Conference for Academic Deputy Heads and Directors of Studies - Thursday 12 - Saturday 14 November 2026 (Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham)

A strategic conference for leaders of curriculum and academic provision, exploring the key issues shaping teaching, learning and academic excellence across schools.

Description

This conference aims to:

Focus on the key issues in improving learning and teaching for those who have responsibility for the school curriculum and academic matters.

This conference is for:

Academic Deputy Heads and Directors of Studies in independent schools.

**Please note: the delegate fee includes accommodation, meals and refreshments throughout the conference.**

Time	Session	Room
Thursday 12 November 2026
14.00 – 14.30	Arrival and Registration Refreshments from 13.30
14.30 – 14.40	Welcome, opening remarks and introductions
14.40 – 15.15	State of the Nation Address Speaker: Anne Cotton, HMC Chair and Head at King’s College School Wimbledon
15.15 15.35	Education Update Speaker: Kate Howell – Director of Education, HMC
15.35 – 15.45	Metis in Schools Speaker: Dr Toby Parker, Creator of Metis Systems & Anne Moore, ACS Libraries Coordinator
15.45 – 16.15	Refreshments with exhibitors	Exhibition
16.15 – 17.15	Keynote 1: Thinking with Purpose: Building a Culture of Critical Thinking In this session, Britta will share the journey behind the development of Newington College’s Critical Thinking Centre, exploring what prompted the initiative, how the school approached its implementation, and what it has learned along the way. Delegates will gain practical ideas for the explicit teaching of critical thinking and analytical skills, with approaches that can be adapted to different subjects and school contexts. The session will offer both a strategic perspective for schools considering a similar approach and practical techniques that teachers can take back to the classroom. Speaker: Dr Britta Jensen, Director, The Centre for Critical Thinking and Ethics,Newington College, Australia
17.15 – 18.00	Women in Leadership networking meeting
17.15 – 19.00	Free time
19.00 – 19.30	Private drinks reception - new Academic Deputy Heads and Directors of Studies
19.00 – 19.30	Drinks – cash bar	Hotel Bar
19.30	Conference Dinner Dress code: smart/casual Seating Plan by Division

Friday 13 November 2026
07.00 – 08.45	Breakfast
08.15 - 08.45	Refreshments	Exhibition
08.50 – 09.00	Welcome to Day 2 Speaker: Kate Howell – Director of Education, HMC
09.00 – 10.00	Panel Session: Approaches to leading curriculum development in HMC schools’ Supported by the Curriculum and Assessment Working Group Speakers: Rowena Hector, Deputy Head (Academic), Sidcot School Rachel Palmer, Deputy Head (Academic), Ibstock Place School Adèle Venter, Chair,Independent Schools Modern Languages Association Chair: Jaideep Barot,Head at Bristol Grammar School and lead on the HMC Curriculum and Assessment Working Group
10.00 – 10.05	Movement Time
10.05 – 10.55	Workshops (Session 1) 1. What are we Teaching? Powerful knowledge in the age of AI Speaker: Richard Bustin, Director of Pedagogy, Innovation and Staff Development, Lancing College 2. Helping Pupils to use Teacher Feedback Speaker: Professor Naomi Winstone, Professor of Educational Psychology, University of Surrey 3. Working in Partnership: Building Trust and Managing Expectations with SEND Families Speaker: Ginny Bootman, Relational SEND Specialist 4. Beyond the grades – using assessment data to improve teaching and learning Speaker: Kate Bailey, Director of Product, Digital Testing, Data and Reporting, Cambridge University Press & Assessment
10.55 – 11.25	Refreshment Break
11.25 – 12.15	Workshops (Session 2) 1. From Ai Chatbots to Curriculum: Building Sustainable AI Education in Schools Speaker: Adam Zivanic, Director of Digital Strategy at City Schools 2. Insights from the survey of Academic Deputy Heads: how schools are addressing the challenges of subject choice, timetabling and staffing structures Speaker: Madeleine Copin, Director, MSC Academics 3. Preparing for Headship Speaker: Jaideep Barot, Head, Bristol Grammar School 4. How are schools embedding coaching as a pathway to improved pedagogies? Speaker: Clare Barnett, Managing Director, Synergia Coaching
12.15 – 12.20	Movement Time
12.20 – 13.05	Networking Session: Shared Challenges
13.05 – 13.55	Lunch
13.55 – 14.55	Exam Board Panel Session Panellists: AQA: Amie Barr, Director of Assessment Cambridge OCR: Andy Barrott, Head of Research and Technical Standards Pearson: Ben Stafford, Director of Assessment Performance Cambridge International Education: Deborah Howes, Director of Assessment Principles andCommunications Eduqas: Sarah Ferguson, Director of Assessment, Ofqual: Jessica Lewis-Bell, Associate Director, Strategic Relationships Chair: Lotte Tulloch,Head at Denstone College and Chair of HMC Education Committee
14.55 – 15.00	Movement Time
15.00 – 15.50	Workshops (Session 3) 1. What Are We Actually Assessing? Rethinking Assessment in an AI-Enabled School Speaker: Luke Harris, Director of Digital Strategy, Bloxham School 2. Creating a Learning Together Culture: Turning CPD into Improved Classroom Practice Speakers: Clare Tovey, Deputy Head – Learning at Royal Russell School and Dave Turner, Assistant Head, Innovation and Digital Learning 3. Evidence in action: doing, using and sharing research in schools Speakers: Emma Hellyer, Head of Assessment and Innovation, HMC, Dr Beth Kandemir, Educator and Researcher, Kingston Grammar School, 4. From 10 Platforms to 2: The Digital Transformation of a School Speaker: Mark Evans, Director of Studies at Stonyhurst College
15.50 – 16.20	Refreshment Break
16.20 – 17.15	Networking Session: Ideas Exchange
17.15 – 17.30	Managing Resources & Marketing with Metis Speakers: Dr Toby Parker, Creator of Metis Systems & Anne Moore, ACS Libraries Coordinator
17.30– 19.00	Free time
19.00 – 19.30	Drinks reception with exhibitors	Exhibition
19.30	Conference dinner Dress code: smart/casual Free Seating To feature Quiz

Saturday 14 November 2026
07.30 – 09.00	Breakfast and room checkout
08.30 – 09.00	Refreshments	Exhibition
09.00 – 10.00	Employment Law Speaker: Alistair Wood, CEO & Co-Founder, Edapt
10.00 – 11.00	Panel Session: Ethical Leadership Speakers: TBC
11.00 – 11.30	Refreshment Break
11.30 – 12.30	Keynote: Creating a Culture of empowering Professional Development The UK education sector has made significant strides in recent years in embracing evidence-informed practice. But a critical question remains: are we doing things to teachers, or are we building cultures where they are empowered and given the agency to lead their own development? This session will explore common professional development practices that, despite the best of intentions, can backfire, and what we can do instead. We'll delve into how to design and deliver PD that is impactful and leaves colleagues feeling part of the change: moving from inadvertently creating compliance, to creating a culture that is sustainable, research-informed, and empowering. Speaker: Amarbeer Singh Gill, Research School Deputy Director & Teacher Educator, Tudor Grange Research School
12.30	Closing remarks Speaker: Kate Howell, Director of Education, HMC Lunch and depart Packed Lunch Option Available

This conference is sponsored by: