needs of their students. He recognizes the value of educational literature and spends time researching current publications, particularly on the nature of personalised learning and its benefits for students of all abilities. Outside of Keystone, Ed is a Trustee for the Temple Grove Schools Trust and speaks on a variety of educational topics from ‘The Importance of Parents in a Child’s Attainment’ to ‘The British Education System’.

Karl Hearn, Strategy Development Consultant, Noble + Eaton 

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.

Aileen Kane, Deputy CEO and COO, BSA Group

Aileen Kane is a marketing and communications strategist with a proven track record in driving business growth, brand positioning, and audience engagement. As Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer at BSA Group, Aileen has demonstrated her expertise in strategic marketing, business development, and organisational transformation.

With extensive experience in marcomms, public affairs, and policy advocacy, Aileen has led impactful campaigns, shaped legislative discussions, and built influential partnerships with government bodies, including the Department for Education and the Home Office. Her ability to craft compelling marketing strategies and implement data-driven plans has positioned brands for long-term success.

Aileen’s background spans leadership roles in education, legal services, and the charity sector, where she has navigated complex challenges in marketing, PR, and stakeholder engagement. She is passionate about equipping businesses and organisations with the tools to create meaningful marketing strategies that drive real impact.

Gaelle Sullivan, Director of Research, BSA Group

Gaelle is Director of Research, Inclusion and IELA and joined the BSA in January 2023. She is an experienced senior leader and has worked in a range of state and independent schools. She is a qualified SENCO and holds a Masters in Inclusive Education. Prior to joining the BSA, Gaelle was Deputy Head Pastoral, DSL and Head of Boarding at an all-girls independent school in the South-East. She is a trustee at a leading independent boarding school.

Alicia Drummond BACP Accredited Therapist and Founder of the Wellbeing Hub

Alicia is passionate about providing evidenced-based advice to parents, teachers and all those looking after children and young people, so they can be pro-active in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of those in their care.  Alicia also works directly with children and young people empowering them to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

Alicia draws on the latest research from psychotherapy, psychology and neuroscience, along with her experience of working as an adolescent therapist.

Alicia is a BACP accredited therapist, parenting expert, sought after keynote speaker, member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for a Fit and Healthy Childhood, author and a mother.  She is regularly sought for her expert opinion by the media.

Having worked with schools across the UK for more than a decade delivering webinars, talks and workshops to parents, carers, staff, and pupils; in 2020 Alicia created The Wellbeing Hub. This award-winning platform offers a proactive approach to young people’s mental health and wellbeing by providing evidenced-based support for the whole school community – staff, parents, carers and pupils.  The platform is currently impacting more than 130,000 pupils in over 220 schools.

David Walker FTIOB, Director, BSA

David is the Executive Director, Boarding and Director BSA/TIOB and joined the BSA Group in 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.