Independent Schools Conference

Neil is the Director of Operations and Finance for The Russell School Trust, a group of schools in the UK and overseas.  Neil has been a Trustee for the Independent School Bursars Association and the Independent School’s Council, including being Chair of ISBA for 2 years.  Neil is an inspector for the Independent School’s Inspectorate and has been in his current role for 12 years.

Dr Joe Spence FRSA was Master of Dulwich College from 2009 to 2024 and is CEO of the School Partnerships Alliance. In June 2024 he was awarded Tes Headteacher of the Year (Independent), the citation drawing particular attention to his promotion of partnership projects. He was Headmaster of Oakham School from 2002, having previously taught history and politics at Eton College, where he was also Master in College (housemaster to the King’s Scholars).

Under Joe’s leadership, Dulwich developed a number of mutually-beneficial independent-state school partnerships, promoted national SCITT programmes and supported Saturday Schools for primary school children in Science, the Arts and Mathematics. He is Co-Director of the Southwark Schools’ Learning Partnership, an alliance of 18 state and independent schools.

Joe has been a governor of more than a dozen state and independent schools. A trustee of the Mark Evison Foundation, Art History Link Up and the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association, he is also a playwright and librettist.

Ceri was educated at a comprehensive in Bradford and read History at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He has been Headmaster at Caterham since 2015 and was previously Principal of The Marsh Academy, a large non-selective academy in Kent.  He has established a number of unique and successful Independent-State School Partnerships and wider collaborations and co-founded an educational charity, the Accelerate and Access Foundation, supporting pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to top ranking universities. Ceri was also instrumental in the creation of Sphinx AI, and EdTech company driven by the twin purposes of creating edtech products made by teachers for teachers and using emerging technologies to close the attainment and disadvantage gap in the UK.

Ceri is a Governor of the London Academy of Excellence and a number of local primary and prep schools. He writes and speaks regularly on the topics of school leadership, school partnerships, social mobility, AI in education and Digital Literacy. Ceri currently sits on the HMC Public Benefit and Partnerships Committee.

Geoffrey is Headmaster of the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, a coeducational day school with 1330 students. In 2023 the RGS was awarded the title of Independent School of the Year, after winning the category for Outstanding Educational Partnerships. The school also consistently wins the Sunday Times Parent Power award of North East Independent School of the Year for Academic Results and was recently given a Platinum award by Alps for being in the top 1% of schools nationally for added value. Geoffrey is a Trustee of the Laidlaw Schools Trust, a multi academy trust that focusses on areas of deprivation in the North East, and he has previously served as a Governor of the Dragon School in Oxford.

Geoffrey still teaches a class for the Extended Project Qualification each year though, despite his Classics degree from Oxford, Geoffrey has mostly taught Economics. This follows his MBA at INSEAD in France and experience as a consultant at The Boston Consulting Group as well as four years in the Investment Banking Division of Citigroup. He started teaching at Millfield School in 2006 before becoming a Boarding Housemaster and Head of Department at Pangbourne College. He then served as Deputy Head (Co-curriculum) at Sevenoaks School and became Headmaster of Fettes College before moving to Newcastle in 2019.

Helen Stanton-Tonner was a serving head in the independent sector for 10 years. Prior to this she worked within senior roles across a number of schools in both the independent and the state sector. She is also a mentor for serving Heads and Senior leaders, a conferecne speaker and has worked as an educational advisor, supporting schools with the implementation of technology-based projects to enhance the education and accessibility for their pupils. She is now the Director of Education and Inclusion for the Independent Schools Association, one of the oldest of the independent schools’ organisations, where she works with the team to provide professional support to member heads and their schools.

Amanda has run the Foundation Office at Latymer Upper & Prep School for 15 years and she is now the strategic lead for fundraising, an active alumni programme and all partnerships and social impact initiatives. She studied Italian and History at Oxford, followed by a decade in the world of finance at Lehman and Goldman Sachs and several years in retail.

