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UID:64921-1777977000-1778085000@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:Annual Conference for Heads
DESCRIPTION:🏷️ Included in 2025/26 membership for UK full members; £750 for international full members; £1\,125 for affiliates and day schools; £1\,500 for non-members\n🏠 Accommodation not included\n🎧 Heads\n📍 Crowne Plaza\, Stratford-upon-Avon \nHeadline sponsors: \n \n\n“As a boarding head you can’t afford not to be there.” \n\nWe look forward to welcoming Heads from our member schools to the Annual Conference for Heads\, taking place May 5–6\, 2026. This year’s theme is ‘Much ado about boarding: as you lead it’. \nAll UK full member schools receive one complimentary delegate place; however\, an RSVP is essential to confirm your booking. \nThis two-day event will bring together Heads to learn\, share\, and debate all things boarding\, exploring the latest challenges and opportunities for leaders in our sector. \nThe conference will also feature the BSA Annual Awards and Conference Dinner\, which will be held on May 5\, 2026. Click here to view the finalists. \nBOOK NOW\n \nPlease note: rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel are now fully booked for Tuesday May 5. \n\nConference programme\n\n\nTuesday May 5  \n10:30 – 11:00     Registration and refreshments   \n11:00 – 11:15     A new era   \n\nHenry Price FTIOB\, Conference Chair and Head\, Oakham School  \n\n11:15 – 12:15    The value of diversity in our schools  \n\nAyo Sokale\, Founder & CEO\, Tessellated Future Technology  \n\n12:15 – 12:45     The rationale and joy of boarding    \n\nSir Nicholas Coleridge CBE DL\, Provost\, Eton College  \n\n12:45 – 13:45     Lunch and networking   \n13:45 – 14:00     The connected school: why the future of boarding depends on clarity\, community and confidence  \n\nRob Eastment\, Head of Marketing (EMEA)\, Veracross   \n\n14:00 – 15:00     Shaping our futures: educating in a time of increasing complexity   \n\nNaheed Bardai\, Principal\, UWC Atlantic \nPupils from UWC Atlantic \n\n15:00 – 15:30     Refreshments and networking   \n15:30 – 16:30      The new age of sexism: how the AI revolution is reinventing  misogyny   \n\nLaura Bates\, Best-selling Author\, Keynote Speaker and Founder of the Everyday Sexism Project\n\n16:30 – 17:15     Leadership and governance on a global stage   \n\nRobin Fletcher FTIOB\, CEO\, BSA Group  \nRichard Harman\, CEO\, AGBIS  \nElizabeth Jones\, Partner\, Farrers \nRichard Stokes\, CEO\, Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA)  \nDavid Walker FTIOB\, Director\, BSA \n\n18:45 – 19:30     Drinks reception sponsored by IGTM   \nWith live performances from ‘Boarding Rocks’ Schools\, supported by The Band Project:   \n\nBromsgrove School  \nFelsted School   \nSidcot School  \n\n19:30     Conference dinner sponsored by Moore Barlow\, followed by BSA Supporting Excellence Awards  \n\nRichard Harman\, CEO\, AGBIS  \n\nWednesday May 6  \n06:50 – 08:00     Romeo and Jogliet 5km run (meet at hotel reception at 06:50 for a 07:00 start)   \n09:00 – 09:30     60 years of boarding and BSA: research\, reflection\, and the road ahead   \n\nGaelle Sullivan\, Director of Research\, Inclusion and IELA \n\n09:30 – 10:30     The Big Bold Mindset and Be More Human   \n\nCaspar Craven\, Bestselling Author & Leadership Consultant  \n\n10:30 – 11:00     Refreshments and networking   \n11:00 – 11:45      Breakout sessions:  \n    1. The Belonging Effect  \n\nHannah Wilson\, Founder & Director\, The Belonging Effect  \n\n    2. Creating stronger foundations together  \n\nSiân Champkin\, Partner\, VWV  \nNeil Mahapatra\, Chair\, BSA Group  \nHenry Price FTIOB\, Head\, Oakham School  \nJulie Robinson\, CEO\, ISC  \n\n    3.Managing staff absence   \n\nBen Collingwood\, Partner\, Moore Barlow  \nLily Bohling\, Solicitor\, Moore Barlow\n\n 11:45 – 12:00      Open to the world: how boarding schools are rethinking international student travel  \n\nMichael Barcroft\, CTO\, I-GTM  \nAndrew Steven\, School Liaison\, I-GTM \nDavid Williams\, CEO\, I-GTM  \n\n12:00 – 13:00      Lunch and networking   \n13:00 – 13:45      Breakout sessions:   \n    1. Gambling: identification\, prevention and early intervention \n\nNicola Jaques MBE Community\, Intervention\, Engagement & Family Support\, Beacon Counselling Trust & Chair\, GambleAware Lived Experience Council\n\n    2. From compliance to confidence: building the travel record that opens doors   \n\nMichael Barcroft\, CTO\, I-GTM   \nAndrew Steven\, School Liaison\, I-GTM  \nDavid Williams\, CEO\, I-GTM  \n\n    3. Recruiting boarders through your buildings: blending neuroscience with brand \n\nDr Joanne Ladds\, Associate Education Consultant\, Noble + Eaton\nAndrew Elias\, Brand Ambassador\, Noble + Eaton\n\n    4. From firefighting to leading with impact: your team is busy\, but are they truly leading?   \n\nTracy-Anne Barker\, Founder\, The Managers Training Company  \nKirstin Miller\, Business Manager\, The Managers Training Company   \n\n    5. From service to boarding   \n\nMark Mortimer\, Director of Defence and Military Services\, BSA Group   \n\n14:00 – 14:45      Breakout sessions:   \n    1. From dorm to dashboard: transforming boarding school operations    \n\nSam Bennett-Driver\, Account Executive\, Veracross \n\n    2. AI leadership tools in the toolbox  \n\nHeidi Reid\, CEO\, IDAT  \n\n    3. School transport: an expensive headache or a strategic opportunity  \n\nDominic Kalantary\, Founder\, Vectare  \nAlex Targett\, Global Director Growth\, Vectare  \n\n    4. Getting the most from your BSA membership  \n\nRobin Fletcher FTIOB\, CEO\, BSA Group  \n\n    5. Child Student visas & UKVI compliance in 2026  \n\nKate Hollyer MTIOB\, Partner\, BSA Legal  \n\n14:45 – 15:15      Refreshments and networking   \n15:15 – 16:00      Key safeguarding and compliance trends   \n\nDale Wilkins FTIOB\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales & Accredited/Compliance\, BSA Group \n\n16:00 – 16:15      Final remarks and close of conference  \n\n\n\n\nIt’s always stimulating and thought-provoking to meet colleagues and to hear from speakers with a range of different experiences. \n\n \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. \nBOOK NOW \n\nReally good opportunity to step away from the hubbub of school life for a couple of days\, do some free thinking and come away with new ideas.\n\n\nConference chair: \nHenry Price\, BSA Chair 2026 and Head\, Oakham School \nHenry has been Headmaster of Oakham School since September 2019. A Classics graduate of Oxford University\, he brings over 30 years of experience in the boarding sector. A boarder himself and former Housemaster\, Henry has worked at Sherborne\, Rugby\, Wellington School and Oakham. Henry is a strong advocate of the value of boarding and its benefits to pupils and families\, and deeply committed to all the staff who support and enrich these precious communities. \n\nSpeakers: \nSir Nicholas Coleridge CBE DL\, Provost\, Eton College \nNicholas is the Provost of Eton College and Chairman of Historic Royal Palaces. \nHe is a former Chairman of HM The King’s Campaign for Wool\, as well as the Victoria and Albert Museum\, and the British Fashion Council. \nHe was Co-Chair of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. \nFor thirty years\, he was successively Editorial Director\, Managing Director\, President and then Chairman of the Conde Nast Publishing Group. \nHe is the author of 14 books and commissioned a folly in Worcestershire by the architect Quinlan Terry. \n\nCaspar Craven\, Bestselling Author & Leadership Consultant\n \nCaspar Craven is a leading authority on the Mindset needed to achieve Big Bold Goals through Effective Leadership and Teamwork. A serial entrepreneur\, he has built and sold a tech business for a 7 figure sum\, worked as a CFO and at KPMG. He has twice sailed round the world – the first time as a team leader on a trophy winning racing yacht in the BT Global Challenge in 2000/1 and the second time as captain and team leader of his family team in 2014/16 with his wife and three young children under 10 years of age. \n\n \nAyo Sokale\, Founder & CEO\, Tessellated Future Technology \nAyo Sokale is a Chartered Civil Engineer\, BBC presenter and Labour councillor\, combining expertise in engineering\, media and public service. She works as a Project Manager and BIM lead for the Environment Agency in Eastern England\, achieving CEng within three years. Recognised as one of ICE President Robert Mair’s Future Leaders and an ICE Water Superhero\, she promotes sustainability and STEM careers as a mentor and ambassador. Ayo is also a public speaker and BBC Reel presenter\, and has supported charities through pageantry platforms. She was nominated for Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 initiative recognising outstanding early-career professionals. \n\nNaheed Bardai\, Principal\, UWC Atlantic\n \nNaheed became Head of UWC Atlantic in August 2021. His leadership is rooted in the belief that education is a moral endeavour grounded in pluralism\, integrity\, generosity\, and trust. He previously served as Head of Upper School at Upper Canada College in Toronto and as Dean of Students and Principal of the Senior School at the Aga Khan Academy\, Mombasa. He holds degrees from Western University\, UBC\, UCL’s Institute of Education\, and Teachers College\, Columbia University.  Naheed is committed to educational innovation\, leading the development of the Systems Transformation Pathway to prepare young people for complex global challenges through agency\, ethical judgement\, and systems thinking. \n\n \nRichard Harman\, CEO\, AGBIS \nRichard Harman was educated at The King’s School\, Worcester\, followed by Trinity College\, Cambridge\, where he read English.  Having spent two years working for an academic publisher\, he decided his real vocation was in teaching.  After five years at Marlborough College teaching English and Drama\, during which time he also completed his PGCE at Exeter University\, he spent 12 years at Eastbourne College.  