Edition Overview

What an extraordinary time this has been for all involved in education. As we write this edition of CANVAS, we are looking ahead to an uncertain future and there is no major sector or section of society which has remained untouched. Education and its provision, however, has faced unparalleled disruption on a global scale, right through from infant care through to tertiary learning. The response to this across the educational spectrum could be considered remarkable both in its pace and level of innovation with the changes to the delivery of teaching, and the collaboration across schools and sectors for the benefit of young people. In a sector so full of passion and pride, where learners always come first, there has been extraordinary commitment from so many during the pandemic.

Leadership has been paramount, from Heads and their senior teams as well as from governing Boards. The need for collaboration right across the educational gamut, as well as within individual organisations, has placed teamwork and communication at the heart of all it is doing. To know your team well and understand how they operate, particularly when under pressure, is significant and this is an area where we continue to offer support to our Schools community.

The rapidly increased use of existing technology, as well as adoption of new platforms and systems, has been a learning curve for all but one that has enabled many of the innovative approaches in learning to happen. This will be one of the key areas where we continue to see development, opportunity and innovation across this sector.

There remain significant challenges ahead, and there is no doubt that the need for change will continue at pace. At the heart of it all, however, remains school communities, and collaborative leadership must be central to these. We need to identify and support leaders who can drive that innovation, embrace the future and forge a path together with their teams to deliver the greatest benefits to their respective communities. We at Saxton Bampfylde salute all those who have worked tirelessly to do this.

To share his thoughts on these areas, we were delighted to hear from Julian Drinkall, CEO at Academies Enterprise Trust, as he considers the impacts of the recent pandemic on his own schools including the support they have needed and perhaps more importantly the strength they have shown. Julian considers how innovations that were made pre-Covid have positively impacted on the governance and collaborative capabilities for the schools. He firmly believes these have ensured resilience and ongoing endurance – absolutely what this sector will need going forward.

In a crisis, leadership is needed but is also scrutinised and questioned more than ever. This puts substantial pressure on executives while also raising the risk assessment requirements at non-executive level. The past few months have seen a shift, indeed for some a rather sharp one, in the response from Boards of Governors and Trustees across the education sphere. Our Chairman and Partner Stephen Bampfylde outlines his observations as to what this means and how this function has evolved and the increased sharing of pressure and responsibility whilst still empowering the Head and Executive team to deliver day to day.

To follow on from this we hear from Cassandra Woolgar, Partner and Occupational Psychologist in our Leadership Services practice, as she considers how to enhance and support positive responses from leaders. She explores some of the key methodologies and assessments that can be used to help identify and nurture leaders’ strengths to deliver the greatest success for themselves, their teams and the wider school communities they are supporting.

We are also very pleased to share our Partner Perspective, offering a closer glimpse into the work and thoughts of David, who works very closely across much of our Schools practice work.

We do hope you enjoy this edition and welcome any feedback you may have.

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Building Together for the Future: Expanding and evolving the leadership pool

Beyond Innovation: How Multi-Academy Trusts are reimagining educational leadership

RBG Kew announces new Director of Gardens

Emanuela Tarizzo appointed Director of Frieze Masters

Tom Adeyoola appointed to lead Innovate UK

Welcoming Dame Ruth May: Strengthening leadership insight in our Health Sector

Professor Karen Stanton Announced as UAL’s permanent Vice Chancellor

MSSC Welcomes New Chief Executive, Guy Holloway

Margaret Obi appointed as House of Lords Commissioner for Standards

Cyber Security: Complacency is the biggest risk – An evening with Eddie Hawthorne & Jude McCorry

Professor Sir Ian Chapman appointed next CEO of UK Research and Innovation

Is AI displacing your value as a non-executive in the boardroom? An Interview with Eugene Sadler-Smith

George Heriot’s School Appoints new Head of Senior School

Saxton Bampfylde Announces Leadership Evolution with New CEO and Board Appointments

Building Together for the Future: Priorities for the next decade

Nurturing future leaders: Irfan Latif, Head of Royal Hospital School

New CEO appointed for the Glasgow Clan and the Braehead Arena

Partner Movements: Experiences and Reflections – The Lawyer Practice Analysis in collaboration with Saxton Bampfylde

Legal Leaders Dinner: Transformation and AI in the Legal Sector

Elizabeth Honer CB becomes the new Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Dance

Pilvi Kalhama appointed Director of Finland’s New Museum of Architecture and Design

Glasgow Academy announces new Head of Senior School.

