Earlier this month, Runnymede College Prep School was proud to host the first IAPS International Conference. This leadership symposium was designed to bring together school Heads and SENDCos from schools around Europe, as a way of sharing good practice and building camaraderie in the District Europe sector. It was a privilege to welcome Sarah Greig, CEO of the Repton Group to be the Keynote Speaker for the Heads, and Dr Katharine Sharpe for the SENDCos. Delegates were treated to a day of lectures on leadership from different angles, solo music performances from 6 of Runnymede’s top Prep School musicians, a tour of the campus including the new Sports Zone, and a delicious traditional lunch of Jamón Ibérico, Paella and Cocido Madrileño.
Our Sector (British Education in Europe) is very much in the thoughts of schools in the UK, and in the minds of parents considering new options. Many parents who have traditionally looked to the UK independent sector for its exceptional standards are now considering alternatives—whether because of the post-Brexit landscape, changes in mobility, or the financial pressures created by policy decisions the government might be making – such as VAT on school fees. Whatever the reasons, families are exploring European options with a seriousness we have not seen before.
Therefore, never has there been a more important time for British international schools to stand confidently together—to demonstrate that we are not simply an echo of the UK system, but vibrant, innovative, outward-looking communities that uphold the very best of British educational values while being deeply integrated into our own national cultures. This conference, along with the new professional friendships formed, and the renewed sense of the global dimension of the IAPS, reminded us of the strength that lies in a shared purpose.
