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UID:49636-1746522000-1746637200@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:Annual Conference for Heads - Boarding perspectives: Learning within\, leading beyond
DESCRIPTION:Well thought out sessions. Relevant and current. A great opportunity to meet with like-minded people.\n\n\n\nDate: May 06-07\, 2025\nTime: 09:00 – 17:00\nAudience: Heads\nCost: 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\nVenue: York Racecourse\, Knavesmire Road\, YO23 1EX\nAccommodation: Discounted rooms available via Roomex – we anticipate most delegates will stay at The Grand or the Marriott (‘Delta’)\nConference guide: Click here to download\n\n\nHeadline sponsor:  \n \n\nVIEW THE PROGRAMME  \nRSVP NOW \n\n\n\n Add to calendar\n\n\n\n\n\nWe’re looking forward to welcoming Heads from our member schools to our Annual Conference for Heads on May 06-07\, 2025. \nThis year\, all UK full member schools receive one delegate place; an RSVP is essential to confirm your booking. \nOur two-day conference will bring together heads to learn\, share and debate all things boarding\, including the latest challenges and opportunities for leaders. \nChaired 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. \nThe 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. \n\nA brilliant conference.\n\n\n\n\nConference Chair:\n\n \nChris Pyle\, Head\, Lancaster Royal Grammar School \nChris is Chair of the BSA State Boarding Forum. He has been Head of Lancaster Royal Grammar School since 2012.  The school has grown significantly over that period and has welcomed Sixth Form girls as boarders and day students. It has been judged Outstanding in all categories in three successive Ofsted boarding inspections. Chris was previously Deputy Head of the Perse School\, Cambridge. Before becoming a teacher he completed a PhD in Geography at Cambridge University and also worked in the water industry. He holds the NPQH\, is currently studying for the NPQEL in school leadership\, and is Executive Lead of the NNW Maths Hub. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society\, and regularly writes resources for schools on natural hazards and environmental change. \n\n\n\n\nSpeakers:\n\nAdam Beeson\, Strategic Enrollment Director\, New Summit Academy and The Bridge – Costa Rica \nWith nearly two decades of international school teaching and leadership experience in Europe and the Americas\, Adam is an educator with a passion for creating meaningful relationships with learners and facilitating experiences that lead to cross-cultural understanding and global competencies. ​From 2015-2020\, Adam served in a number of roles within the Academic Department at NSA. He is actively involved in the wider field of international school education\, adding his insight as a presenter at the International Baccalaureate (IB) Global Conference of the Americas\, serving as an IB Examiner and member of the International Schools Anti-Discrimination Taskforce\, and contributing to various publications\, including the Wellbeing in International Schools Magazine\, for which he was also a founding member of the editorial team. Adam is a Fellow of the Salzburg Global Seminar\, an Austrian-based think tank and policy centre\, and serves in a volunteer capacity as Community and Outreach Coordinator for the Global Citizenship Alliance. \n\n \nJonathan Bowman-Perks MBE\, CEO’s Trusted Leadership Advisor \nJonathan has learnt from the brightest and the best CEOs\, Chairs\, Principals\, Heads\, Vice Chancellors\, Generals\, Partners and Managing Directors. His forthcoming third book\, “The CEO’s Compass: Navigating Teams Through Turbulent Times”\, does what it says on the tin. As a Leadership Advisor and Coach to world-class CEOs and Top Teams\, there are few messy problems or challenges that he has not yet come across. He has the privilege of meeting fascinating leaders\, Politicians\, Special Forces Soldiers\, Generals\, Explorers\, Olympians and Entrepreneurs. As host of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast (rated in the global top 1.5%)\, he draws on their personal stories and wisdom to help others navigate the least-worst outcomes to survive and thrive in the turbulent leadership world. Jonathan was Assistant to the Head of the British Army\, Chief of Staff of the Army’s largest Brigade and commanded his Company on three operational tours. He was a leader in PwC\, IBM and as Penna PLC’s MD of Board and Executive Coaching. He was awarded the MBE for his services to leadership in training UN leaders who helped prevent the East Timor massacre. \n\n\n\nGina Buckney\, Founder and Director\, Your People Power \n\n\nGina is a 2 x