HMC (The Heads' Conference)

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In the last school visit of his trip to Iberia, the General Secretary met Nick Sellars at the Oporto British School. Founded in 1894, OBS is the longest established British school in mainland Europe. For Nick, it is a return to his boyhood home and school following a career in the UK. Thanks for the invitation, school tour and the chance to chat over a relaxing end-of-term lunch.

#HMCLeadingIndependentSchools #HMCSchoolVisits

We’re delighted to welcome Deborah Bligh, Headmistress at Mayfield School into full membership of HMC.

#HMCLeadingIndependentSchools #HMCSchools #mayfieldgirls

@Mayfieldgirls

On his last day in Lisbon, the General Secretary visited St Julian’s. Set in a former palace and founded in 1932, it has grown into a co-ed IB school for over 1,200 students. Thanks to Paul Morgan (and dog Rosie) for hosting and to Afonso and Constança for the tour and insight into the school. Lunch with the management team was a treat with one of the best head’s office views in the business.

#HMCLeadingIndependentSchools #HMCSchools #HMCSchoolVisits

A new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) @EduPolicyInst funded by @HMC_Org (The Heads' Conference), offers a deep dive into two standout Independent-State School Partnerships (ISSPs): the Bristol Education Partnership (BEP) and York ISSP. The findings shed light on the transformative power of collaboration in education—benefiting both pupils and teachers across sectors.

From initiatives like TEDx-style talks and philosophy masterclasses to cross-sector CPD opportunities, these partnerships are broadening horizons, strengthening professional ties, and nurturing community cohesion.

However, the report also highlights the operational challenges—staffing, funding, and accessibility—that can disproportionately impact state schools. Clear recommendations are set out to ensure these partnerships can grow inclusively and sustainably, with a focus on shared leadership, better impact evaluation, and targeted engagement.

📄 A must-read for anyone passionate about equitable, innovative education.

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#EducationMatters #SchoolPartnerships #ClosingTheGap