Hi Everyone,

Last Thursday, I thoroughly enjoyed networking with more than seventy senior leaders from primary schools from around the country at a conference focused on one of the most talked-about topics in education right now: artificial intelligence. 

What struck me most during the day was the sense of curiosity and openness in the room. Many leaders were keen to understand how it can be used sensibly and safely to reduce workload, simplify communication, and enrich classroom practice. There were a number of superb speakers delivering sessions on a range of topics.

The over-arching message of the conference though was simple, articulated beautifully by Headteacher Antony David: AI is not about replacing teachers, it's about amplifying them.

My own talk focused on practical examples of tools that can save staff valuable time, making them more effective whilst supporting high-quality teaching.

You can find a recording of my talk further down in this newsletter. I hope you find it useful, and I’d love to hear your own experiences of experimenting with AI in your schools!

With all good wishes,

David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)

Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.

Find out more and book your place.

​This course has been devised for all those looking at applying for Headship. John Southworth, former chair of the ISA and a highly regarded recruiter in the sector, will set the scene in terms of what you personally need to do to prepare your application and find the right school for you. We will then go on to look at key topics that Heads need to know about; leadership, marketing, finance and HR. The final session will bring a panel of current Heads together for you.

If you are looking at applying for Headship this is the course for you to equip you with the skills required to help you secure your role and thrive in it.

​"Thank you for such a fabulous course. I applied for my first headship and have got it!" - Clare Cunningham, Headteacher, Yarrells School.

​The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. ISP Founder, David Winfield, delivered this 30 minute session on AI ideas and use cases for schools to a group school leaders at the Canva HQ, London, on Thursday. This recording was created the day after, exclusively for this newsletter. To watch the video, simply click here.

Hi Everyone,
It's never been a more challenging time for schools in terms of funding teaching resources against a backdrop of ever decreasing budgets. However, there is also a raft of organisations currently providing free resources to support schools. Here's 5 that you may not be aware of:

1. You can find numerous organisations providing free seeds and other gardening resources at the the Edina Trust.
2. Did you know that you can get a £250 voucher from the Lawn Tennis Association to spend on 10 hours of coaching or tennis equipment?
3. It's well worth registering for Monster Kickabout to get loads of free football equipment and teaching resources.
4. There is also a seemingly endless supply of free digital resources and software for schools - but if you haven't already done so, it's well worth signing up for a free Canva for Education account; incredibly powerful, increasingly utilising the power of AI and can genuinely have a transformational impact for pupils and teachers.
5. The Country Trust has an extensive list of grant opportunities for schools, especially for outdoor learning.

Finally, there are still a few places available for our upcoming conferences for school leaders in London and Harrogate - full information below. The programmes and speaker lists are outstanding, and with tickets priced at just £35 and £45 to cover costs, we're trying to do our bit to support you. Do sign up if you can spare the time out of school - it'd be great to welcome you in person!
All good wishes, David.
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

AI continues to develop at pace in terms of the solutions and problems it can create and solve in education. This means that it can be an overwhelming subject for schools and teachers. However, used well, it can be truly transformational.
There is an ever widening knowledge and skills gap between those who using AI strategically and to great effect and those using it poorly - or not at all. This one day event will bring together some of the leading experts in the sector to look at how YOUR school could use AI effectively and safely for the benefit of staff and children.
Programme Overview:
• Understanding the role AI can play in your school
• Managing and being aware of AI risks
• AI use cases to save teachers time
• Using AI to improve teaching and learning
• Developing your AI strategy and approach
Who should attend:
No prior knowledge is assumed – this really is an event for those who are beginning their AI journey would like to take their next steps. The leading experts delivering the sessions will offer practical insights, enabling each and every delegate to leave with key takeaways. These are:
• Being aware of what AI offers in terms of benefits and risks
• Know what is currently out there to help your school
• Understand what an AI strategy for your school could look like
The aim is to inspire attendees with a snapshot what is currently possible and how to safely navigate this developing area with increased confidence and understanding. Find out more and book your place.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)
Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.
Find out more and book

Hi Everyone,

I hope that you have had a brilliant summer holiday and that you've managed to successfully recharge your batteries? The new academic year is almost upon us and the Independent Schools Portal will be celebrating 10 years of supporting independent school leaders in February. Times have never been more challenging for our sector, but we will be putting on an outstanding programme of events to celebrate our 10th birthday.