TEDx Global Speaker and has been pioneering large-scale corporate change for 20 years. Gina combines personal experience working in high-pressured environments alongside science-led and solution-driven programmes. Some of her early positions include Head of UK Retail Customer Services for BT and IT Transformation Programme Manager for Lloyd’s Banking Group. At 27 she became the youngest BT Contract Director and was awarded the largest managed service banking contract with a value of over £400m and a global team of 450. \n\n\n\nBen Collingwood\, Partner\, Moore Barlow \nBen specialises in advising independent schools and other charities on wide ranging areas of education law\, with particular focus on reputation issues\, pastoral\, safeguarding\, historic abuse allegations\, SEN\, exclusions\, parent/pupil complaints\, data protection\, parent contracts\, admissions and staff matters of all types. \nHe has written and spoken widely on issues facing the independent schools sector\, providing comment in The Times\, The Guardian\, The Lawyer and Law Society’s Gazette and at the national conferences and training programmes for the various associations that support independent schools including BSA\, ISBA\, HMC\, IAPS and AGBIS. \nHe lives with his wife and three children in West Sussex. He has been a devoted surfer since his childhood and he loves to spend as much of his free time as possible in the sea and walking their pointers with his family. \n\n\n\n\n\nJamie Daniels\, Director\, PRS Training \nJamie has been interested in and teaching self-defence and martial arts for thirty years\, culminating in learning and instructing Krav Maga. In that time he has seen again and again how it’s not martial arts people need\, rather it is some simple physical techniques and a healthy dose of understanding as to what constitutes a dangerous situation\, how to spot one developing\, and what to do about it. As well as a history in the security industry\, Jamie has been working in the education sector for over 15 years. This has also helped Jamie understand the pressures and demands that young people face today. \n\n\n\n\nJane Gandee\, Head\, St Swithun’s School \nJane 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. \n\n \nJim Lawless\, CEO\, SYMMETRY and Bestselling Author  \nBeginning 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. \n\n \nCarrie Herbert MBE\, Chair and Founder\, Red Balloon Learning \nCarrie 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. \n\n \nGareth Jones\, Head\, Bilton Grange Prep  \nGareth 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. \n\nMark Lauder FTIOB\, Head\, Strathallan School \nMark 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. \n\nGeoff Marsh\, Head of Frensham\, Frensham Schools \nGeoff 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. \n\nAlice Philips\, Head\, St Catherine’s\, Bramley  \nAlice 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. \n\nSimon Pither\, Director\, PRS Training \nSimon 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. \n\nGuy Schady-Beckett\, Director and Head of Research\, Next Step Education \nGuy has served as Director and Head of Research at Next Step Education Limited\n(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\ntransition)\, 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. \n\nDr Heather Tracy\, Executive Director & Co-Founder\, New Summit Academy and The Bridge – Costa Rica \nHeather 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. \n\n \nFiona Boulton OBE\, Director of Independent Schools\, United Learning \nFiona 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. \n\n \nEmma Goldsmith\, Head\, Dragon School Oxford \nEmma 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’. \n\n \nNick Wergan\, Global Education Director\, Inspired Education Group \nNick 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). \n\n \nLeo Winkley\, Head\, Shrewsbury School \nLeo 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’. \n\n Joanna Lada-Walicki\, Partner\, Moore Barlow \nHead 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. \n\n \nJulie Robinson\, Chief Executive Officer\, Independent Schools Council (ISC) \nJulie 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 \n\n \nBen Mason\, CEO\, globalbridge \nFollowing 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. \n\n \nAlex Foreman\, Principal\, Duke of York’s Royal Military School  \nAlex 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!’