Academic Conference 2025 – what a day!
The Downe House team so enjoyed welcoming all our delegates, speakers and sponsors for what was a very thought-provoking and inspiring day of ideas, debate and discussion.
We very much hope to welcome you back to next year’s Conference!
Speakers’ Presentation Slides
We are pleased to be able to share the PowerPoint presentations from some of the breakout session talks (further links will be added once received from our speakers):
- Pathways with Purpose: Choosing between Apprenticeships & University – Jonathan Mitchell
- Radical Traditionalism: How Schools Can Innovate and Thrive – Will Orr-Ewing & Ed Richardson
Our Conference Sponsors
We are very grateful to our fantastic Conference Sponsors, all of which provide firstclass services to the education sector. Please do get in touch with them to find out more about how their products and services may help your School to innovate and thrive.
A reminder of our Partner and Branding Sponsors:
Redwood Collections is an established and trusted name in debt recovery and credit management for independent schools. Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, we represent more than 900 schools. A reliable partner when school fees have not been paid, providing both effective recovery with unmatched service and communication. A traditional service, in a modern manner.
allmanhall powered by Buyers Edge Platform – provides expert food procurement through an award-winning approach. By challenging and transforming food supply, working in collaboration with schools, suppliers and sector experts, allmanhall delivers sustainable and responsible food procurement. Since 2006, schools have benefited from this value, insight, control and support through essential food cost savings, efficiencies in processes and reporting, support for improvements and exceptional nutrition and dietetics advice. Good food shouldn’t cost the Earth!
Rayburn Tours: At the Downe House Conference, under the theme of “Transforming Tradition,” we quickly acknowledged that we ourselves have a role to play in contributing to and maintaining this transformation in schools. International school trips have such a vital role to play in transforming a young person’s school career. We talked to many of you about the broad spectrum of subject specific school trips we specialise in, as well as the Key Account Management approach we adopt with Downe House and other schools, to plan an overall annual school trip strategy. This leads to in depth knowledge of your individual schools needs and means we are working together with a shared vision, while aligning you with a dedicated team of specialists who share and understand your touring vision and goals. We would love to talk to any of you that left the event with a level of curiosity as to how this partnership could look and work for you, your school and students. Please contact our Education Tours Manager, Lucy Simson on 01332 527680 or email lucy.simson@rayburntours.com
MSP LAB is the IT Authority for Independent Schools. We exclusively deliver consistently outstanding IT services to prestigious UK Independent Schools through distinct and attentive counsel. With extensive, lived-experience, we understand the unique needs of Independent Schools—providing Digital Strategy, IT Infrastructure and Cybersecurity Solutions, IT Governance, System Assessments, and Retained Counsel capability, including our Virtual IT Director Service. We ensure Independent Schools are fully equipped to succeed in a digital world.
BE Education established in 2003, is a leading international education consultancy with offices across Asia and a key base in London. Our London team supports students applying to top UK independent schools and universities, providing expert, personalised guidance. As an official UCAS centre and authorised invigilator for UKiset and ISEB, we deliver end-to-end admissions support. Our consultants have extensive experience and a strong track record of helping students gain offers from the UK’s most prestigious schools.
At JCS, our mission is clear: to help schools around the world access high quality academic content to support exceptional teaching, effective learning, and student achievement. JCS supports schools by negotiating with leading publishers to offer a wide range of trusted, high-impact online resources – and securing fair subscription rates for all schools. From academic journals and multimedia databases to international newspapers, magazines, and theatre productions, JCS provides access to trusted and carefully curated resources from the world’s top publishers – helping your students achieve academic success with confidence.
