Reflecting on the recent WISC Conference, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to every delegate who took time out of an incredibly busy school calendar to join us.
We know how taking time away from school is never easy. But that is exactly why our time together matters so much.
The independent school sector in Wales is small, and our schools often operate with limited resources. For many, WISC is their main professional network, and our annual conference is a rare opportunity to come together, share good practice, exchange ideas and learn from colleagues who understand the challenges of leading an independent school in Wales.
A huge thank you to all the team at The Quay Hotel and Spa & Brid Adams for looking after us so wonderfully. The attention to detail, warmth and kindness of the staff made everything feel special. Thank you for helping to make our conference so memorable. It really was perfect and we cannot recommend this great venue enough.
Our WELSH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL Conference simply wouldn’t be the same without the generosity, support and commitment of our sponsors. Behind every successful event are people and organisations who believe in what we do, understand the importance of bringing our independent schools together, and are willing to support us in making it happen. To all our sponsors, thank you.
A very special thank you to our Gold Sponsors — Rivervale, High Performance Learning and to InVentry for your fantastic support and for helping make this year’s conference such a success. Your commitment to WISC and our schools is hugely appreciated.
And then there are those little touches that make a conference feel extra special! ❤️
A huge thank you to Holroyd Howe, who provided the most gorgeous cakes and biscuits for our breaks on both days. They really were a delicious treat.
Thank you to all our sponsors for being part of our WISC community, for believing in our work and, most importantly, for helping us bring our schools together.We are incredibly grateful to have you alongside us and hope to see you back next year.
Zurich Insurance
Easy4u UK
Geldards LLP
Elementa Education Group
Prof. Amanda Kirby MBBS MRCGP PhD FCGI FRSA Prentisiaethau’r Urdd
Safehire.ai
Dr. Alec Clark
One of the things we are genuinely proud of at WELSH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL is the relationship we have built with Estyn, our independent education and training inspectorate in Wales. Every year, one of the real privileges of our annual conference is the opportunity to spend time with Estyn’s Her Majesty’s Inspectors (HMIs), not simply in a formal setting, but through open, honest and constructive conversations with our schools. For our Heads, particularly those who are new to Wales or new to headship, these opportunities are invaluable. Being able to put faces to names, ask questions, understand the inspection process and talk openly with the people who inspect our schools helps build familiarity, confidence and a much better understanding of the landscape in which we operate.
We were also delighted to welcome Sian Jones from Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government, who took the time to observe our conference, meet our schools and hear first-hand about our sector, alongside David Browne from the Cyngor y Gweithlu Addysg | Education Workforce Council (EWC), who shared his knowledge and expertise with our delegates.
A huge thank you to all our wonderful speakers and contributors- to Olympian Christian Malcolm OLY for opening our conference, and to Sam Coutinho, Krissy Scott and Simon Holden for their brilliant presentations with ‘Getting Left of the Big Bang’.
To our panel of Heads who have recently experienced inspection, thank you for sharing your experiences so openly. These honest conversations are invaluable to our schools. And to Carol Clint thank you for chairing the session so brilliantly.
Finally, thank you to our colleagues from the Independent Schools Council -Julie Robinson, Sarah Cunnane, Tacho Onuluk FRSA and Dale Wilkins of the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) for joining us and sharing their knowledge during our mainstream session.
Every one of you brought something special to the programme, and your generosity, enthusiasm and willingness to share your experience helped make the conference such a success.
At our annual WELSH INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS COUNCIL dinner, our Chair Paul Norton presented the Teacher Recognition Award to celebrate individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to education. This year, Ross Williams of St David’s College, Llandudno, was unanimously chosen by the WISC directors for his innovative work in athletic development, inclusive PE and pupil wellbeing. Ross stood out for his commitment to supporting every pupil to thrive, particularly through his award-winning work with pupils with dyspraxia, his pioneering approach to physical education, and his leadership in mental health and trauma-informed practice. His work with universities, professional sports organisations and the wider educational community demonstrates a commitment to sharing good practice beyond his own school. Congratulations, Ross!
Education in Wales has its own legislation, policies, priorities and regulatory framework. It is distinctly different from the rest of the UK, and understanding that landscape is essential for every Head leading a school here. For those joining us from elsewhere in the UK, getting to grips with that difference is a particularly important part of settling into their new role. This is why our conference matters so much. It brings our schools together with the people and organisations who shape, regulate and support education in Wales, creating space for conversations that are not always possible in the day-to-day life of a busy school.
At WISC, we believe that strong relationships, open dialogue and a willingness to learn from one another make our sector stronger. We are incredibly grateful to Estyn, Welsh Government and EWC for giving their time, sharing their expertise and engaging so warmly with our schools and to every delegate who took time out to join us. We know you will have found it very worthwhile and look forward to engaging with members throughout the year through our training programme, and of course, at next year’s conference in Cardiff on 7th and 8th October 2027!
