HMC (The Heads' Conference)

This afternoon, HMC colleagues have been delighted to welcome our new members to part one of their New Members Induction at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. A treasured venue in the HMC calendar, it's a wonderful place to start your HMC journey. As ever HMC is grateful to our Silver Partner, Gillman & Soame, for photographing this memorable event for us, and this year to Lenovo, HMC Platinum Partner, for their generous sponsorship of the event. Last but not least, the General Secretary also sends special thanks to the team at Cumberland Lodge for his birthday present, a touching gesture received with thanks! #HMCClassOf2025 #HMCPartners #HMCPD

Kate Howell (HMC Director of Education) and Becca Barnett (HMC Education Officer, Primary Specialist) thank Peter Goodyer (CEO and Headmaster) and his senior colleagues at Bede's School for their generous hospitality yesterday. Pete is Chair of HMC's AI & Ed Tech Working Group, and a representative on the HMC Sports Committee, and HMC appreciates he and his colleagues taking time out of their busy day to share their thoughts on education matters. Kate and Becca came away with some great thoughts on supporting action research in schools and a great suggestion for a new HMC network for VQs! #HMCSchools #HMCSchoolVisits #HMCLeadingIndependentSchools

Thanks to Rachel Owens for welcoming the General Secretary to St George's Weybridge yesterday. Issy and Tom provided an excellent tour as well as insight into the fantastic range of opportunities available to students. Visiting local primary pupils, Early Career Teachers and families on tours gave the school a real buzz in the glorious sunshine. #HMCSchools #HMCSchoolVisits #HMCLeadingIndependentSchools

See a new blog written by Philip Ford, Director of Innovation at The High School of Glasgow and Founder of the START project-based learning entrepreneurship programme, who shares how the programme builds on their tradition of innovation 💡 by introducing project-based learning in entrepreneurship to final-year students. Read the blog article and see a link to learn more about the START programme: https://buff.ly/JxJJEkx 🔹 Why does this matter? The future of work is changing rapidly, and young people need more than just subject knowledge—they need creativity, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. START equips students with: ✅ Design Thinking – solving real-world problems through innovation ✅ Entrepreneurial Mindset – embracing resilience, adaptability, and risk-taking ✅ Storytelling & Communication – pitching ideas and persuading audiences Through hands-on experience, students develop problem-solving, adaptability, and communication skills, preparing them for the evolving workforce. They identify real-world challenges, design solutions, and pitch their ideas to industry experts. With support from the Scottish Government’s Entrepreneurial Education Fund, START is expanding to reach more students and broaden its impact. #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #FutureSkills

This week, Latymer Prep School and Principal Andrea Rutterford , once again hosted the HMCj’s Independent Schools’ Qualification in Management (ISQAMj) and Pastoral Leadership Qualification (PLQj) in person delegate days. Thank you to Vincent Weightman (Cheadle Hulme School), Claire Robertson (St Leonards School), Philip Lott, Nicholas Arnold (St Paul's School) and Dr Rebecca Mace for delivering such fantastic content. #HMCj #HMCJuniorSchools #HMCLeadingIndependentSchools #HMCPD

The Wellbeing category of The HMC School Leaders' Directory includes information and contact details of HMC partner organisations such as The Wellbeing Hub, PEBE, Pippa's Guardians Ltd, Tooled Up Education Digital Platform on Education, Parenting and Family Life, Welbee, The Allergy Team, and SchoolTV. Visit the School Leaders' Directory to learn more here ➡️ https://buff.ly/RoA60qJ 😀 The Wellbeing Hub delivers the expert-led support for whole school communities to help children and young people thrive – socially, emotionally and in their learning journey. 🏃♀️ PEBE are ranked number 1 for sports bras and they're the leading provider of education-led sports bra workshops for schools and clubs to ensure boobs aren't a barrier to exercise. Having had their bras independently tested at the University of Portsmouth global centre of excellence for breast biomechanic research and sports bra testing, they support generations of women to achieve their own personal best. 🤝 Pippa's Guardian's, Gold Standard AEGIS accredited guardianship organisation, is dedicated to providing comprehensive support for international students studying in UK schools. Their Camps at Rugby School mix expert-led study sessions, exciting activities, and unforgettable social experiences to support academic growth, personal wellbeing, lifelong friendships and exploration to support informed choices about future careers. 🧰 Welbee helps schools track and improve student wellbeing through easy surveys. School leaders get clear feedback from students, parents, and staff, with smart technology turning this data into actionable insights. 🔼 Tooled Up is a leading provider of evidence-based wellbeing resources for staff and parents - producing on demand content, e.g., parent webinars, classroom resources, lesson plans, podcasts, pupil wellbeing surveys and staff CPD. We're driving parental engagement whilst supporting staff and pupils, saving schools time and money. 🌷 Allergy is the most common chronic condition in childhood affecting 1 to 2 pupils in every class. The Allergy Team are experts in supporting schools to manage allergies - keeping pupils safer and more included in school life and supporting staff with information and training. They co-created the DfE backed Schools Allergy Code and run the Schools Allergy Register. 📺 SchoolTV support educators & families with information and resources to create supportive environments where students thrive as they develop the key skills required to foster good mental health and wellbeing along their journey to adulthood. School leaders can conveniently filter between different business categories within the Directory to source information and contact details of a wide range of suppliers and professional advisers to schools both nationally and internationally. #HMCCorporatePartners #Wellbeing

Congratulations to Mark Taylor who has been appointed as the interim chair of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), succeeding Barnaby Lenon after 14 years of leadership. A former British Army officer turned education leader, Mark brings extensive experience in independent schools and governance, having served at Cranbrook, Dulwich Prep, Bedales School, and The King's School, Canterbury He will be the first bursar to have chaired three of the representative bodies for independent schools. Mark said: “I’m honoured to take on this role and champion the bold ideas and strong partnerships that define ISC schools.” Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eX2BH_kk #IndependentSchools #Education #Leadership

This week City Junior School, nestled in the heart of London in the peaceful surroundings of Gray’s Inn, provided a warm welcome to HMC Education Officer Becca Barnett. Thank you to the fabulous Rachel Thompson for such an engaging visit. #HMCSchools #HMCSchoolVisits #HMCLeadingIndependentSchools

We are recruiting for a Membership Coordinator. Interested in applying? Click on the link to find out more about the role and to apply: https://buff.ly/9igFpAK The closing date for applications is 25th March at 11:59 PM. #MembershipJobs #EducationJobs #Education

“When women and girls can rise, we all thrive.” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. We hope delegates are enjoying today's HMC Women in Leadership Conference - don't forget to share your key conference takeaways and highlights - use #HMCWomenInLeadership to let us know! Thank you to our generous conference sponsor, HMC Platinum Partner, Lenovo - if you're with us in London, then please do speak with them. Abbie Holland, Senior Education Specialist at Lenovo told delegates: "We strongly believe that diversity fuels innovation. Our industry—and the world—thrives on fresh ideas, creative solutions, and bold leadership. These qualities flourish when women are given equal opportunities to lead. "At Lenovo, we're not just talking about change; we are taking deliberate steps to drive it. We have implemented initiatives that support women in technology and leadership, from mentorship programs to development opportunities designed to elevate female talent. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where leadership is not defined by gender but by ambition, ability, and the drive to create meaningful change." Thanks also to Ronnie Reading (Abingdon School) who opened the event with the quote above ☝️ Also, to Professor Deborah Eyre (High Performance Learning) who we look forward to hearing from this afternoon, and everyone else involved in the event. #WomenInLeadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #HMCPD