Independent Education Expo
Programme of Seminar Theatre Presentations
Friday 30 September |
|
| 10.30 am - 11.00 am |
An 'adventurous' curriculum for a modern worldPresented by Alex McGrath, Head of Leighton Park School
|
| 11.15 am - 11.45 am |
What do we really want our schools to do?Presented by Dr Stephen Winkley, Head of Rossall School and former Chairman of the Boarding Schools’ Association
|
| 12 midday - 12.30 pm |
Spirituality – the values and ethos of an independent educationPresented by Sue Freestone, Head of King’s School Ely
|
| 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm |
How to choose the right school: some dos and don’tsPresented by Kenneth Durham, Chairman of the HMC and Head of University College School
|
| 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm |
Why go boarding?Presented by Julian Johnson-Munday, Head of Culford School
|
| 3.00 pm - 3.30 pm |
Choosing the right independent schoolPresented by Niall Browne, Gabbitas |
Saturday 1 October |
|
| 10.30 am - 11.00 am |
Top grades are not enough: what more do I have to do?Presented by Mark Love, Principal of CATS College London
|
| 11.15 am - 11.45 am |
Choosing the right independent schoolPresented by Niall Browne, Gabbitas
|
| 12 midday - 12.30 pm |
Understanding the A level systemPresented by Andrew Gillespie, Director of Studies at d'Overbroeck's College
|
| 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm |
Transforming lives - an innovative approach to bursariesPresented by Patrick Derham, Head of Rugby School
|
| 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm |
Single sex or co-ed? - The big debatePresented by Dorothy MacGinty, Head of St Francis' College
|
| 2:15 pm – 2:45 pm |
Which school? The questions you need to ask before making your choicePresented by Patrick Atkinson, Head at Beechwood Park School |
Seminar information alphabetically by title:
An 'adventurous' curriculum for a modern world
Presented by Alex McGrath, Head at Leighton Park School
Education has traditionally been built on the needs of a manufacturing society. But today's world is changing and therefore the skills and knowledge pupils need must change to reflect those new needs. Pupils thrive on a curriculum reflecting these needs and changes.
If pupils are engaged in the curriculum and lessons, and understand their relevance to our modern society they are more likely to work hard and in return gain better exam results.
Choosing the right independent school
Presented by Niall Browne, Gabbitas Education
Choosing the right independent school is one of the most difficult decisions parents have to make. This seminar will discuss some of the things parents might like to consider and will explain the range of services that Gabbitas Education offer to help parents overcome this daunting task.
How to choose the right school: some dos and don'ts
Presented by Kenneth Durham, Chairman of the HMC and Head at University College School
Choosing the right school for your son or daughter can seem a truly daunting process. This seminar aims to offer practical advice to parents and to children about how to go about it and the pitfalls to avoid.
Single sex or co-ed? – the big debate
Presented by Dorothy MacGinty, Head at St. Francis' College
Boys and girls learn differently, but since the 1960s Britain has largely moved to a co-educational model. Is this single approach to teaching both sexes fair to all or can single sex education be good for both boys and girls not only in terms of academic success but also in breaking down gender stereotypes.
Spirituality – the values and ethos of an independent education
Presented by Sue Freestone, Head at King's School Ely
What is spirituality and where does it lie?
Are ethos and values dependant on a spiritual dimension?
What, if anything, do independent schools have to offer and how can we articulate what it is?
This seminar explores these key questions in the context of independent school education in the 21st Century.
Transforming lives – an innovative approach to bursaries
Presented by Patrick Derham, Head at Rugby School
If bursary schemes are to transform lives, they must do more than just help out with school fees. Lots of schools provide bursaries but this seminar will explore a radically different approach to bursaries and a scheme that is achieving so much more than simply helping out with school fees.
This seminar will talk about the background to the Arnold Foundation, the lessons that have been learnt and why other schools and institutions are keen to learn from Rugby's experience.
Top grades are not enough: what more do I have to do?
Presented by Mark Love, Principal at CATS College London
As the percentage of school leavers achieving top grades increases, universities are looking to wider criteria to determine who receives the much coveted offers, but it is often not clear what they want. This seminar will discuss the options for students to broaden their academic and extra-curricular CVs with a view to top
university places.
Understanding the A level system
Presented by Andrew Gillespie, Director of Studies at d'Overbroeck's College
Are A levels still the gold standard? This is an issue hotly debated, with rival qualifications competing for students' and parents' attention. At the same time A levels remain by far the most popular sixth form qualification.
This seminar will discuss the advantages of the A level system and explore some significant developments of recent years. It will also cover factors that are vital to consider when choosing the A level system; in particular the choice of subjects in relation to university and career aspirations.
What do we really want our schools to do?
Presented by Dr Stephen Winkley, Head at Rossall School and former Chairman of the Boarding Schools' Association
Dr Winkley, who has more than 40 years' experience in boarding schools, argues that what schools do well can't be measured. We are not a branch of the accountancy industry, but are concerned with getting kids to grow.
Which school? The questions you need to ask before making your choice
Presented by Patrick Atkinson, Head at Beechwood Park School
This seminar will pose the questions that parents need to have answered by schools as well as the questions that parents need to ask of themselves before selecting an independent school.
Why go boarding?
Presented by Julian Johnson-Munday, Head at Culford School
A look at some of the reasons that boarding continues to survive and, indeed, thrive in the 21st Century; and four crucial contributions boarding can make to the education and development of a child.