Having taken time out from full time work to raise her children, Amanda was hired as Latymer’s Director of Development in 2009, managing a team of four. Since then the Foundation Office team has more than doubled, and over £70 million has been raised, most of which has been for the School’s sector-leading bursary programme. The number of bursaries funded by the Latymer Foundation has grown from 55 in 2009 to more than 280 in the academic year 2023/24, most of them worth between 75% to 100% of fees. This September, for the first time in half a century, 1 in 4 of students at Latymer Upper School will be supported by a bursary.

Alongside its bursary provision, the Latymer Foundation runs a wide range of partnership and community programmes, which in 2023/24 engaged more than 4,000 young people and 250 local partner schools, organisations and charities in the local area.

As a member of the Senior Leadership team, Amanda has worked closely with three successive Heads and four Chairs of Governors to protect Latymer’s historic ethos of academic excellence and social inclusion.

Alex read Chemistry at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and subsequently obtained her PGCE at the University of Bristol. She has over twenty years of academic and pastoral experience gained at leading girls’ schools, both day and boarding. Her previous roles include Head of Science at St Mary’s School, Ascot, Head of Sixth Form at both Central Newcastle High School and Wimbledon High School and Deputy Head at Woldingham School. She was subsequently Headmistress at Woldingham for 4 years, before becoming Head of JAGS in September 2020. In her spare time, Alex is a keen walker and lover of the great outdoors. She is currently President of the Girls’ School Association.

Hugo Middlemas has 30 years’ experience in fundraising and communications across UK and international charities and the NHS. He joined Christ’s Hospital as Director of Development in 2015 with a focus on income generation, alumni engagement, partnerships, and impact measurement.

Tom Arbuthnott is Deputy Head (Partnerships) at Eton College. As well as overseeing the school’s strategies to widen access to talented boys from diverse backgrounds, he oversees Eton’s strong and multiple relationships with state sector schools and the community engagement programme, as well as the annual summer schools.

Tom took degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge universities and worked in Brussels and London before retraining as a teacher in 2004. From 2010-2016, Tom led an award-winning outreach programme at King Edward’s School, Birmingham.

An Old Etonian himself, he returned in 2016 as Eton’s first Director of Outreach and Partnership and in 2017-18, he served as Chair of the Schools Together Group. Tom is currently leading Eton’s collaborative project with Star Academies to establish new state-funded sixth forms in coldspot areas of the Midlands and North. He is co-founder and Chair of the School Partnerships Alliance and a governor of Holyport College.

Jane began her career in the theatre as an Administrator and Marketing Manager. After two years in the theatre, she progressed to working in the Plays Department at BBC TV as a Second Assistant and then in the Drama Series Department as a Location Manager for ten years. After the BBC, Jane joined the National Trust as an Events Organiser at Chartwell and Emmetts Garden.

Jane then moved onto education when she was employed as the Marketing Manager at Kelsey Park Sports College for nine years. Following this, Jane began her job as Marketing and Communication Manager at Sedgehill School for four years.

Jane then joined St Michael’s as Director of Admissions and Marketing and has held this position for 9 years. She is passionate about education and never underestimates the power of a smile and a warm welcome to all visitors to St Michael’s. She is proud to have been part of the team who won the 2023 AMCIS Team of the Year Award.

Taz has worked in the independent education sector for five years, joining the marketing team at St Michael’s Prep School in 2020 and taking on the role of Marketing and Media Manager in 2023.

Taz has a degree in English Language and Linguistics which she gained at the University of Reading. Whilst completing her degree, she was Editor of the University’s newspaper and received national recognition for her work in this role.

Taz began her career in journalism as a Reporter and Social Media Director for The Wokingham Paper. During this time, Taz honed her storytelling, public relations and digital content skills which she has transferred to her work in education.