We begin next Wednesday, September 3rd, with our FREE 2025 KCSIE update webinar, delivered by leading expert, Oliver Welsby FRSA. The session will focus on the key details that your school and teams need to be aware of - saving hours of reading. The session runs from 1930-2030 and you can reserve your free place by clicking here.

For those of you who are considering applying for headship this year, we will be running our annual six-session online preparing and applying for independent school headship course. This course which begins in November and always receives rave reviews - and we always get numerous thank you emails each year from course attendees who have secured their first headship. As well as the live sessions, you will also benefit from almost a dozen hours of recorded content and access to our expert network who will be able to offer personal guidance to you. Find out more and book your place here.

We are also delivering an AI conference at Canva HQ in Foxton Square, London (tickets only £35), whereas in October it is our Northern prep and primary leaders conference in Harrogate (tickets just £45). There aren't many spaces left at either event, so I recommend booking quickly if you're interested in either of these. As you'd expect, the programmes are outstanding and as you can probably tell from the pricing, we're one of the very few organisations running these events to give back to the sector, rather than to make a profit. More information below.

Lastly, don't forget that if you'd like to watch 6 short product demonstrations online during a weekday evening and share your thoughts on what you've seen (in return for a £40 Amazon voucher), I'd heartily recommend registering your interest with our sister organisation BlueCow Education here. If you've never tried these sessions - part product pitch, part market research - over 3000 leaders have given them a try over the last two years and they have a 100% recommendation rate, with 92% classing the evenings as CPD. They're really relaxed, fast paced and good fun, so do give one a go and I promise you won't regret it!
​
On that note, I hope that you have a great first few days back at the chalk face and look forward to supporting you this year through the Independent Schools Portal.
As ever,
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

AI continues to develop at pace in terms of the solutions and problems it can create and solve in education. This means that it can be an overwhelming subject for schools and teachers. However, used well, it can be truly transformational.
There is an ever widening knowledge and skills gap between those who using AI strategically and to great effect and those using it poorly - or not at all. This one day event will bring together some of the leading experts in the sector to look at how YOUR school could use AI effectively and safely for the benefit of staff and children.
Programme Overview:
• Understanding the role AI can play in your school
• Managing and being aware of AI risks
• AI use cases to save teachers time
• Using AI to improve teaching and learning
• Developing your AI strategy and approach
Who should attend:
No prior knowledge is assumed – this really is an event for those who are beginning their AI journey would like to take their next steps. The leading experts delivering the sessions will offer practical insights, enabling each and every delegate to leave with key takeaways. These are:
• Being aware of what AI offers in terms of benefits and risks
• Know what is currently out there to help your school
• Understand what an AI strategy for your school could look like
The aim is to inspire attendees with a snapshot what is currently possible and how to safely navigate this developing area with increased confidence and understanding. Find out more and book your place.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)
Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.
Find out more and book

Hi Everyone,

With almost all colleagues now firmly ensconced in the summer break, I just want to round off our final newsletter of the academic year by wishing you an enjoyable and restful holiday! Very much deserved.

If by any chance that you do get bored during the summer, don't forget that you can take advantage of a wealth of FREE CPD in the Independent Schools Portal YouTube channel - with over 100 hours of content spread across 115 videos - with topics such as inspection, leadership, strategic planning, creating a coaching culture, schools marketing and mental health to name but a few. Well worth checking out and subscribing so that you are notified as soon as new content goes live. Not that anything will be over the summer, mind, as we'll be taking a well-earned rest too!

Also, don't forget to also subscribe to next year's webinar series for independent school leaders and schools marketers.  All completely FREE as well.