. \n\n \nKarl Hearn\, Boarding Consultant\, Noble + Eaton \nNoble + 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. \n\n \nMartin Reader FTIOB\, Senior Advisor\, Saxton Bampfylde \nMartin 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. \n  \n  \n\n \nEmma Hattersley\, Partner and Head of Schools Practice\, Saxton Bampfylde \nEmma 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. \n\n \nDavid Woodgate\, Chief Executive\, Independent Schools Bursars Association (ISBA) \nDavid 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. \n\nSpeakers from the BSA Team: \nKate Hollyer MTIOB\, Executive Director (Legal)\, BSA Group & Director (Solicitor)\, BSA Legal \nKate 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. \n\n \nBethan Hudson MTIOB\, Executive Director\, Consultancy and Director\, BAISIS/HIEDA \nBethan 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. \nIn 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. \n\n \nAileen Kane FTIOB\, Chief Operating Officer\, BSA Group \nAileen 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. \n\nDavid Walker FTIOB\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB \nDavid 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. \n\n \nDale Wilkins FTIOB\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance\, BSA Group \nDale 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. \nFor 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. \n\n \nRobin Fletcher MTIOB\, CEO  \nRobin 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. \n\nExhibiting 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. \n\nThank you for your incredible hard work and dedication to the conference. I had the best time ever!\n\nDrinks sponsor:  \n \n\nDinner sponsor: 
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/annual-conference-for-heads-2/
LOCATION:York Racecourse\, Knavesmire Road\, YO23 1EX
CATEGORIES:Conference,In-person
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250520T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250520T161500
DTSTAMP:20250519T085614Z
CREATED:20240319T161114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T085614Z
UID:47012-1747733400-1747757700@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:BSA & BAISIS - Visa and immigration summer term conference
DESCRIPTION:Date: May 20\, 2025\n\n\n\nTime: 09:30 -16:15\n\n\n\nCost: BAISIS/BSA member – £235\, BAISIS/BSA Member additional attendee – £110\, Non-member – £470\n\n\n\nAudience: Boarding staff\, Heads of Boarding\, Deputy Head (Pastoral)\n\n\n\nPlatform: Zoom (online) – conference\n\n\n\n\nSponsored by: \n \n\nCourse Outline: \n\n\n\nThe BSA and BAISIS summer term visa and immigration conference enables delegates to hear directly from experts on the latest in visas and immigration relevant to the education sector. The summer term update addresses key issues from members at a crucial time of year for international student recruitment and sponsor management. \nHere are three reasons why this update is important for schools to attend: \n\nThis conference comes just a few days before changes to the UK Immigration Rules for the Child Student route and Student Sponsor guidance come into force on May 29\, 2025. These changes will improve safeguarding on the Child Student route but schools (and applicants) must be prepared. These upcoming changes will be reviewed throughout our conference sessions.\nWe’ll be joined by Home Office Operations and Policy representatives which presents a key opportunity for delegates to hear directly from the Home Office on these huge changes\nTo ensure members get the most out of the conference\, we’re inviting delegates to ask questions of the Home Office. Please submit these in advance via bsa@boarding.org.uk.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTraining topics will include: \n\n\n\n\nKey sector issues relating to visas and immigration\n\n\n\nMaintaining sponsor license compliance\n\n\n\nSponsor duties including managing the SMS\, CAS allocations\, your BCA and monitoring\, reporting and record-keeping.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBOOK NOW \nPROGRAMME \n\nProgramme: \n09:30 – 09:45 \nWelcome and update: immigration state of the nation \nA review of where we are now as a sector and what’s to come. \n\nSpeaker: Kate Hollyer\, Executive Director (Legal)\, BSA Group\n\n09:45 – 10:30 \nInternational student risks – fraud and scams \nThis session will hear how different fraud and scam methods can impact international students\, and how different cultural responses can impact the likelihood to report and ask for help. \n\nSpeaker: Damien Cranny\, Fraud Protect Office\, Dorset Police\n\n10:30 – 10:45 \nBreak \n10:45 – 11:30 \nEducational guardianship: what’s on the horizon \nThis session will look at the latest developments in guardianship and will anticipate what the future will bring. It will include