Taz has established a dynamic digital platform for St Michael’s as well as strengthening its press image and community relations. Taz was delighted to contribute to St Michael’s illustrated prospectus which won the 2023 AMCIS Team of the Year Award.

Hina Ghumra joined Whitgift in 2018 as Head of Marketing and became Director of Marketing and Communications at the start of 2020. She has a Diploma in Management Studies and has been a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing since 2018. She has over 25 years’ experience as a Marketing, Communications and Business Development specialist. Prior to joining Whitgift, she worked in senior roles within the Insurance Sector, with a focus on above and below the line campaigns, project management, process improvement initiatives and managing client tender responses. She is part of the Senior Leadership at Whitgift and was had oversight of the Schools first significant re-brand and website launch in 2020. Her role involves working closely with Admissions, Development and International teams as well Academic staff.

Andrew has over 25 years of Marketing commercial experience. A marketing agency leader known for delivering strategies for both domestic and international audiences.

Whilst Andrew’s focus has been on delivering growth for his clients, predominantly in the Financial, Charity and Independent Schools sectors, He has a passion for being hands on to build and nurturing agency teams – a highly motivated team, keen to upskill will ensure high performance results. This collaborative hands-on approach is key to achieving outstanding results.

For the past three years Andrew’s focus has been on delivering marketing strategies and initiatives to Independent Schools from America through Europe to Australia.

With a results-oriented mindset and an unwavering drive for new initiatives and technologies, Andrew’s latest drive has been into the world of AI and how it can help Admissions and Marketing for Independent Schools.

Karen is an experienced educator with over 25 years within the teaching profession. As Headteacher of Colchester Prep & High School, an all through school (for children aged 2-16), she passionately believes that a good quality education has the power to change the lives of all individuals. Karen enjoys enabling pupils to reach their full potential and to become confident, active and conscious citizens, empowering them to become the ‘changemakers of tomorrow’s world’.

Under Karen’s leadership and guidance, the school has achieved a double excellent in its most recent ISI Inspection; retained its status as a leader in Ed Tech and Innovation as a Microsoft Showcase School (for 4 consecutive years); attained the prestigious Eco Schools Green Flag Award with Distinction 2023 & 2024; is a finalist for the ISA Future Readiness Award (2023 & 2024) and National Education Awards, for Ed Tech (2023); and was the winner of the ISA Award for Excellence and Innovation in Mental Health and Pupil Wellbeing (2023).

A strong believer in the merits of a ‘STEAM powered, Future Ready’ curriculum, the school proudly boasts a new STEAM Centre of Excellence and Innovation, with maker-spaces designed to place the Arts at the heart of the curriculum; to inspire creative minds and prepare pupils to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world of opportunity.

Karen is also an enthusiastic historian, with a Master’s Degree in Heritage Management (BA in Archaeology and Classics) and is a Director of Design Nature CIC, a social enterprise company that specialises in Sustainability Education.

As the Sustainability Lead at Holme Grange School, Leanne is dedicated to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility and inspiring the next generation of changemakers. With a passion for sustainability education, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives that empower students to make a real difference.

Leanne has developed a bespoke Key Stage 3 curriculum that integrates sustainable development goals into students’ learning, ensuring that environmental awareness and action are embedded in their education along with climate positive solutions. She also coordinates Mock COP events, bringing together secondary schools to engage in meaningful debates, mimicking the UN COP and solutions-focused debates on global and local climate issues.

Under her  leadership, Holme Grange has implemented food waste reduction programs, raising awareness about responsible consumption and minimising the school’s environmental footprint. She also oversees the Sustainability Student Council, where students take an active role in driving eco-friendly initiatives within the school community.

Beyond the school gates, Leanne champions community engagement by celebrating local eco success stories and inspiring young people to become advocates for change. Her work ensures that sustainability is not just a subject to be learned, but a mindset to be lived—empowering students to create a greener future for all.