Progressing from Head of English to Housemaster of a Sixth Form girls’ house to member of the Senior Management Team\, he then became Headmaster of Aldenham in September 2000 and thence to Uppingham in 2006. After a decade leading Uppingham and 32 years overall in teaching\, he embarked on a third career as Chief Executive of AGBIS. Richard is much enjoying the challenges at AGBIS\, having been Chairman of the Boarding Schools’ Association for 2011-12 and Chairman of HMC for 2014-15. \n\nNeil Mahapatra\, Chair\, BSA Group \nNeil is the founder / CEO of EV Charging Business Zapgo\, and a founder / Partner at Kingsley Capital Partners in London\, which creates new businesses in growing markets. \nA former music scholar and house captain at Eton College\, Neil has served as President of the Oxford Union and was a Fulbright Scholar at Harvard Business School. He has also been Chair of Governors at Michaela Community School in Wembley and for over a decade\, was Chair of Trustees of the MASS Design Group\, a leading architecture firm that designs & builds projects promoting health\, social justice and human dignity. \n\n \nJulie Robinson\, CEO\, 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\nSiân Champkin\, Partner\, VWV \nSiân is a Partner in the corporate education transactions team\, specialising almost exclusively in the education sector and leading complex\, high-profile deals. She combines strong commercial experience with expertise in bridging charitable and commercial interests. She advises independent schools from early strategy\, including mergers\, through to completion and post-merger integration. Siân supports leading schools and education groups on acquisitions and transaction structuring. Clients value her commercial\, knowledgeable\, and approachable style. She serves on the Governing Board at Ardingly College\, writes “Merger Watch” for Independent School Management\, and regularly speaks at sector events\, sharing insights on trends and policy impacts. \n\n \nRichard Stokes\, CEO\, Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA) \nRichard Stokes is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA). He began his career in boarding in 1980 at Immanuel College\, Adelaide\, before moving to Brisbane in 1982 to St Peters Lutheran College\, where he served as Assistant Senior Boarding Master and later Coordinator of Boarding. In 1996\, Richard became Dean of Residential Care at St Joseph’s Nudgee College\, overseeing a boarding program of nearly 600 boys until 2005. Involved with ABSA since 1985\, he has held numerous leadership roles and became its first Executive Director in 2007. He achieved Certified Association Executive (CAE) status in June 2024. \n\n \nDavid Williams\, CEO\, I-GTM \nDavid is the co-founder of I-GTM\, the leading provider of a travel record-keeping and management solution designed specifically for UK boarding schools. His mission is to ensure that schools receive precisely what they need from I-GTM — capturing accurate records of the boarder roll and streamlining travel planning while enhancing safeguarding\, efficiency\, and compliance. I-GTM’s technology addresses the challenges of student travel\, offering a centralised platform that empowers schools to oversee\, monitor\, and manage travel records with confidence. \n\nRob Eastment\, Head of Marketing (EMEA)\, Veracross \nRob Eastment is Head of Marketing (EMEA) at Veracross\, having worked in education since 1998. Rob taught in a range of different schools\, where as Head of IT and then as a Deputy Head\, one of his roles has been responsibility for digital strategy and staff development. Rob is an advocate of Growth Mindset and has worked extensively with the Flipped Learning model\, both as a teacher and in helping others implement it in the classroom. \n\nHannah Wilson\, Leadership Development consultant\, coach and trainer \nHannah Wilson is a Leadership Development consultant\, coach and trainer. She is the Co-Founder of #WomenEd and #DiverseEd. She is the Co-Editor of Diverse Educators:  A Manifesto and the author of Cultivating Belonging in Schools. She is the Founder/ Director of the Belonging Effect\,  a DEIB training provider and consultancy. \n\n \nHeidi Reid\, CEO\, i-Dat \nEducated in Canada and Australia\, Heidi has worked in international education as a teacher and principal for more than 25 years in Canada\, Japan\, Hong Kong and Australia. Heidi is a qualified primary school teacher with ESL specialisations. She is the founder and CEO of the International Diagnostic & Admissions Test (IDAT) and is based in Australia. Her passion and commitment to innovation in education has led her embrace AI and all it can bring to school management\, teaching & learning\, assessment and admissions. She speaks around the world about AI and the best practice for embracing this amazing tool while understanding the risks and pitfalls it can bring with it. \n\nSam Bennett-Driver\, Account Executive\, Veracross \nSam is a specialist in digital transformation for the UK independent school sector\, dedicated to helping institutions evolve from fragmented legacy systems to a single\, unified database. Based in the UK\, Sam partners with school leadership teams to streamline operations and enhance the entire student and family journey. \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. \n\nLily Bohling\, Solicitor\, Moore Barlow \nLily is a Solicitor in Moore Barlow’s Schools team\, specialising in employment and education law. \nLily advises on a range of education law aspects\, as well as both contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.  