Next year, we will be celebrating 10 years of the Independent Schools Portal. We begin September with an AI conference at Canva HQ in Foxton Square, London (tickets only £35), whereas in October it is our Northern prep and primary leaders conference in Harrogate (tickets just £45). There aren't many spaces left at either event, so I recommend booking quickly if you're interested in either of these. As you'd expect, the programmes are outstanding and as you can probably tell from the pricing, we're one of the very few organisations running these events to give back to the sector, rather than to make a profit. More information below.

Lastly, don't forget that if you'd like to watch 6 short product demonstrations online during a weekday evening and share your thoughts on what you've seen (in return for a £40 Amazon voucher), I'd heartily recommend registering your interest with our sister organisation BlueCow Education here. If you've never tried these sessions - part product pitch, part market research - I'd forgive you for thinking that they sound horrendous! However, over 3000 leaders have given them a try over the last two years and they have a 100% recommendation rate, with 92% classing the evenings as CPD. They're really relaxed, fast paced and good fun - so even if you're still sceptical and you're arching your eyebrow as you read this - do give one a go and I promise you won't regret it!

So that's it from me for this academic year - have a brilliant summer!

As ever,
​
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

AI continues to develop at pace in terms of the solutions and problems it can create and solve in education. This means that it can be an overwhelming subject for schools and teachers. However, used well, it can be truly transformational.

There is an ever widening knowledge and skills gap between those who using AI strategically and to great effect and those using it poorly - or not at all. This one day event will bring together some of the leading experts in the sector to look at how YOUR school could use AI effectively and safely for the benefit of staff and children.

Programme Overview:
• Understanding the role AI can play in your school
• Managing and being aware of AI risks
• AI use cases to save teachers time
• Using AI to improve teaching and learning
• Developing your AI strategy and approach

Who should attend:
No prior knowledge is assumed – this really is an event for those who are beginning their AI journey would like to take their next steps. The leading experts delivering the sessions will offer practical insights, enabling each and every delegate to leave with key takeaways. These are:

• Being aware of what AI offers in terms of benefits and risks
• Know what is currently out there to help your school
• Understand what an AI strategy for your school could look like

The aim is to inspire attendees with a snapshot what is currently possible and how to safely navigate this developing area with increased confidence and understanding. Find out more and book your place.

I​nnovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)
Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.

Hi Everyone,

With schools now beginning to break up for the summer, I'd like to draw your attention to the READING ALOUD CHALLENGE, which we at BlueCow Education and the Independent Schools Portal are passionate supporters of.

This initiative, now in it's 3rd year, aims to keep children reading over the summer break and is completely free of charge. It gamifies reading, allows schools to compete with each other locally and nationally, and fosters a love of reading. Click here to find out more.

Our friends at Pageticker have also produced a summer reading list for parents and teachers. If you'd like access to this, click here.

Places are rapidly selling out at out Northern Primary Leaders conference in Harrogate (October 17th) and at our AI Conference at Canva HQ, London (25th September). If you are interested in attending one of these events, I'd definitely recommend signing up sooner rather than later to guarantee your place. More information below.

Finally, Emma Ralph delivered a superb 45 minute webinar this week on Promoting ownership of writing in early years and key stage one. The session was recorded and you can now watch it here.
I hope that you find all this of use.
​
With all good wishes,
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

​AI continues to develop at pace in terms of the solutions and problems it can create and solve in education. This means that it can be an overwhelming subject for schools and teachers. However, used well, it can be truly transformational.

There is an ever widening knowledge and skills gap between those who using AI strategically and to great effect and those using it poorly - or not at all. This one day event will bring together some of the leading experts in the sector to look at how YOUR school could use AI effectively and safely for the benefit of staff and children.

Programme Overview:
• Understanding the role AI can play in your school
• Managing and being aware of AI risks
• AI use cases to save teachers time
• Using AI to improve teaching and learning
• Developing your AI strategy and approach

Who should attend:
No prior knowledge is assumed – this really is an event for those who are beginning their AI journey would like to take their next steps. The leading experts delivering the sessions will offer practical insights, enabling each and every delegate to leave with key takeaways. These are:

• Being aware of what AI offers in terms of benefits and risks
• Know what is currently out there to help your school
• Understand what an AI strategy for your school could look like

The aim is to inspire attendees with a snapshot what is currently possible and how to safely navigate this developing area with increased confidence and understanding. Find out more and book your place.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)

Programme:

0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.