Tania Botting was elected to the role of Chair of IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools) in September 2024. The role of the Chair is to guide the Chief Executive and be consulted on significant policy decisions. Tania also sits on the Board of the ISC (Independent Schools Council). Before taking up this role, Tania worked for 37 years in a variety of schools, both in the independent and maintained sectors, and spent the last 14 years as the Head of a standalone prep school in Surrey.

Richard Harman was educated at The King’s School, Worcester, followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read English.  Having spent two years working for an academic publisher, he decided his real vocation was in teaching.  After five years at Marlborough College teaching English and Drama, during which time he also completed his PGCE at Exeter University, he spent 12 years at Eastbourne College.  Progressing from Head of English to Housemaster of a Sixth Form girls’ house to member of the Senior Management Team, he then became Headmaster of Aldenham in September 2000 and thence to Uppingham in 2006. After a decade leading Uppingham and 32 years overall in teaching, he embarked on a third career as Chief Executive of AGBIS. Richard is much enjoying the challenges at AGBIS, having been Chairman of the Boarding Schools’ Association for 2011-12 and Chairman of HMC for 2014-15.

David Woodgate was appointed Chief Executive of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association in May 2016.  Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Accountants from 2007 to 2015 after which he spent a year as the Strategy Consultant to the Institute of Public Accountants in Australia.

David qualified as a Barrister in 1982 following a first degree in Languages (French and Russian), Law and Linguistics.  He moved from the law into the City, holding several senior management and executive positions in the National Westminster Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland – in Strategic Planning, Corporate Finance and latterly as Director of e-Commerce for the corporate bank. He ran an outsourcing business and a specialist internal consultancy providing market intelligence and competitor analysis.

He completed an MBA at Warwick University Business School in 1992 with distinction.  A former Chief Executive of the Institute of Administrative Management, he also holds a postgraduate diploma in Charity Management from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and South Bank University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Banker, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. David is also a former Chairman of Governors of an HMC Independent school and is currently a Governor of the City of London School.

David Woodgate was appointed Chief Executive of the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association in May 2016.  Prior to this he was Chief Executive of the Institute of Financial Accountants from 2007 to 2015 after which he spent a year as the Strategy Consultant to the Institute of Public Accountants in Australia.

David qualified as a Barrister in 1982 following a first degree in Languages (French and Russian), Law and Linguistics.  He moved from the law into the City, holding several senior management and executive positions in the National Westminster Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland – in Strategic Planning, Corporate Finance and latterly as Director of e-Commerce for the corporate bank. He ran an outsourcing business and a specialist internal consultancy providing market intelligence and competitor analysis.

He completed an MBA at Warwick University Business School in 1992 with distinction.  A former Chief Executive of the Institute of Administrative Management, he also holds a postgraduate diploma in Charity Management from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and South Bank University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chartered Banker, a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights. David is also a former Chairman of Governors of an HMC Independent school and is currently a Governor of the City of London School.

Harry Ogden is currently the managing director of Harrow School Enterprises Ltd, and has been involved with the company for many years. Responsible for all trading activity at Harrow School, he has a breadth of experience in the independent sector, working with partners in both international and UK markets. Harry has been the director of Harrow’s prestigious summer school for several years, and is responsible for operating all sports facilities as ‘dual use’ in addition to establishing Harrow School as a professional event centre in London, building the lettings sector and promoting the School as a film location. In his spare time, he enjoys travel, walking, sailing and reading.