In particular\, Lily has recently advised schools on grievance and disciplinary processes\, dismissal strategy\, safeguarding matters\, employment contracts and subject access requests. \nOutside of work\, she is the Secretary of her local Junior Lawyers Division and a member of the Association of Women Solicitors. \nIn her free time\, she enjoys exploring new places\, keeping fit and singing. \n\nDr Joanne Ladds\, Associate Education Consultant\, Noble + Eaton \nJoanne is an educational consultant and learning space designer with two decades of experience in the education sector. With a lifetime devoted to learning\, Joanne’s work shows an unwavering dedication to creating thriving educational spaces. As a consultant\, researcher\, and speaker\, Joanne is a member of the Noble+Eaton team part of the Envoplan Group. Joanne is passionate about educational change and is dedicated to creating strategically designed and inclusive learning spaces. Her approach is deeply rooted in evidence-led and pupil-centric methodologies that foster growth and encourage all students to thrive. \n\nAndrew Elias\, Brand Ambassador\, Noble + Eaton  \nAfter helping to shape and scale multiple school group brands\, Andrew has established himself as one of the most authentic and connected voices in education brand strategy and business development. \nHis unique approach – blending personal brand building and a global network – has fuelled the expansion of groups\, supported major international school launches in the Middle East\, and contributed to the disruption now reshaping the UK education landscape. \n\n \nLaura Bates\, best-selling author\, keynote speaker and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project \nLaura Bates is a best-selling author\, keynote speaker and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project. Her books include Everyday Sexism (shortlisted for Waterstones Book of the Year) and the Sunday Times bestseller Girl Up\, Misogynation. Laura writes regularly for the New York Times and Guardian and is a frequent media commentator and consultant for TV productions tackling issues around gender inequality. \nIn recognition of Laura’s work surrounding sexism and gender inequality\, she was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours List\, participated in President Obama’s White House Summit on the United State of Women and has been named Woman of the Year by Cosmopolitan\, Red Magazine and The Sunday Times Magazine. She is also an Honorary Fellow of St John’s College\, Cambridge\, and Vice President of the Hay Literary Festival. \n\nAlex Targett\, Global Director Growth\, Vectare \nAlex Targett is Growth Director at Vectare\, where he leads the company’s expansion. He works with schools\, local authorities\, and operators to deliver smarter\, more efficient home-to-school transport solutions that improve reliability\, visibility\, and cost-effectiveness. With a background in business development and transport technology\, Alex is focused on helping education providers modernise and optimise their transport operations through data-driven solutions. He is passionate about building long-term partnerships and supporting schools in delivering safe and sustainable services. Alongside his role at Vectare\, Alex is also a school governor at a BSA school. \n\nAndrew Steven\, School Liaison\, I-GTM \nAndrew Steven is a co-founder of I-GTM\, where he focuses on aligning technology delivery with operational requirements in boarding schools. He is responsible for ensuring systems are effectively implemented and function as intended in real-world environments. \nHe has played a central role in the development of I-GTM\, applying his technical expertise and understanding of student travel and safeguarding processes to shape the platform. \nPrior to I-GTM\, Andrew was a partner at BDP\, a SaaS provider for the Scottish conveyancing market\, where he contributed to the company’s growth through to its sale in 2016. \nAndrew’s career in IT began in the late 1990s in web design and e-commerce. He has experience working across both technical and user-facing roles\, with a focus on clear communication and practical implementation. \n\nTracy-Anne Barker\, Founder\, The Managers Training Company \nTracy-Anne is a UK-based former director and senior leader in commercial\, public and charity education organisations. She now trains and coaches leaders and managers across the education sector. With over 30 years’ experience\, she has supported thousands of managers\, team leaders and supervisors. Her career has been shaped by people who believed in her potential\, a belief that underpins her work today. Tracy-Anne champions the view that background need not limit progress if opportunity is seized and effort applied. Having learned lessons early in management\, she helps others build foundations\, reflected in her book. \n\nElizabeth Jones\, Partner\, Farrers \nElizabeth has extensive experience advising schools. Her areas of specialism include charity law\, mergers\, advice on managing engagement with the Charity Commission\, governance and constitutional issues and fundraising\, including major donations. Elizabeth has recently concluded her term as Chair of the Charity Law Association and is a pro bono adviser to the steering group for the Charity Investment Governance Principles.  Both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 recommend Elizabeth Jones for her expertise in charities. \n\nMichael Barcroft\, CTO\, I-GTM \n\nDominic Kalantary\, Founder\, Vectare \n\nKirstin Miller\, Business Manager\, The Managers Training Company    \n\nSpeakers from the BSA team: \nDavid Walker\, 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 \nRobin Fletcher FTIOB\, 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\n \nDale Wilkins\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance \nDale joined the BSA in 2017 to lead safeguarding\, inspection\, and compliance across the UK\, building on his experience as a course tutor since 1998. He works closely with ISI\, Ofsted\, and DfE\, and oversees the Group’s work in Scotland and Wales. A trainer and consultant for BSA and SACPA\, Dale is Vice Chair of SAFCAB. Previously\, he was a boarding practitioner for 31 years\, including Housemaster and Deputy Head at Old Swinford Hospital. He also trains for the Methodist Church\, is a trustee of the National Youth String Orchestra\, chairs a performing arts charity\, and volunteers in sport and Scouting. \n\nKate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd \nA qualified solicitor with over 14 years’ experience in UK immigration law\, Kate advises and supports members on a full range of immigration matters. Before joining BSA in 2022\, Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading UK law firm\, where she built extensive expertise in complex immigration cases. Since 2014\, Kate has lived in boarding houses alongside her Housemaster husband\, giving her a unique\, first-hand perspective on the challenges and opportunities of boarding life. \n\n \nMark Mortimer\, Director of Defence and Military Services\, BSA Group   \nMark spent eight years as an infantry officer in the British Army\, was briefly a management consultant\, and then spent 25 years working in boarding schools; he was the Head of three BSA and HMC schools in both England and Scotland and was also the HMC Representative to the CCF Association and to the Armed Forces. He spent ten years on the HMC Professional Development Committee\, was an ISI inspector\, and a board member of the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS). He has twice rowed across the Atlantic\, completed the Marathon des Sables and cycled through the Arctic Circle. \n\n \nGaelle Sullivan\, Director of Research\, Inclusion and IELA \nGaelle 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 Degree 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.
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/annual-conference-for-heads-3/
LOCATION:Crowne Plaza Stratford-upon-Avon
CATEGORIES:Conference,In-person
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260515T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260515T163000
DTSTAMP:20260513T145746Z
CREATED:20260413T104249Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T145746Z
UID:74304-1778837400-1778862600@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:Compliance 2026: Legal Duties\, Policy Change and Practice Conference
DESCRIPTION:🏷️ From £235\n🎧 Heads\, Deputy Heads\, Senior leaders\, DSLs\, Admissions teams\, Boarding staff\, Pastoral staff\n📍 Online \n\nCourse overview: \nThe compliance landscape in education is evolving quickly. This one day conference will bring together the latest regulatory updates\, practical guidance\, and forward-looking insights to help delegates navigate this changing environment with confidence. The focus is on compliance\, accountability and implementation.  \nJoin us as we unpack latest changes to legal duties\, policy and practice and what these mean for your day-to-day responsibilities and wider organisational culture. From essential KCSiE updates and employment requirements to a clear breakdown of statutory safeguarding guidance implementations\, each expert-led session will guide delegates in translating policy into practice. \nWhether you’re responsible for safeguarding\, boarding provision\, inclusion strategy\, or health and wellbeing\, this conference offers a valuable opportunity to deepen your knowledge\, benchmark your practice\, and ensure you and your team are fully equipped for 2026 and beyond. \nBOOK NOW \n\nProgramme: \n09:30 – 10:30 \nSession 1: Preventative safeguarding and culture  \nThis session explores how to embed a proactive safeguarding culture\, with a focus on prevention strategies. It will cover upcoming RSE guidance from September 2026 and the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy\, supporting delegates to strengthen safeguarding across their setting. \nSpeaker:\nGaelle Sullivan\, Director of Research\, Inclusion and IELA \n\n10:30 – 10:45 \nBreak \n\n10:45 – 11:45 \nSession 2: Statutory safeguarding guidance – what you must implement \nThis session provides clarity on key statutory safeguarding requirements\, focusing on updates to policies\, procedures\, and training. It will cover proposed changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026\, helping delegates ensure their settings remain compliant and up to date.  \nSpeakers:\nDr Mariya Ali\, Director\, SACPA\nDale Wilkins\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance \n\n11:45 – 12:00 \nBreak \n\n12:00 – 13:00 \nSession 3: Equality\, inclusion and emerging compliance duties  \nThis session explores key developments in equality\, inclusion\, and safeguarding compliance. It will cover emerging guidance and reforms\, including gender-questioning guidance\, SEND changes\, pay gap reporting\, and Scotland’s RHSP update\, helping delegates navigate complex decisions with confidence.  \nSpeaker:\nGaelle Sullivan\, Director of Research\, Inclusion and IELA\n \n\n13:00 – 14:00 \nLunch \n\n14:00 – 15:00 \nSession 4: Safety\, health and Duty of Care in practice \nThis session focuses on safety\, health\, and duty of care in practice\, supporting confident and defensible decision-making in high-risk situations. It will cover key guidance on restraint\, allergy management\, and the practical application of Martyn’s Law in operational settings.  \nSpeakers:\nMark Thomson\, Managing Director\, Watchword\nDr Mariya Ali\, Director\, SACPA\nDale Wilkins\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance\n \n\n15:00 – 15:15 \nBreak \n\n15:15 – 16:30 \nSession 5: Updates on: KCSIE and employment \nThis session will provide key updates on Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and employment-related safeguarding responsibilities. Delivered by expert speakers from Moore Barlow\, it will explore recent and upcoming changes\, the intersection between statutory guidance and employment law\, and what this means in practice for schools. Delegates will gain a clearer understanding of their legal obligations\, particularly in areas such as staff conduct\, safer recruitment\, and handling safeguarding concerns within an employment context.  \nSpeakers:\nCerys Cousins\, Solicitor\, Moore Barlow\nOlivia Stanton\, Senior Associate\, Moore Barlow \n\nCONFERENCE CLOSE: 16:30 \n\nSpeakers: \n \nCerys Cousins\, Solicitor\, Moore Barlow \nCerys joined Moore Barlow as a trainee solicitor in September 2022 and qualified as a solicitor in the Schools & Charities team in 2024. During her training contract\, Cerys also gained experience in the Court of Protection\, Personal Injury and Commercial teams. She graduated with a first-class LLB Law degree from the University of Essex in 2021\, before completing the LPC LLM in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Law in 2022. Outside of work\, Cerys enjoys sports including football (supporting Arsenal) and Formula 1\, as well as reading\, spending time with friends and walking my dogs\, Hector and Pepe. \n\n \nOlivia Stanton\, Senior Associate\, Moore Barlow \nOlivia is a Senior Associate in the independent schools and charities team\, specialising in employment and education law. She advises on safeguarding\, abuse allegations\, data protection\, subject access requests\, parent contracts\, and both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Olivia drafts employment contracts\, policies and procedures\, and advises on the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. Her approach is to provide clear\, practical advice to help schools achieve their objectives. She joined Moore Barlow as a trainee solicitor\, having previously spent over five years working in the House of Commons. Outside work\, she enjoys travelling and exploring new places worldwide in my spare time. \n\nMark Thomson\, Managing Director\, Watchword \nMark Thomson is a former Army officer and Managing Director of Watchword Limited\, a specialist campus security company supporting education settings across the UK. Since founding Watchword in 2018\, Mark has helped education leaders strengthen security as an organisational responsibility\, integrating safeguarding\, governance\, risk management and daily operations. His work includes campus security risk assessments\, security strategy\, incident management planning and regulatory preparedness. Having spent seven years in the Army and a further ten years working in and supporting the education sector\, Mark provides practical\, sector-specific insight into how campuses can become safer\, better prepared and more resilient. His work has included supporting several of the largest college groups in the country and a world-renowned Russell Group university. \n\nDr Mariya Ali\, Director\, SACPA \nMariya Ali is Director of SACPA and an internationally recognised safeguarding and child protection expert. With over two decades’ multidisciplinary experience in legal\, academic\, advisory\, and leadership roles\, she is strongly committed to advancing child rights and welfare. Formerly Deputy Minister in the Maldives\, she led national reforms in child protection policy and legislation. Internationally\, she has worked with UNICEF\, Save the Children\, and Lumos Foundation on child sexual abuse\, exploitation\, and systems reform across South Asia and beyond. An academic and practitioner\, Mariya has published widely and specialises in trauma-informed\, survivor-centred\, and systems-based safeguarding approaches. \n\n \nGaelle Sullivan\, Director of Research\, Inclusion and IELA \nGaelle 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 and 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. \n  \n\n \nDale Wilkins\, Executive Director\, Scotland/Wales and Accredited/Compliance \nDale joined the BSA during Summer 2017 with responsibility for safeguarding and standards\, having previously been a course tutor since 1998.  Dale leads on all safeguarding\, inspection and compliance matters for BSA Group\, including liaising with ISI\, Ofsted and DfE in England\, and leading on the group’s work in Scotland and Wales. He trains and delivers consultancy extensively for BSA and SACPA and is Vice Chair of the Group’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Advisory Board (SAFCAB). \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\, is a safeguarding trainer for the Methodist Church\, is a trustee of the National Youth String Orchestra and chair of a small performing arts charity. He also holds volunteer roles in sport and in the Scout Association.