Welcoming Nick Ricketts: Strengthening Leadership in the Social Impact Sector

British Museum appoints new Director of Collections

Non-executive director appointments at Guy’s and St Thomas’

Orbit appoints two customer non-executive directors to its Group Board

Resilience and Renewal: Navigating Challenges and Change in the Charity Sector in 2024

Orbit announces appointment of new Group Board Chair

Trent College appoints new Head of The Elms from September 2025

Creative Education Trust appoints Nicole McCartney as new Chief Executive

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

University of Manchester appoints Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Jane Rowlands appointed Head of Museums and Collections for Glasgow Life

Levi Roots appointed Chair Designate of Brixton House

Three new members appointed to University of Manchester’s Board of Governors

VIVID enhances Board further with new non-executive members

What will healthcare look like over the coming decade? Interview with Tim Whittlestone

Building Together for the Future: A post-budget insight

New Head for the Birkdale Family of Schools

Coram appoints Professor Sir Ivor Crewe as President and Chair

Helpforce appoints Amerjit Chohan as new Chief Executive

Ardingly Announces New Chair of Governors

Anu Giri appointed as new Executive Director of English National Ballet

Chineke! Foundation Welcomes Seven New Trustees

James Brining announced as The Royal Lyceum Edinburgh’s new Artistic Director

Black History Month series: Music, Literature, Film and More!

Wellingborough School appoints New Headmaster

Building Together for the Future: Industry obstacles and how we can challenge them together

Tilly Blyth joins Weald & Downland Living Museum as new Director

“Good is not good enough, you have to want to be great” – An evening with Scottish Rugby legends Chris Paterson MBE and Stuart McInally on Leadership

British Museum appoints new Managing Director and Director of Finance

David Isaac CBE Appointed as New Chair of the Henry Moore Foundation

University of Brighton appoints new Vice-Chancellor

Professor Damien Page announced as next Vice-Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Bletchley Park Trust

Andy Street announced as Birmingham Rep’s new Chair of the Board of Trustees

John Whitgift Foundation appoints new CEO

FCA and PRA appoint new Chair of the FSCS

University of Glasgow announces Professor Andy Schofield as new Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Nurturing future leaders: Jane Gotts, Chair of The Glasgow Academy

Alan Cumming appointed new Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre

Worksop College and Ranby House announces new Headmaster

Building Together for the Future: A series of insights from friends of the firm and long standing leaders across the Built Environment

What will healthcare look like over the coming decade? Interview with Haris Sultan

Jo Ogilvy rejoins Saxton Bampfylde as Consultant in the Schools’ Practice

Transforming Legal Services: Isabel Parker on AI, Innovation, and the Future of Law Firms

Nurturing future leaders: Interview with Emma Taylor, Warden and CEO of Dean Close Foundation

Claire Tao to lead Forest School as new Warden in September 2025

Steering the family business forward: Interview with Neil Davy, Chief Executive Officer at Family Business UK

Sandie Okoro OBE appointed as first female Chancellor of the University of Birmingham

SXSW London reveals key management team appointments

RSA announces Loyd Grossman CBE as Chair of the Board of Trustees

University of Chichester announces appointment of new Vice-Chancellor

DFN Project SEARCH appoints learning disability expert Kirsty Matthews as new Chief Executive

Jonathan Shaw appointed as new Headmaster of Ellesmere College

Elizabeth Newman appointed as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres

Queen Mary’s School Announces New Head for 2025

Canterbury Christ Church University appoints Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost

Steering the family business forward: Interview with Gouy Hamilton-Fisher, Director Colleagues & Support, Timpson Group

Canford School appoints Chris Wheeler as new Head

Jewish Museum London appoints Sally Angel as new Chief Executive

Foundling Museum announces new Chair

The White Horse Federation appoints CEO

Social Mobility Day 2024

Concern Worldwide (UK) appoints new Executive Director

Richard Greenhalgh succeeded by Christian Brodie as Chair of United Learning’s Group Board

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew announces Susan Raikes as Director of Wakehurst

Standing Together: Saxton Bampfylde Celebrates Pride Month

We have moved! Our new London location

Managing Risk in Professional Services: It’s not just about protecting the firm, but enabling it – Interview with Alastair Levy

Crystal Palace Park Trust welcomes Victoria Pinnington as new CEO

Nadia Fall appointed as new Artistic Director of The Young Vic Theatre

How lawyers are coming to terms with their own ‘Now and Then’

Nicola Dudley announced as new Head of Queen Margaret’s School for Girls

Gordon Seabright appointed new Chief Executive of the Horniman Museum and Gardens

The General Pharmaceutical Council appoints new Chief Strategy Officer

A healthy perspective on executive search

Foot Anstey LLP appoints Non-Executive Director

South By Southwest comes to London

Saxton Bampfylde in action with charity Smart Works