The recent survey of all schools showed that over 35% of ISC members needed more information about the issues surrounding school partnerships. This groundbreaking conference, produced in close association with DCSF, looked at the National Challenge scheme, academies and trusts, teacher training, federations of schools, sharing facilities, and the legal and practical considerations of forging partnerships between the independent and maintained sectors. Speakers at the conference included Schools Minister Sarah mccarthy-Fry, Toby Salt from NCSL, Anthony Seldon from Wellington College, Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, Mike Simpkin from the Office of the Schools Commissioner, Declan Jones and Paul Durgan from the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation and solicitor Glynne Stanfield. In addition to useful content, there was the opportunity for independent school delegates to meet with local authority representatives and maintained sector heads from all over the UK.