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/compliance-2026-legal-duties-policy-change-and-practice-conference/
LOCATION:Online – Zoom
CATEGORIES:Conference,Online
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260519T093000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260519T163000
DTSTAMP:20260519T080612Z
CREATED:20260128T160446Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260519T080612Z
UID:69846-1779183000-1779208200@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:Visa and Immigration Summer term Conference
DESCRIPTION:🏷️ From £250\n🎧 Admissions\, marketing\, senior leaders\, boarding staff\, bursars\n📍 Online \n\nSponsored by:  \nCourse Outline:  \nThis one-day programme provides a comprehensive update for professionals involved in international student recruitment\, compliance\, and educational oversight. Delegates will gain insights into sector developments\, legal and regulatory changes\, and practical lessons from compliance audits and due diligence processes. The day includes updates from the Home Office\, guidance on SMS and CAS changes\, and opportunities to engage with leading experts on agent management and quality frameworks. Through case studies\, Q&A sessions\, and networking opportunities\, participants will leave with actionable strategies to support compliance\, manage risk\, and enhance institutional oversight. \nLearning outcomes: \n\nBy the end of the course\, delegates will be able to:\nUnderstand the latest sector updates and legal developments impacting international student recruitment\nApply guidance on SMS and CAS changes to institutional practice\nLearn lessons from compliance audits and implement best practice due diligence\nNavigate the Agent Quality Framework and agent management processes\nEngage effectively with Home Office representatives and understand operational updates\nStrengthen institutional compliance and oversight in a practical\, actionable way\n\nBOOK NOW  \nThis event will be held jointly with: \n \n  \n  \n  \n \n  \n  \n  \n\nProgramme: \n09:30 – 10:15 Sector updates \nThis session offers an overview of the latest developments in the boarding sector\, highlighting trends\, challenges\, and opportunities that shape the current landscape. \n\n Speaker: Kate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd\n\n10:15 – 11:00 Changes to the SMS and CAS – guidance and information sharing \n\nSpeakers: Kate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd\nMark Taylor\, Legal consultant\, BSAG Legal Services\n\n11:00 – 11:15 Break \n11:15 – 12:15 Agent Quality Framework compliance check in \n\nSpeakers: Sophie Turnbull\, Director of International Recruitment at UWE Bristol and BUILA Executive Committee member\nDeepa Chadha\, Policy Adviser (Immigration) (Interim Head of Advice) UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)\n\n12:15 – 13:00 Lunch \n13:00- 13:45 Home Office update \nThis session delivers an official update from the Home Office\, focusing on policies\, compliance issues\, and their implications for boarding schools. \nSpeaker: Martyn Foulds\, Engagement Team (Study) Team Leader\, Study Operations\, UK Visas and Immigration\, Home Office \n13:45 – 14:00 Break \n14:00 – 14:30 UKVI Compliance Beyond the School Gate \nIn this session\, hear from our sponsors I-GTM\, who will demonstrate how schools can move from fragmented records to connected\, reliable systems that protect their sponsor licence\, strengthen safeguarding\, and enhance operational efficiency. \nSpeaker: David Williams\, I-GTM \n14:30 – 14:45 Break \n15:00 – 15:45 Legal update – compliance and educational oversight \nSpeakers: \n\nKate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd\nHazar El-Chamaa\, Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP\n\n15:45 – 16:15 Legal update Q&A  \nSpeakers: \n\nKate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd\nHazar El-Chamaa\, Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP\n\n16:30 Conference close \n\nSpeakers: \nKate Hollyer\, Partner and Director\, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd \nKate Hollyer is Executive Director (Legal) of BSA Group and Director of BSA Legal Services Ltd. A qualified solicitor with over 14 years’ experience in UK immigration law\, she advises and supports members on a full range of immigration matters. Before joining BSA in 2022\, Kate was Partner and Head of Department at a leading UK law firm\, where she built extensive expertise in complex immigration cases. Since 2014\, Kate has lived in boarding houses alongside her Housemaster husband\, giving her a unique\, first-hand perspective on the challenges and opportunities of boarding life. \n\nLeigh Steer\, Legal Services Manager \, BSA Group Legal Services Ltd \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\nMark Taylor\, Legal consultant\, BSAG Legal Services \nIn a previous reincarnation Mark founded The Taylor Partnership – supporting U.K. independent schools in meeting the compliance demands of their UKVI sponsor licences and training many school staff. Mark was previously a Trustee of AEGIS and\, during the pandemic\, assisted independent schools in creating Covid management plans and organised testing. More recently\, after travelling the world\, Mark has identified the increased risk to independent schools as a result of the need for greater probity and due diligence in financial awareness of school suppliers\, parents and agents. Mark’s interest in this field was first sparked in 2016-17 when he supported a number of schools following the disappearance of students from Vietnam. Mark is working in partnership with Verisio\, a specialist organisation concentrating on integrity and due diligence checks on corporations and individuals. \n\nHazar El-Chamaa\, Partner\, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP\n \nHazar has over 20 years’ immigration experience and has been advising education providers