Deputy Junior Heads' Conference - Wednesday 4 March 2026 (St Paul's School, London)

Deputy Junior Heads 

Description

Conference Programme

Time

Session

Room

09:30 – 09.50

Registration

 

 

9:50 – 10.00

Welcome and introductions

 

Speakers:

Becca Barnett, Education Officer, HMC

Nick Arnold, Senior Deputy Head at St Paul’s Junior School

 

 

 

10.00 – 11.00

 

Keynote 1: Every Touchpoint Matters - Building a whole-school customer service culture that enhances Recruitment, Retention & Reputation

 

Speaker: Rachel Hadley-Leonard, Founder and Independent Consultant at RHL

 

11.00 – 11.20

Refreshment break

 

11:20 – 11.25

Sponsor 1 presentation

 

11.25 – 12.15

 

Keynote 2: EDI (ideas include strengthening a school’s EDI strategy, building a positive, reflective staff culture, or embedding EDI into the curriculum)

 

Speaker: Claire Lyons, Head at Oswestry School

 

 

12.15 – 12.45

 

MOVE TO NEXT SESSION

 

12.50 - 13.20

Case Study sessions

 

Academic Focussed Speakers:

Speaker 1: Jill Pawluk: Professional learning leading development in school

Speaker 2: Pippa Sutcliffe Culford: Creating a 21st c Curriculum (oracy)

 

Pastoral Focussed Speakers:

 

Speaker 1: Andrea Evans, Deputy Head (GSAL)Managing friendship issues amongst girls

Speaker 2: Character Education by the Team at St Paul’s (bringing in resilience) and belonging

 

 

13.20 – 14:00

Lunch

 

 

14:00 – 14:05

Sponsor 2 presentation

 

14:05 - 14.50

Networking and problem-solving sessions topics:

 

  • Attendance and school avoidance (linked with SEMH provision and managing emotionally based school avoidance - EBSA)
  • Pupil welfare and pastoral care including challenges such as mobile phone use, pornography, and online safety
  • Parental expectations and parental engagement – building on Rachel Hadley-Leonard’s keynote.
  • Tracking and assessment cycles/ products used by schools,
  • Curriculum development and balancing the curriculum for the mid 21st century

 

 

14.50 – 15.10

Refreshment break

 

15.10 16.10

(1 hour)

Keynote 4: Staff Wellbeing

Speaker: Mike Crossley, Educational Leadership, Wellbeing & Mental Health Speaker, Trainer & Instructor

 

 

16.10 - 16:15

 

 

Closing remarks and depart

 

Speakers:

Becca Barnett, Education Officer, HMC

Nick Arnold, Senior Deputy Head at St Paul’s Junior School

 

 

16.15

Optional School Tour