Find out more and book.

Hi Everyone,
​
The seismic impact of AI is already beginning to be felt across society with leaders and professionals rapidly trying to formulate strategies to harness it's power for good - with practical use cases - whilst mitigating the potential risks of a technology so powerful that it has the potential to transform human society beyond all recognition.

The impact on Education has already been profound - rewiring pedagogy, teaching and learning, assessment, reporting, planning, safeguarding, governance and finance - and things are only just getting started. Educators such as Dan Fitzpartrick, Darren Coxon and Executive Headteacher Anthony David have been in the vanguard of this revolution, shining a light so that others can more confidently follow.

In order to offer further support to schools, we're delivering an AI conference at the Canva HQ in Foxton Square, London on the 25th September - and Anthony David is the keynote speaker. Given the importance of the subject and to ensure as many schools as possible can participate, we are delivering this event at cost - with tickets priced at just £35 including lunch and refreshments.
The full programme is below and I hope that you can join us.
​
Very best wishes,
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

AI continues to develop at pace in terms of the solutions and problems it can create and solve in education. This means that it can be an overwhelming subject for schools and teachers. However, used well, it can be truly transformational.

There is an ever widening knowledge and skills gap between those who using AI strategically and to great effect and those using it poorly - or not at all. This one day event will bring together some of the leading experts in the sector to look at how YOUR school could use AI effectively and safely for the benefit of staff and children.

Programme Overview:
• Understanding the role AI can play in your school
• Managing and being aware of AI risks
• AI use cases to save teachers time
• Using AI to improve teaching and learning
• Developing your AI strategy and approach

Who should attend:
No prior knowledge is assumed – this really is an event for those who are beginning their AI journey would like to take their next steps. The leading experts delivering the sessions will offer practical insights, enabling each and every delegate to leave with key takeaways. These are:

• Being aware of what AI offers in terms of benefits and risks
• Know what is currently out there to help your school
• Understand what an AI strategy for your school could look like
​
The aim is to inspire attendees with a snapshot what is currently possible and how to safely navigate this developing area with increased confidence and understanding.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)
​
Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.

The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. This week's featured video from the archive is an introduction to AI. Using AI in your teaching and equipping pupils with the skills to know how and when to use it themselves is vital. This session was written and presented by leading expert Darren Coxon. Darren speaks regularly around the world on this subject. Watch now.

Hi Everyone,

This week saw the conclusion of our free series of webinars for the 24/25 academic year with a talk on Menopause in Schools by Helen Clare. Huge thanks are due to Brightcore Training & Consultancy and Applicaa for sponsoring the series for school leaders and for school marketers respectively; it is only through their amazing support that we are able to make this vital CPD completely free of charge. I'd also like to thank Alicia Coad, my fabulous (and long suffering!) colleague here at the ISP, for putting together the programmes and making sure things have run smoothly.

As I'm sure most of you are aware, all of the sessions are recorded - and are available to access below (use the password ISP2025):

School Leaders: 1. KCSIE 2024 update 2. Equality, diversity and inclusion in independent schools 3. Building resilience in you and your workplace 4. The changing landscape of mental health in schools 5. Menopause in schools. Access all of the videos here.

School Marketers: 1. Sales tips for independent schools 2. An introduction to school development 3. Driving synergy and adding value with a well-formed co-commercial strategy 4. Master iPhones for marketing 5. Bursary and admissions policies: Ensuring they are efficient, transparent and robust 6. Menopause in schools. Access all of the videos here.

The programmes for 25/26 have almost been finalised and will be launched shortly.

I'd also like to draw your attention to our northern primary leaders conference which takes place in Harrogate on the 17th October. Now in it's 3rd year, it is that rarest of beasts, a conference that has been designed to bring together 100 senior leaders from both the state and independent sectors. It features the latest updates, cutting edge pedagogy and hands-on practical sessions, as well as being a valuable opportunity to network with colleagues. Early-bird tickets start at just £45+VAT (this includes lunch and refreshments). There is further information below and I hope that you can join us in person in the Autumn term.
​
Very best wishes,
David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

This is an opportunity to take part in a 30 minute demo of
Quest Progress (by Atom Learning), that is setting a new standard in progress testing and attainment tracking for independent schools.