Edward was educated at RGS Guildford and read Politics and Economics at Southampton University. He began his career in the Royal Navy, trained as a surface fleet Navigator and was appointed aide-de-camp to HRH The Princess Royal in 1996. Edward left the Royal Navy in 1998 to pursue a career in strategy and corporate finance initially with strategy consultants Monitor Group, then as COO of Corporate Ventures at BT, Director of International Strategy at Lloyds Bank and for 12 years an Operating Partner at Lloyds Bank’s Private Equity fund LDC, working with the senior management teams of investee companies to drive growth and improve operational efficiency. Edward joined St Edward’s as Bursar & COO in January 2020. He leads the financial and operational management of the School and of the charity’s commercial subsidiaries and operations, including St Edward’s School International. He is also responsible for Admissions, Fundraising, Partnerships and the School’s endowment fund. Beyond Teddies he is Chair of his local Parish Council and a Governor of St. Hugh’s School. He is also a keen sailor and cyclist and enjoys playing the bagpipes. His wife Victoria (who does not enjoy the bagpipes) is a teacher at New College School and they have four children and two very enthusiastic golden retrievers.

Michelle Catterson has been the Headteacher of Moon Hall School in Reigate, Surrey, for the last six years. Under her leadership the school numbers have grown to capacity, and the school has received a number of national awards for pupil personal development and best specialist provision.

Michelle is also Chair of the Board for the British Dyslexia Association and a member of two All-Party Parliamentary Groups working alongside MPs and representatives from the House of Lords.

Michelle is a strong advocate for education and particularly for those with SEN, ensuring that every child has access to the education they deserve

“Special Education Needs does not define an individual’s limits; but instead, it must be the starting point for discovering their unique strengths and aspirations.”

Charles has served as Deputy Head (Academic) at Blundell’s School for the past seven years. Blundell’s is a broadly non-selective, co-educational day and boarding school. Under Charles’ leadership of the academic program, the school’s A-Level results have risen significantly, with the proportion of A*-B grades improving from the mid-60% range to over 80% for each of the last two years. A-Level value-added performance is now approaching an impressive one grade per pupil per subject, and GCSE outcomes have also seen substantial improvement.

A standout achievement under Charles’ tenure is the progress made by pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Last year, all SEN pupils met or exceeded their ALIS-predicted grades at A-Level, showcasing the school’s commitment to providing tailored support and fostering academic success for every individual.

“Excellence in education begins with a commitment to the learning process. At Blundell’s, we focus on inspiring confidence and self-efficacy in every pupil. Strong learning foundations, coupled with relentless staff endorsement, ensure that outstanding outcomes naturally follow.”

Lucy Stephens is the founder and director of The New School – an innovative educational charity, which exists to shape a new approach to education and the student experience to create better outcomes for children, teachers and the wider community, and to explore ways to expand impact through online resources.

With a background in teaching, degrees in social psychology, nutritional therapy and herbal medicine, and experience working with marginalised young people at the Prince’s Trust, Lucy is determined that The New School will act as a catalyst to evolve the education system in the UK as well as building and sharing an evidence base so that more young people have the chance to fulfil their potential and go on to lead happy lives.

The New School collaborates with partners, including education leaders and universities, to conduct ground-breaking research that interrogates the building blocks of the current education model and explores avenues to improve it, in order to build a strong case for policy change.  The charity convenes interested parties from connected sectors, like health, likeminded educators, local and national authorities, and funding partners, to facilitate peer to peer learning and collaboration towards a common goal. Together, from a foundation of shared values and beliefs, the aim is to drive this movement forward and catalyse system change.

Originally from Moscow, I moved to the UK in 2000 and earned a BSc in Psychology from the University of Leeds. After completing a PGCE in Secondary Mathematics, I taught in a comprehensive school for six years before joining Queen Ethelburga’s in 2013.

Alongside teaching, I am KS4 Curriculum Leader, Learning Development Link, and Russian Liaison Officer, with experience in Pastoral support. My ADHD diagnosis and MSc in Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development deepened my commitment to neurodiversity advocacy and staff training. I believe in a holistic approach that considers the connections between neurodivergence, sleep, diet, physical health, and overall well-being.

Recently, I combined my passion for research and student support by facilitating a collaborative project with a university lecturer on Autism and Flow. Together, we are conducting participatory research on neurodivergent Flow in education, aiming to benefit both students and the wider neurodivergent community.