an outline of recent schemes developed by the BSA to support both schools and individual guardians. The panel of currently practicing guardians will then consider recent changes they have observed and consider what is on the horizon for the sector. \n\nChair: David Walker\, Executive Director Boarding and Director BSA/TIOB\, BSA Group\n\nPanel: \n\n\n\nSusan Fang\, Founder\, UK Guardianship\nJonathan Sherry\, Managing Director\, Guardians International\n\n\n\n11:30 – 11:45 \nBreak \n11:45 – 12:30 \nUK immigration digitisation update \nThis session will look at the UK’s transition to a digital immigration system: new processes to stay live to\, implementation progress\, common concerns we are hearing for schools and students and solutions. \n\nChair: Leigh Steer\, Immigration Executive\, BSA Group\n\nSpeakers:  \n\n\n\nKate Hollyer\, Executive Director (Legal)\, BSA Group\nAndrew Steven\, Director\, I-GTM\n\n\n\n12:30 – 13:30 \nLunch \n13:30 – 14:30 \nHome Office: Policy and Operations update \nHear from representatives of the Home Office Study Operations and Student Policy departments about the Child Student / Student visa routes and future developments\, plus pose your questions to the team – an unmissable session! \n\nChair: Kate Hollyer\, Executive Director (Legal)\, BSA Group\n\nPanel: \n\n\n\nMartyn Foulds\, Engagement Team (Study) Team Leader\, Study Operations\, UK Visas and Immigration\, Home Office\nRachel Stark\, Student Migration Policy Manager\, UK Visas and Immigration\, Home Office\n\n\n\n14:30 – 14:45 \nBreak \n14:45 – 15:45 \nLegal update: UKVI compliance and Educational Oversight \nAn overview of compliance trends and areas of focus from leading immigration expert \n\nChair: Beth Hudson\, Director\, BAISIS\nSpeaker: Hazar El-Chamaa\, Immigration Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP and Chair\, ILPA\n\n15:45 – 16:15 \nIn conversation with immigration experts \nPut your questions to the legal panel and hear a round-up of the day. \n\nChair: Beth Hudson\, Director\, BAISIS\n\nPanel: \n\n\n\nKate Hollyer\, Director (Legal)\, BSA Group\nHazar El-Chamaa\, Immigration Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP and Chair\, ILPA\n\n\n\n16:15 \nConference close \n\nSpeakers: \nKate Hollyer MTIOB\, Executive Director (Legal)\, BSA Group & Director (Solicitor)\, BSA Legal \nKate 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. \n\n \nBethan Hudson MTIOB\, Executive Director\, Consultancy and Director\, BAISIS/HIEDA \nBethan 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. \nIn 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. \n\nLeigh Steer\, Immigration Executive \nLeigh joins BSA Group as Immigration Executive for BSA Group Legal Services Ltd. Having previously held the position of Registrar at an independent boarding school\, Leigh has a deep understanding of the intricacies of sponsor licence compliance. Through her expertise\, Leigh ensures that member schools are supported in all areas of UKVI sponsor licence compliance\, including the intricacies of sponsor duties\, CAS management and international student visa support. \n\nHazar El-Chamaa\, Immigration Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP  \nHazar has over eight years’ immigration experience and has been advising education providers on all aspects of compliance\, restructuring and business strategies since the inception of Tier 4. Her experience also includes advising on appeals\, judicial review applications and challenges to Home Office decisions which affect sponsors. Hazar is a frequent speaker on immigration law and gives training on sponsor compliance and prevention of illegal working. She is an elected executive committee member of ILPA (Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association) and has been recommended by the Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession. Penningtons is recognised as a key link between the Home Office and educational institutions in the process of implementing and working through PBS reform. \n\nDamien Cranny\, Fraud Protect Office\, Dorset Police \nDamian serves as the Fraud Protect Officer for Dorset police\, specialising in countering social engineering tactics used by organised criminal groups. His work focuses on educating communities about how these criminals bypass critical thinking to commit fraud. \nThrough his expertise\, Damian works with students from primary age to University and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. His collaborative approach involves working closely with key partner agencies including local councils\, NHS services\, and social services departments to develop comprehensive fraud prevention activities. \n\n \nSusan Fang\, Founder\, UK Guardianship \nIn 2009\, Susan Fang came to London from Taipei with her two daughters\, aged 4 and 5. She realised how lucky they were to have their mother with them to enrol them into great schools and that most international families don’t have that luxury. She arrived in the UK at 14 and remembered how difficult it was not knowing much English\, being bullied in the playground\, and having no one to advocate for her as her parents didn’t speak English. Using her initiative\, Susan successfully applied for and took entrance tests to get into North London Collegiate School for sixth form and later at Cambridge University. Following her experience\, Susan was inspired and wanted to expand her love and be a mother to the many international students whose parents were so far away. UKG was born! \nThe purpose of UKG is to be the advocate for international students\, which Susan never had\, and to open doors for them that they may not have found on their own. We envisage success for our students and love it when they return years later with their married partners and kids\, looking to renew our relationship for the next generation of UKG students. \n\nManaging Director\, Guardians International  \nJonathan has spent a large part of his career as a professional advisor and senior executive within large global organisations. Having decided to change career path he has taken a leading role in developing Guardians International and working with our students and parents to ensure we are providing industry leading levels of service and best practice. Jonathan has two children\, one attends a highly academic grammar school\, the other a pastorally focussed prep school. Jonathan has a Joint Honours Bachelors degree in Economics & Politics from a London University\, and a Masters in Business Administration from a top global business school. He started his working career as a Royal Naval officer and helicopter pilot. \n\nAndrew Steven\, Director\, I-GTM \nAndrew Steven is a co-founder of I-GTM. He has had a long career in IT\, having worked with web and e-commerce systems since the late 90’s. Andrew is able to communicate challenging technical concepts to both developers and users\, allowing him to find creative solutions to the most challenging issues and bring them to life. \nThe need for I-GTM became apparent through Andrew’s work with both SLT and travel departments in some of the country’s foremost independent boarding schools\, and in 2021 he and his colleagues set about creating an application to meet the UKVI\, NMS and transfer of duty of care record-gathering requirements.
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/bsa-baisis-visa-and-immigration-summer-term-conference/
LOCATION:Online – Zoom
CATEGORIES:Conference,Online
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T160000
DTSTAMP:20250519T094427Z
CREATED:20241213T141342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250519T094427Z
UID:57235-1747819800-1747843200@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:BSA Conference Mental health - Supporting everyone
DESCRIPTION:Date: May 21\, 2025\nTime: 09:30 – 16:00\nCost: BSA Full Member – £235\, BSA Additional Full Member – £110\, BSA Affiliate Member – £335\, BSA Additional Affiliate Member fee – £145\, Non-member – £470\nAudience: Heads\, Deputy Heads\, Heads of Boarding\, Mental health Leads\, Inclusion Leads\, Nurses\, Health Centre Leads\, Boarding and pastoral staff\, all staff.\nPlatform: Zoom (online) – Conference\n\n\nCourse outline:   \nThis virtual conference will address the key themes around mental health in 2025 and consider the wellbeing of the entire organisation\, including students\, pastoral staff\, teaching staff and management. Mental health remains one of the top BSA member concerns\, especially following the impact of the pandemic. According to Children’s Society and YoungMinds research\, almost 40% of 6 to 16-year-olds have experienced deterioration in mental health since 2017. We know that members are concerned about waiting times for accessing support and varying thresholds of criteria. This conference will consider practical ways that our whole community can feel supported in managing their mental health before it becomes an “issue”.   \nTraining topics will include:   \n\nCreating a supportive environment for mental health: focusing on creating a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes positive mental health for students and staff alike. Delegates will learn practical strategies for fostering a culture of wellbeing\, including effective communication\, implementing anti-bullying measures\, and promoting social-emotional learning.