Welcome to the PADSIS Scotland Conference at The Glasgow Academy.

We are thrilled to bring together an inspiring group of Directors of Sport and colleagues from across the Scottish Independent Sector for a day that explores the evolving role of school sport and physical activity in shaping not just athletes but people.

This event has been designed to reflect the conversations that matter most in our schools today. From compassionate leadership and athletic development to girls’ participation, health research and the ever-practical reality of risk assessment, we hope today offers you ideas that stick and relationships that grow.

As ever with PADSIS, our priority is universal benefit. Whether you're running a full department, leading on co-curricular strategy or coaching on the pitch, we believe in leadership through agency, not authority, so that every colleague and every pupil feels a sense of ownership, purpose and belonging.

We are particularly proud of the breadth of today's programme: from evidence-based insights by Dr Mairead Ryan, to practical solutions shared by UKSCA, Citation, Netball Scotland and others, to the powerful human message from Dave Morris on compassion as a performance driver. These sessions, alongside informal conversations over coffee and lunch, are what give our community its energy.

Thank you to all our speakers for their time and generosity and to The Glasgow Academy for hosting us. I hope you leave today encouraged, better connected and more confident to lead sport in your school in a way that reflects your values and vision.

Chris Dossett
Chair, PADSIS