Sara Thrower began her career as a teacher of Modern Foreign Languages, after having
spent time as a VSO volunteer teacher in Vietnam and an English language teacher in Germany, working to develop a curriculum for younger children. Sara then took a break from teaching and spent several years leading and developing adventure tours throughout the world. She subsequently returned to teaching, joining the Virtual School for Looked After Children in the London Borough of Brent, as an Advisory Teacher for KS4/5, whilst studying part-time for a Master’s degree in Specific Learning Difficulties (Dyslexia) at the Institute of Education.

In 2015 Sara returned to her Yorkshire roots, taking up a teaching and assessing role in the Learning Development (LD) department at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate. In 2017 Sara gained the NASENCO qualification and later became the Head of Learning Development. Working within the Welfare team (comprising the Medical, Pastoral, Safeguarding and Learning Development teams) staff are developing student welfare at a strategic level and aiming to provide a holistic and bespoke approach to care. Sara’s role also involves developing the LD team and the specialisms of its staff members to meet the demands of the growing numbers of students with diverse SEND needs. Recent appointments within the LD team include a registered Speech and Language Therapist and a qualified SEND teacher with TESOL expertise. QE has a significant international community and Sara has a particular interest in meeting the needs of students with SEND who have English as an additional language.

Performance and wellbeing coach and the founder of youHQ, the school wellbeing app. Qualified sport and exercise scientist, trained in psychotherapy and hypnotherapy and over 20 years of business and business growth experience.

Marina Gardiner Legge is currently Vice President of the Girls Schools Association and Head at Oxford High School GDST, who were named Independent Girls’ School of the Year 2023.

Previous roles include 11 years in the State Sector, Head at Heathfield School since 2016, and Director of Studies for the three years previous. Providing strong leadership and a clear direction for the school, Marina focused on developing the very highest standards in teaching and learning during her headship, both of which were recognised in an excellent ISI Inspection in 2018 and again at Oxford High School in 2023.

Before turning her hand to education, Marina read English Language and Literature at Somerville College, inspiring a love of poetry that still burns brightly today. On completing her Oxford studies, she went on to work for a decade in advertising and marketing, before assuming the role of President at a charity for mothers based in Paris.

It wasn’t until she moved out to Hong Kong, several years later, that Marina discovered her passion for teaching and education, and made the decision to study to become a teacher.

A passionate believer in the power of girls-only education to change lives, Marina has been described by those who have had the pleasure of working with her as fiercely intelligent and a very capable and caring educationalist.

Katrina took on the headship at Kent College Pembury in January 2022, having been Senior Deputy Head and Acting Head at Nottingham Girls’ High School, GDST. A History teacher by training, following a degree in Economic and Social History at the University of Birmingham, Katrina values the importance of equipping students with the skills needed to make a positive impact on the world. Her Masters in Education, the GDST’s Aspiring Leadership Programme and the Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School have all provided a good grounding in school leadership, preparing her to take on the headship at Kent College.

Katrina believes in a learning environment which unlocks the potential of all though cutting-edge teaching and learning, an extensive enrichment programme and outstanding pastoral care, where all students can achieve above and beyond their potential. Her aim is to give students the opportunity to become resilient and compassionate leaders of the future, ready to take up their place in the world as considerate and kind global citizens.

A passionate advocate of championing young women, Katrina volunteers for the End Sexism In Schools grassroots campaign which aims to support girls and boys to fulfil their potential, without gendered expectations, in a safe and supportive environment.

Neil is the Director of Operations and Finance for The Russell School Trust, a group of schools in the UK and overseas.  Neil has been a Trustee for the Independent School Bursars Association and the Independent School’s Council, including being Chair of ISBA for 2 years.  Neil is an inspector for the Independent School’s Inspectorate and has been in his current role for 12 years.