Designed for Years 1-8, Quest Progress covers English, Maths, Science, Cognitive Abilities, Wellbeing & Attitudes, offering both digital (with instant marking) and paper-based assessments (with simple marking tools). Every assessment delivers detailed, diagnostic reports, giving you valuable insights at the pupil, class, and year group level.

They’re looking to speak with senior leaders in prep schools (not part of larger education groups e.g. Dukes, ILG), who are open to trialling a new approachto progress assessments and attainment tracking.

In return for a 30-minute 1:1 demonstration, you’ll receive a free trial of Quest Progress for your school - and a £25 Amazon voucher upon attending the session and completing a short feedback form.

If you’re interested, book your demonstration here.

Innovate, Inspire and Improve in 2025. Friday 17th October 2025, Crowne Plaze, Harrogate. £45+VAT (Early bird tickets)
Programme:
0930 - KEYNOTE. Current trends in the education sector. June Stevenson, Teacher Tapp.
1010 - Barrowford Primary School: From agape to sonder with a cwtch. Rachel Tomlinson, Head, Barrowford Primary School.
1050 - Coffee and exhibition.
1115 - KCSIE and safeguarding in the digital age. Ann Marie Christian.
1200 - Case studies and scenarios. Simon Blower.
1230 - Lunch and exhibition.
1330 - AI in Action. Martin Bailey.
1410 - KEYNOTE. Promoting inclusivity in schools, Baasit Siddiqui.
1450 - Parental engagement: Getting it right, Rachael Wilding.
1525 - Questions and close.
Find out more and book

The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. This week's featured video from the archive discusses what it is like to move to an international school. This webinar is written and presented by Ian Walker, former Head of Physics at Dulwich College (Singapore).  This is a rare opportunity to gain an insight from someone who has been through the process - and isn't trying to recruit you! If moving to an International School is something that is of vague interest we really would recommend you watch this session. Watch Now.

Hi Everyone,

As the end of the academic year approaches, many staff and school leaders will be reflecting on their professional progress and considering the next steps in their career development. As always, we will be running our highly acclaimed online course in November and December for Senior Leaders who are considering Headship (more information about this in future weeks) - but I also want to draw your attention to a superb talk from our video archive on moving to an international school. This was written and delivered by Ian Walker, who moved to Dulwich College (Singapore) to become Head of Physics. Unusually for a talk of this type, he is not attempting to recruit anyone - it is simply his unvarnished experience of moving to, working in and returning from an international school. If you are interested in working abroad in this way, this is highly recommended viewing - see below.

Also, if you have an interest in assessment, Atom Learning are seeking Prep School Leaders (in schools that aren't part of part of a larger group) or British International Schools to take part and feed back on a 1:1 demo with their assessment product, Quest. In return for your feedback, a £25 Amazon voucher will be shared with you. Again, see below for more information.

As ever, I hope that you find this of use and have a great week,

David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

This is an opportunity to take part in a 30 minute demo of
Quest Progress (by Atom Learning), that is setting a new standard in progress testing and attainment tracking for independent schools.

Designed for Years 1-8, Quest Progress covers English, Maths, Science, Cognitive Abilities, Wellbeing & Attitudes, offering both digital (with instant marking) and paper-based assessments (with simple marking tools). Every assessment delivers detailed, diagnostic reports, giving you valuable insights at the pupil, class, and year group level.

They’re looking to speak with senior leaders in prep schools (not part of larger education groups e.g. Dukes, ILG), who are open to trialling a new approachto progress assessments and attainment tracking.

In return for a 30-minute 1:1 demonstration, you’ll receive a free trial of Quest Progress for your school - and a £25 Amazon voucher upon attending the session and completing a short feedback form.

If you’re interested, book your demonstration here.

Menopause in Schools. Online. Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 1230.
How do perimenopause and menopause cause particular challenges for those who work in our schools? How can they help themselves and how can we support them through this transition so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love without a cost to their health and we don't lose their talents and experience?

Delivered by Helen Clare. Helen helps schools and teachers deal with challenges that arise due to perimenopause and menopause. She does this through talks, workshops, support groups, 1 to 1 and group mentoring, manager and menopause champion training, courses and policy and strategy support. An ex-biology teacher and life-long biology geek, she has also worked in schools as a poet and artist and as part of her work for Creative Partnerships and Arts Council England. Helen is also an ICF trained coach and an associate of the British Menopause Society. Book your place.

​The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. This week's featured video from the archive discusses what it is like to move to an international school. This webinar is written and presented by Ian Walker, former Head of Physics at Dulwich College (Singapore).  This is a rare opportunity to gain an insight from someone who has been through the process - and isn't trying to recruit you! If moving to an International School is something that is of vague interest we really would recommend you watch this session. Watch Now.

Hi Everyone,

Having successfully navigated the half-term break, we've once again reached the crescendo of the school year; long golden days of school sport, school plays, overheating classrooms, speech days, reports, residential trips and staff and pupil farewells... a glorious time before we all can relax and wait for the heavens to open for the best part of 6 weeks!

Aside for the inclement weather, the Summer is of course famous for pupils' academic regression, or summer slide, so I wanted to let you know about the Sunshine Squad that is being delivered by Edsidera. Their summer programme of learning brings together some of the leading education companies including White Rose Education, Pobble, Monster Phonics to name but a few. If your parents are looking for a way to keep their children learning over the Summer, they could do worse than get some support from the Sunshine Squad. You can download the flyer here for your parents - a great way to stop the Summer slide!

Also, I came across a brilliant white paper last week about building strong maths foundations in the early years and beyond. It explores why early numeracy deserves strategic focus and how the right digital tools can help close gaps, build confidence and set children up for lifelong learning. Designed for MAT leaders and primary school Headteachers, it’s packed with practical insights and evidence-based recommendations. You can access it here.

As ever, I hope that you find all of this of use and that you have a good week.

David
---
David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal

Menopause in Schools. Online. Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 1230.
How do perimenopause and menopause cause particular challenges for those who work in our schools? How can they help themselves and how can we support them through this transition so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love without a cost to their health and we don't lose their talents and experience?

Delivered by Helen Clare. Helen helps schools and teachers deal with challenges that arise due to perimenopause and menopause. She does this through talks, workshops, support groups, 1 to 1 and group mentoring, manager and menopause champion training, courses and policy and strategy support. An ex-biology teacher and life-long biology geek, she has also worked in schools as a poet and artist and as part of her work for Creative Partnerships and Arts Council England. Helen is also an ICF trained coach and an associate of the British Menopause Society. Book your place.

​The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. This week's featured video from the archive helps school leaders keep up to date with the current laws pertinent to UK Schools. This webinar is written and presented by Alice Reeve, Partner at VWV.  In this talk, she focuses on: • April 2025 Changes • Neonatal Care Leave and Pay • Sexual Harassment - 6 Months Since Preventative Duty • Employment Rights Bill. Watch Now.

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Dear Colleague,
I'm grateful to Hayley Sherwood of 1Decision for bringing to my attention their amazing fully-funded pupil personal development service, pupil knowledge tracker and provision audit tool for schools. They have received funding to share these tools and resources with schools and they have just opened a school waiting list - you can find out more and reserve a place for your school below; this really is an amazing opportunity!
In addition to this, our very own Alicia Coad recently spoke at the ISA Heads conference on the subject of "Authentic Marketing". As part of this Alicia conducted an online survey with parents asking them how and why they chose a school. The survey reached over 2000 parents from over 250 different independent schools. The response was far greater than we expected and so we have published the results to share with the sector. If you would like a free copy of the report please request one here. This really is incredible intel as to what parents are thinking and doing when choosing a school. Its also interesting to note the phenomenal response to the survey that was distributed via WhatsApp and Facebook only - showing the enormous power of social media!
We also have a free early years / key stage one webinar taking place on the 11th June that is being delivered by the inventor of Mighty Writer, Emma Ralph, as well as a webinar on Menopause in Schools that is being presented by Helen Clare. Again, see below for more information and to reserve your space. Thanks as ever to Brightcore Training & Consultancy for their sponsorship so that we can make these events free of charge.
Finally, our sister organisation BlueCow Education has just released some new dates in May and June for the paid online product demonstrations and market research. This is where you watch 6 short presentations over 90 minutes during an evening whilst filling in a feedback form - and you receive a £40 Amazon voucher as thanks on the night. Over 2500 school leaders have participated so far and the sessions have a 100% recommendation rate - with 92% classing the evenings as CPD.
If you'd like to find out more and participate, you can do so by clicking this link: https://www.bluecoweducation.com/events.html
As ever, I hope that you find all of this of use and that you have a good week.
David
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David Winfield
Founder, Independent Schools Portal.

