HMC and IDPE Conference: Uniting schools; unlocking potential - Wednesday 28 January 2026 (BMA House, London)

Working together to widen access and ambition for all through partnerships and bursaries. This conference is for heads, bursars, governors, directors of development and directors of partnerships or community engagement, from both schools with established bursary and partnership programmes, and those just starting out.

Description

The biannual HMC and IDPE Conference: Uniting schools; unlocking potential supports heads, bursars, governors, and development and partnership leaders in building effective bursary and partnership programmes.

With rising costs, VAT on fees, and funding gaps, schools face tough financial decisions. This one-day conference will explore how schools can navigate these challenges by strengthening partnerships and expanding bursary support. Delegates will gain insights into sector trends, hear practical case studies, and take away strategies to enhance their own programmes—ensuring more young people have access to life-changing educational opportunities.

This important event will explore how all those in education can collaborate and work together to create meaningful opportunities for children from all backgrounds. The conference will focus on the role of school partnerships and bursaries in ensuring that every child has access to the best opportunities.

Prices

Book your place now to take advantage of our multiple bookings discount and bring along your colleagues.

NB: Discounts will not appear on your booking confirmation email but the discount will be applied at point of invoice.

Rates are:

£299 excl. VAT for 1 delegate/school
£285 excl. VAT for 2 delegates/school
£265 excl. VAT for 3 delegates/school
£245 excl. VAT for 4 delegates/school

Partnership package
We are delighted to announce that twenty partnership packages are available for delegates who are either in an existing partnership (between a state and independent school) OR are looking to establish a partnership. The partnership package offers a discounted delegate fee of £395, for 2 delegates (one from a state school or Multi Academy Trust and one independent school) who register and attend together.

For State/Prep school delegates who wish to attend independently, the rate is £145.

Should you wish to book a place for a colleague at a partner (existing or potential) school, please email pd@hmc.org.uk providing the name, position, school and contact email for the delegate.

Conference strands:

Strategy (governance)
Funding (finance)
Delivery
Impact

Programme

0930 – 1000	Arrival and registration Coffee and refreshments among the exhibitors	Lutyens Suite
1000 - 1010	Welcome and opening remarks Speaker: Peter Kirkbride, National Director – Secondary Education, E-ACT and Conference co-chair Toucan Tech (Headline sponsor)	Great Hall
1010 – 1050	Plenary 1 – People, place and poverty - tackling inequality through the work of schools in the 21st century  An interactive style keynote which will explore: - The importance of understanding persistent poverty and the problems of inequality in the communities that we serve shifting from assumption to assessment of the issues as school leaders - Knowing how to support and develop place-based partnership, without trying to be the beating heart of communities  Speaker: Sean Harris, That Poverty Guy Chair: Peter Kirkbride, National Director – Secondary Education, E-ACT	Great Hall
1050 - 1120	Plenary 2 – Panel discussion: From local communities to national reach At E-ACT, the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, and HMC, we believe partnerships in education should benefit every child. This session will explore the outcomes so far of the new “moonshot” programme, a nationwide initiative delivered locally, that focuses on ensuring all children benefit from educational opportunities, regardless of background, school type or postcode. Panel: Fran Craik, Chief Standards Officer, Bishop Chadwick Catholic Educational Trust Ceri Jones, Headmaster, Caterham School and Chair of HMC Public Benefits and Partnerships Committee Pete Kirkbride (E-ACT), National Director – Secondary Education, E-ACT Chair: Melvyn Roffe MBE, Head, Haberdashers' Monmouth School	Great Hall
1120 – 1150	Refreshments	Lutyens Suite
1150 – 1155	Movement time to breakout rooms
1155 - 1245	Breakout Block 1 1A: Double Down, Don’t Fold: How an Ambitious Independent-State Schools Partnership is Expanding — At No Cost to the Schools Every week nearly 400 Y10-13 students at Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools work with 1,500 state primary children, leading sessions on everything from modern languages to rock climbing to robotics. It is transformational for all involved. They are doing so at no extra cost to the schools, relying instead on philanthropy, community support and volunteers. How did they achieve this, and what can other schools learn from their experience? Panellists: Josh Plotkin, Director of Partnerships, Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools Phillip Campbell, Associate Principal, London Academy Gus Lock, Executive Principal, Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools Bill Friar, Director of Development, Haberdashers’ Elstree Schools 1B: Toucan Tech 1C: Fundraising 101: The foundations for fundraising success From defining what you are fundraising for to identifying your target audience and their motivations for giving, this interactive session will explore, what are the essential building blocks needed to embark on your fundraising journey. Speaker: Louise Bennett, CEO, IDPE 1D: On the same page: cultivating school-wide support for partnerships How can we encourage buy-in from ... Pupils? Parents? Staff? Other schools? The community? 1E: Nurturing success: the bursary journey How can you provide support for bursary award holders before, during and after their time in school? Speaker: Jane Mees, Bursary Support and Outreach Manager, Bolton School
1245 – 1330	Lunch amongst the exhibitors	Lutyens Suite
1330 1335	Movement time to breakout rooms
1335 1425	Breakout Block 2 2A: A case study: RGS Newcastle and TBC How can we develop a successful partnership programme? Speaker: John Smith; RGS Newcastle 2B: Re-thinking bursaries for 2026 and beyond How can schools continue to offer bursary programmes in a post-VAT era? Transformational or means-tested? Funded by fees or non-fees? How can schools sustain and grow their bursary support. 2C: Fundraising 101: Cultivating individual giving From understanding the different types of individual giving and establishing a clear case for support, to identifying prospects and recruiting new donors, this session will explore practical strategies for launching and growing a regular giving campaign, including how to engage your community, building lasting relationships, and integrating regular giving into wider fundraising efforts, to ensure long-term, sustainable support for your school. 2D: Scaling up partnerships/taking to next level 2E: Impact focus re: bursaries and partnerships
1425 1455	Refreshments	Lutyens Suite
1455 1545	Breakout Block 3 3A Bursaries? Partnerships? Or not at all? All schools want to change lives, but schools have to adapt in response to the financial pressures facing them. Is there still a place for both bursaries and partnerships? And how can schools adapt their plans to continue to make a difference to the lives of young people across their community? Speaker: Bristol Grammar School 3B: Budgeting for social change At a time of increasing financial restraint in all schools, is it possible to establish and sustain programmes that support social mobility? How can collaboration between schools and other organisations maximise impact and ensure these initiatives are effective, and long-lasting? Speakers: Oliver Knight, Head, Pangbourne College and David Benson, Head Mill Hill School 3C: Fundraising 101: Securing transformational support Explore the end-to-end process of major gift fundraising from identifying potential major donors—both individuals and grant funders—and understanding their motivations, to cultivating relationships, framing compelling asks, and delivering successful stewardship to elevate your fundraising efforts and drive forward your school’s mission. 3D: The love language of partnerships How can we build trust and bring schools together to create mutually beneficial partnerships that benefit all young people? 3E: Impact focus re: bursaries and partnerships
1545 1550	Movement time to Great Hall
1550 – 1620	Plenary 3: What does success look like? How do we really know we are making a difference? What criteria can we use to measure success? And how can we share the difference we are making to impact? Senior leader Donor/funder Recipient	Great Hall
1620 - 1630	Closing remarks Speaker: Melvyn Roffe MBE, Head, Monmouth School and Conference Co-Chair	Great Hall

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