\nBuilding resilience and emotional regulation skills: delegates will gain practical insights into evidence-based strategies for developing coping mechanisms\, stress management techniques and self-care practices to enhance mental wellbeing. These skills can be utilised by students and staff alike.\nSupporting staff: this session will focus on addressing the mental health needs of staff in the demanding school environment. Practical strategies for self-care\, stress reduction and creating a work-life balance will be considered. The session will also explore the role of leaders in supporting the wellbeing of their staff.\nMental health leadership: this session will emphasise the importance of leadership in promoting a comprehensive approach to mental health across your organisation and community. Delegates will hear about effective leadership strategies\, policies and programmes that foster a whole-school approach to mental health.\n\n Learning outcomes:  \n\n Recognising the signs of common mental health issues in children and young people \nEarly identification and intervention strategies in schools \nPromoting a culture of wellbeing and inclusivity \nImplementing self-care practices\, stress management and coping mechanisms \nCreating a supportive work environment \nIntegrating mental health initiatives in policy and strategic planning. \n\nBOOK NOW \nVIEW THE PROGRAMME \n\nProgramme:   \n09:15 – 10:15   \nSupporting Staff Wellbeing \nIn this practical session\, we explore the realities of stress in the teaching profession and help staff identify the early warning signs of burnout. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their own wellbeing\, personal coping styles and strategies.  \nFocussing on sustainable self-care and evidence-based approaches\, we’ll share tools and ideas that educators can use to protect their mental health\, strengthen resilience\, and foster a more supportive\, balanced working life.   \n\nChair: David Walker\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB\nSpeaker: Alicia Drummond\, Founder\, The Wellbeing Hub\n\n10:15 – 10:30 \nBreak \n10:30 – 11:15  \nSupporting pupils: a panel of ideas:  \n\nChair: David Walker\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB\nPanel:\n\nJulia Garden\, Community Engagement Officer\, Young Minds\nKirsty Ruthven\, Lifting Limits\nIain Mahony\, Mental Health Awareness Talks\n\n\n\n11:15 – 12:00  \nWhat’s working in schools? Discussions from our award winners  \n\nChair: David Walker\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB\nPanel:\n\nAndrew Towse\, Deputy Head Pastoral\, Queen Anne’s School\nSara Thomas\, Assistant Head of School (Wellbeing)\, ACS International Schools\nRuth Radlett\, Whole School Mental Health Lead & Deputy DSL\, Culford School\n\n\n\n12:00 – 12:15 \nBreak \n12:15 – 13:00 \n Supporting Staff   \nThis session will focus on addressing the mental health needs of staff in the demanding school environment. Practical strategies for self-care\, stress reduction and creating a work-life balance will be considered. The session will also explore the role of leaders in supporting the wellbeing of their staff.  \n\nChair: David Walker\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB\nSpeaker: Dr Silja Litvin\, CEO and Founder\, PsycApps\n\n 13:00 – 13:45  \n Lunch  \n 13:45 – 14:45  \n Hear the unheard \nAs a member of the BSA\, and as part of their mission\, Yes We Can is committed to support well-being programs and pastoral services within schools across the globe. This session is about how to create trust and connection with pupils\, colleagues\, parents\, guardians\, and management by living the core values respect\, willingness\, openness\, and honesty so you can hear the unheard. \n\nSpeaker: Piet Jansen\, Managing Director\, Yes We Can Clinics\n\n 14:45 – 15:00  \n Break  \n 15:00 – 15:45  \nThe power of sleep \nThis session will focus on why sleep is so important and how it might be different for staff working in a boarding school environment and discussing ideas on how improve sleep quality \n\nSpeaker: Alyson O’Brien \, Head of Sleep Action\n\n 16:00   \n Conference close  \n\nSpeakers: \nDavid Walker\, Executive Director\, Boarding & Education and Director\, BSA/TIOB \nDavid is the BSA Director 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. \n  \n\nAlicia Drummond\, Founder\, The Wellbeing Hub \nAlicia 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. She 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. \n\nIain Mahony\, Mental Health Awareness Talks \nIain was educated at Uppingham and Manchester University. In 2009\, he began working as a personal trainer in Mayfair. He has over 14 years of experience working in the fitness industry\, has competed in bodybuilding and has also trained other competitors. Despite appearing confident and successful\, Iain was struggling with several personal issues. This led to an increasingly unhealthy pattern of binge drinking and escalating drug use.  