on all aspects of compliance\, risk management\, and strategic restructuring since the inception of Tier 4. As part of the firm’s dedicated education practice\, Hazar supports providers on the full lifecycle of sponsorship—from audit readiness and Home Office inspections to crisis response and licence challenges including to Home Office decisions impacting sponsors\, bringing a strategic litigation perspective to compliance issues. Hazar is a frequent speaker on immigration law and gives training on sponsor compliance. She is a former chair of ILPA (Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association) and remains an active member\, helping to shape the future of immigration policy. Hazar is consistently recommended in leading legal directories\, including Chambers UK. Penningtons is recognised as a key link between the Home Office and the education sector\, supporting institutions in implementing and responding to the ongoing changes to the UK immigration and sponsorship system. \n\nSophie Turnball\, Director\, International Recruitment\, UWE Bristol \nSophie has over fifteen years of experience in international student recruitment\, spanning both the higher education and private sectors. She is currently Director of International Recruitment at UWE Bristol\, where she leads global strategy and partnership development across key markets. Sophie also serves on the BUILA Executive Board\, contributing to sector-wide policy and best practice in international recruitment. Prior to joining UWE\, she held senior roles in the private sector\, including Head of Recruitment and Regional Manager for South Asia and the Americas\, where she built high-performing teams and delivered sustained market growth. \n\nDavid Williams\, Co-Founder and CEO of I-GTM \nDavid Williams is a Co-Founder and CEO of I-GTM\, the leading travel record-keeping and management platform for UK boarding schools. Before launching I-GTM\, David built and led a talent acquisition firm operating in emerging markets\, gaining first-hand experience of the global networks that underpin the boarding school ecosystem. He now applies that insight to joining up the requirement for travel whereabouts recording with operational excellence. As the shift toward more international boarders gathers pace\, this approach helps ensure schools remain truly “open to the world\,” supporting enrolment and giving agents and families clear\, confident messages about access to these world-class institutions. \n\nDeepa Chadha\, Policy Adviser (Immigration) (Interim Head of Advice)\n \nDeepa Chadha serves as the Policy Advisor (Immigration) at UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs)\, where she has worked for over 16 years. Her role involves monitoring\, analysing\, and interpreting legislation and policy that impact international students and their family members\, advising and presenting on the UK’s immigration law and policies as they relate to students and their family members\, and representing relevant sector issues at meetings with the Home Office and UKVI. Her career spans roles in university immigration advisory services and in the legal sector\, giving her a deep understanding of both policy and practice. \n\n \n  \n  \n\nMartyn Foulds\, Engagement Team (Study) Team Leader\, Study Operations\, UK Visas and Immigration\, Home Office
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/visa-and-immigration-summer-term-conference/
LOCATION:Online – Zoom
CATEGORIES:Conference,Online,Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260522T180000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260522T210000
DTSTAMP:20260515T083824Z
CREATED:20260113T170303Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T083824Z
UID:69130-1779472800-1779483600@www.boarding.org.uk
SUMMARY:Leadership through uncertainty
DESCRIPTION:🏷️ £150\n🎧 Leaders\n📍 Rugby School\n🥂 Refreshments served \n\nJoin us for the inaugural Lessons in Leadership event\, brought to you by the BSA’s Centre for Boarding Leadership. \nHaving commanded at every rank to 4*\, with 11 years on operations and with 10 years in UK Special Forces\, Sir Tim Radford will share some reflections about leading through uncertainty during his 40 years service in the British Army. \nDate: Friday May 22\, 2026 \nTimings: 18:00 – 21:00 \nA drinks reception will be hosted\, complemented by an assortment of Mediterranean sharing platters \nSession Topic : Leadership through Uncertainty \nSpeaker: \nGeneral (Retired) Sir Tim Radford KCB DSO OBE \nTim spent 40 years in the British Army\, during which he commanded at every rank up to 4*\, including 10 years with UK Special Forces and over 11 years on operations. His final appointment between April 20 and July 23 was as NATO’s 30th Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) during a period of significant military transformation. Having commanded at every rank to 4*\, with 11 years on operations and with 10 years in UK Special Forces\, Tim Radford will share some reflections about leading through uncertainty during his 40 years service in the British Army.    \n  \n  \n  \nHost: \n \nRobin Fletcher FTIOB\, CEO\, BSA Group   \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. \nClick here to reserve your place \n  \nLessons in Leadership is a programme to support boarding school leaders as part of BSA’s new Centre for Boarding Leadership (CBL). The Lessons in Leadership programme comprises lectures from highly distinguished leaders in different fields\, including boarding alumni or people connected with boarding schools. These in-person Leadership events will be held at CBL partner BSA member schools in different parts of the UK.
URL:https://www.boarding.org.uk/event/69130/
LOCATION:Rugby School\, Rugby CV22 5EH\, UK\, Rugby School\, Rugby\, CV22 5EH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Conference,In-person
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR