Working Together - Education Symposium 2025 

In October school leaders and educationalists came together alongside school governors for a frank conversation about the value of governance.

When we introduce the Haberdashers’ family of schools, we often start by saying that “if the aim was to design a portfolio of schools that are as different as possible…then this is what it would probably look like”. So, the remit for the annual Education Symposium – which is the flagship event of the Haberdashers’ Advantage Working Together programme – is demanding. It must add value for professionals, governors and trustees working across ancient schools and new schools, whether they serve highly disadvantaged student populations or international boarders. It must justify the time of busy people. It must leave a lasting impact.  

This year we focused on Culture and Strategy – starting with an after dinner call to action from Adrian Walcott.  Next day, over a hundred staff and governors met to share cross sector inspiration. We began by exploring teaching culture to understand motivation of teaching staff and leaders. Key moments from this session were: Laura McInerney’s Teacher Tapp data that over 80% of teachers nationally enjoyed working last week and are proud of the job they do,  Jan Shadick’s “Inclusion starts with an I” , Brynley Evans’ point that strategy can be what to stop doing rather than adding new initiatives and Marie Carrick’s emphasis on a sense of progression and belonging.  We will none of us forget Gus Lock’s emphasis on teacher passion for their subject and the impact this has on young people “Some teachers go the extra mile, because they really care not just about us, but about the subject. Because it matters to them”. 

In the afternoon we explored governance – why non-executives do what they do and what their focus on global context and long-term strategy contributes. Dr Errord Jarrett emphasised governors’ roles in connecting with schools’ communities. He stressed the value of a sense of belonging to the Haberdashers’ family in an environment where young people feel a sense of social dislocation. Dr Monica Khanna reflected on the governors’ desire to contribute to society. Michael Bennett contextualised the accountability of governors as acting “honestly; reasonably; in good faith”. Simon Cartmell and Helen Rosenthorn reflected that “true collaboration, mutual trust and respect” between executive and non-executive can break down the “them and us” divide and create the truly effective “team of us”.