Learn about Future Proofing at Downe House

In this blog post, Mr Matt Godfrey (Deputy Head) introduces three exciting guests who will be leading Break Out Sessions at this year’s Academic Conference at Downe House.

Our theme for this year’s Academic Conference on June 18 is Transforming Tradition, as we consider how schools can respond to and thrive amid the challenges and opportunities facing the education sector in the coming years. Three of our speakers, all profiled below, will share fascinating insights and practical tips about how schools will need to adapt.

Paul Westbrook is the Group Bursar (CFO and COO) at Brighton College. He joined Brighton in 2009 when it was generating a surplus of £1m and had 50 years of underinvestment in infrastructure. 

In the last 16 years, the College has been transformed – academically, financially, infrastructurally and internationally.   Paul has overseen much of the last three of these with annual surpluses now at £10m and investment of £140m in 10 new facilities.  The Group when Paul joined had two Prep Schools in the UK: it now has four Prep Schools in the UK, three schools in the UAE and schools in Singapore, Bangkok and Hanoi with other schools in the pipeline. 

Paul is also one of three founder members of and is Chair of Finance for London Academy of Excellence – a free sixth form whose admissions criteria is weighted towards children from deprived backgrounds that over the last ten years has transformed the life of thousands of children from Stratford and Tower Hamlets. 

Paul will explain how to improve school finances but he is equally happy to share tradecraft on how to plan and develop facilities, the internationalisation of schools, public benefit and opportunities for teachers looking to broaden their horizons.

Will Orr-Ewing was a teacher before founding Keystone Tutors in 2007, and Arka Learning in 2024. For the past 12 months he has also been helping Smartphone Free Childhood. He has been a Trustee of schools across the sector, he has led schools policy research initiatives for a number of Westminster think tanks and he has appeared on Newsnight and the Today Programme.

Will will speak alongside Ed Richardson, who is Managing Director at Keystone. A former Director of Education, he has an MSc in Teaching and Learning from Oxford and a Zoology degree from St. Andrews. Ed taught all three sciences to GCSE and Biology to A-Level before joining Keystone. Passionate about personalised learning, he researches education trends and speaks widely on educational topics. 

Will and Ed will argue that, during a time of significant change in both our relationship with technology and the education sector more broadly, schools cannot depend solely on tradition to guide them. Rather, schools should think carefully about how technology – and the challenges and opportunities it presents – relates to their core mission. To explore this, Will and Ed will focus on two current issues: smartphones and online curriculum delivery. They will discuss the risks and possibilities presented by these tools, and will seek to help delegates develop a dynamic, fully-considered, and appropriate approach to using digital technology within their schools.

Catriona Sutherland-Hawes is a highly experienced Admissions professional who is passionate about helping schools recognise the importance of Admissions and the part it plays in the wider life of the school.

The daughter of teachers, she moved from a career in public life into the education sector as Director of Admissions at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. After 14 years there she moved to Wycombe Abbey as Director of Admissions, leaving in September 2022. She then joined RS Academics as a Senior Consultant, advising schools on admissions and marketing strategies and helping to recruit for senior admissions and marketing roles.  Cat is also Head of Schools Advisory for Oppidan Education, advising parents on school choices.  Working both in and with schools, and with parents, allows Cat to have a real understanding of the marketplace and parental expectations – a great combination.

Cat’s talk is titled: Responding to changing parent priorities. In the last few years, we have witnessed the cost of independent education rising, post pandemic issues and the pressures of social media on children. Cat will seek to explore these challenges and offer solutions. Among others, key questions she will cover are:

• How have parental expectations changed and what are the implications?

• What do today’s parents value?

• What knowledge, tools and support do we need to help meet these changing needs?

We are thrilled to have secured these three terrific speakers alongside at our Academic Conference on June 18. They will speak alongside our keynote speaker, The Rt Hon Lord Gove, in what will be an inspiring and thought-provoking event.

Book your place here.