In 2014\, Iain acknowledged his problems and went to a rehabilitation facility in South Africa. In 2018\, Iain began speaking in schools. He has shared his personal story with pupils\, parents and staff at over 40 independent schools including Eton\, Francis Holland\, Oakham and Warwick. Iain is now expanding his remit to cover other relevant topics including masculinity and performance enhancing drugs. \n\nDr Silja Litvin\, CEO and Founder\, PsycApps \nDr. Silja Litvin is a clinical psychologist\, researcher\, and the founder and CEO of PsycApps\, a leading digital mental health company. With a PhD in Clinical Psychology and experience in both NHS and private settings\, she specializes in adult resilience\, youth mental health\, depression\, and anxiety. Silja combines academic rigor with commercial insight. Her award-winning emotional fitness game\, eQuoo\, is the only game that was featured on the NHS Apps Library and is grounded in clinical research. A Techstars alumna and honorary Research Associate at UCL\, she is at the forefront of resilience research as well as digital prevention and early intervention\, using gamification and AI to empower young people to take charge of their mental well-being. \n\nSara Thomas\, Assistant Head of School\, ACS Cobham \nSara Thomas is the Assistant Head of School\, leading on wellbeing\, at ACS Cobham. She oversees the boarding houses\, medical centre\, safeguarding team\, student services and the pastoral systems at the school. Originally a languages teacher (French\, Welsh\, English & Spanish)\, Sara’s other previous roles include Head of Welsh Baccalaureate\, Head of Sixth Form and Deputy Headteacher. She has worked in a variety of schools both in the UK and abroad. \n  \n\nAndrew Towse\, Deputy Head Pastoral\, Queen Anne’s School \nAndy Towse is the Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead at Queen Anne’s School in Caversham\, Reading. With over two decades of experience in education\, he has worked in four boarding schools\, beginning his career as a PE teacher and Boarding Assistant. Andy also serves as an Independent Schools’ Inspector\, contributes to national safeguarding guidance as a member of the Independent Schools’ Council Safeguarding Steering Group and tutored on the BSA Certificate Course for 5 years. Outside of school\, he is married with two teenage children and has a lifelong passion for sport. \n\nJulia Garden\, Community Engagement Officer\, Young Minds \nFollowing Julia’s role at YoungMinds\, the UK’s leading mental health charity\, in 2015 as a parent/carers helpline adviser\, she worked with the Royal College of Paediatrics Child Health and YoungMinds on online resources aimed at parents/carers – MindEd for Families. Julia then set up a parent/carers group in Lewisham.  Since 2018 Julia has supported their amazing fundraisers and is also a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. \n  \n\nPiet Jansen\, Managing Director\, Yes We Can Clinics \nPiet Jansen is Managing Director at Yes We Can Youth Clinics\, a specialised treatment centre that supports more than 1\,400 young people aged 13 to 25 with mental health issues\, addictions\, and behavioural problems. The treatment programme consists of a 10-week residential treatment programme\, followed by a 10-week aftercare programme. Since its inception in 2011\, unconditional warmth\, safety\, and timely confrontation have been pivotal. Together with other young people (referred to as “fellows”) from all over the world\, they learn to recognise and acknowledge their problems\, ask for help and speak out. In parallel with the child’s treatment\, parents/carers take part in an intensive family coaching and counselling programme. During treatment\, over 500 highly specialised healthcare professionals\, such as youth coaches\, psychiatrists\, psychologists\, experts by experience and medical staff\, work hard to help fellows and their families turn hopelessness into happiness. \n\nAlyson O’Brien \, Head of Sleep Action \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nDom Ford\, Head of Boarding\, Culford School \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\nKirsty Ruthven\, Lifting Limits
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/bsa-conference-mental-health-supporting-everyone-2/
LOCATION:Online – Zoom
CATEGORIES:Conference,Online
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