Society of Heads

Society of Heads
Name	Society of Heads
Type	Professional association
Founded	1960s
Headquarters	London
Region served	United Kingdom
Membership	Independent and direct-grant schools
Leader title	Chair

Society of Heads

The Society of Heads is an association of heads from independent and direct-grant schools in the United Kingdom. It operates as a collective forum for headteachers from boarding schools, day schools, grammar schools and faith schools, engaging with policy debates and professional development. Members participate in conferences, inspections liaison, and sector representation with external bodies.

History

The Society traces roots to postwar dialogues among headmasters and headmistresses who engaged with figures such as Eton College, Westminster School, Charterhouse School, Rugby School, Harrow School and Winchester College to address school governance and standards. Early interlocutors included headteachers influenced by debates surrounding the Butler Education Act, the expansion of Comprehensive school movements, and responses to the Education Act 1944. During the 1970s and 1980s the Society interacted with policymakers at 10 Downing Street, civil servants from the Department for Education and Science, and parliamentarians in the House of Commons and House of Lords. In subsequent decades it engaged with regulatory changes prompted by inquiries linked to institutions such as Independent Schools Inspectorate, and intersected with public discussions involving Office for Standards in Education and figures from Association of School and College Leaders.

Membership and Governance

Membership historically comprises heads from selective institutions including St Paul's School, Merchant Taylors' School, King's College School, Wimbledon, and religious foundations like St Mary's School Ascot and The King's School, Canterbury. Governance structures mirror trustee models seen at Independent Schools Council members, with committees reflecting practice similar to Girls' Schools Association, Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, and regional groups such as Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools. Leadership roles have included chairs who liaise with bodies such as Office for Standards in Education and advisory panels convened alongside representatives from Department for Education. The Society maintains constitutional provisions for elections, disciplinary oversight, and ethical standards akin to procedures used by General Teaching Council for England.

Activities and Programs

The Society organises conferences and seminars often addressed by speakers from institutions such as Cambridge University, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, and cultural partners like British Library and National Portrait Gallery. Professional development courses have featured experts from Institute of Education, consultants formerly with Ofsted, and legal advisers experienced in statutes such as the Children Act 1989. It offers peer-review mechanisms, collaborative inspections in partnership with Independent Schools Inspectorate frameworks, and safeguarding workshops referencing guidelines from NSPCC and Disclosure and Barring Service. Networking events convene leaders from boarding outfits like Bradfield College and day schools like Wellington College, and specialist programmes have included governance modules modelled on practices from Boarding Schools' Association.

Influence and Advocacy

Through position papers and collective responses, the Society has contributed to consultations led by Department for Education and expressed views in parliamentary inquiries at Select Committee on Education. It has engaged with debates involving funding formulas debated in the Treasury, admissions policy contested in exchanges with Equality and Human Rights Commission, and regulatory reforms overseen by Charity Commission for England and Wales. The Society’s advocacy has intersected with national conversations also involving entities such as National Governors' Association, Association of School and College Leaders, and think tanks including Policy Exchange and Institute for Public Policy Research.

Publications and Communications

The Society issues circulars, position statements, and briefing notes distributed to members and stakeholders, paralleling communications practices of Independent Schools Council publications and newsletters akin to those from Times Educational Supplement. It disseminates guidance on compliance with statutes such as the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and case law developments reported by legal outlets referencing decisions in courts like the High Court of Justice. Its communications channels include newsletters, conference proceedings, and digital bulletins comparable to outputs from The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and sector journals such as The Independent School Parent.

Criticism and Controversies

The Society has attracted critique from campaign groups and commentators allied with organisations such as Action on Access and media outlets including The Guardian and BBC News for its positions on selective admissions, fee structures, and charitable status linked to debates involving the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Controversies have arisen when member schools faced public scrutiny in investigations akin to those that involved institutions like Rugby School or Eton College over historic practices, or when policy stances contrasted with proposals from Department for Education and equality advocates at Equality and Human Rights Commission. Critics have also challenged the Society’s influence in consultations alongside other sector bodies such as Independent Schools Council and Association of School and College Leaders.

Category:Educational organizations based in the United Kingdom