Following their 2024 Teach Primary Award win, 1decision has secured additional funding to support even more schools with a brand-new, fully funded service—designed to enhance personal development across primary education.
This opportunity is available to all schools—regardless of the PSHE or RSHE resources they currently use.
Due to overwhelming demand, the team have now opened the waitlist for an additional 250 primary schools to benefit from this free offer.
The fully funded subscription service is powered by innovative software and helps schools identify strengths and uncover areas for improvement in their personal development provision. It delivers insightful pupil data and supports high-quality planning--without impacting school budgets.
The Personal Development Service includes:
Pupil Knowledge Tracker Software
This pioneering tool enables schools to assess the knowledge of pupils in Years 5 and 6 through two short quizzes, offering clear insights into where pupils are excelling and where further support may be needed.
Key features: • 2 × 25-minute personal development quizzes • Cohort-level data reports for year group comparisons • Detailed question analysis reports to guide future planning
Provision Audit Tool
A reflective tool designed to support senior leaders in evaluating their existing personal development provision. The audit offers thought-provoking questions and generates valuable insights to celebrate success and inform strategic improvements. Audit focus areas: • Leadership and management • Delivery • Sex education (if applicable) • Assessment, monitoring and evaluation • Strategic planning for the year ahead
Already making an impact in schools across the country, this fully funded service offers a unique opportunity for primary settings to strengthen outcomes in personal development and prepare pupils for a confident transition to secondary school.
Schools are encouraged to join the waitlist today to avoid missing out on this limited opportunity.
Sign up today - https://www.1decision.co.uk/resources/personal-development-audit

Promoting the ownership of children's writing in Early Years and Key Stage One. Online. Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 1930. This session will look at how we can promote and encourage ownership of writing in children from a young age. The creation of independent writers is so important and encourages life long learning. This session will give you ideas to inspire your children through child led writing activities.
Speaker: Emma Ralph, Founder, Mighty Writer.
Emma Ralph is a highly experienced teacher and Assistant Head with a flair for helping children to maximise their abilities. She developed the highly-acclaimed literacy resource, Mighty Writer, which was launched at The Education Show in 2016. Book your place.

Menopause in Schools. Online. Wednesday 11th June 2025 at 1230. How do perimenopause and menopause cause particular challenges for those who work in our schools? How can they help themselves and how can we support them through this transition so that they can keep on doing the jobs they love without a cost to their health and we don't lose their talents and experience?
Delivered by Helen Clare. Helen helps schools and teachers deal with challenges that arise due to perimenopause and menopause. She does this through talks, workshops, support groups, 1 to 1 and group mentoring, manager and menopause champion training, courses and policy and strategy support. An ex-biology teacher and life-long biology geek, she has also worked in schools as a poet and artist and as part of her work for Creative Partnerships and Arts Council England. Helen is also an ICF trained coach and an associate of the British Menopause Society. Book your place.

The ISP has a huge selection of videos to support school leaders on the ISP YouTube Channel. This week's featured video from the archive helps school leaders keep up to date on the trends in mental health. This webinar is written and presented by Ollie Welsby from Brightcore who works with schools across the country. He will give you an insight into the current state of affairs, together with tips as to how your school can best handle the current challenges. Watch Now.