Participants at the professional or business conference

National Conference for Directors of Sport in Independent Schools 2027

Conference Prep and Primary School Senior and Secondary School Padsis

Thursday 4 March 2027 Leonardo Royal Hotel, Oxford

Conference Description

Welcome to the annual PADSIS Directors of Sport Conference on 4th and 5th March 2027.

As the country’s largest gathering of Directors of Sport, this conference is the leading event of its kind, and an opportunity to update knowledge, benchmark against industry norms and network with like-minded professionals. Last year’s feedback affirmed the value of this event, especially in providing the opportunity to connect with peers, share experiences and return to school with fresh ideas and renewed energy.

This year’s programme brings together sector-wide discussion and practical learning. It will focus on the future of school sport, including reviewing the results of the annual survey. There will be sessions on building resilient programmes, inclusion, athlete wellbeing, Physical Education, women’s sport, leadership and the use of AI in sport. As usual, there will be a choice of breakout sessions, enabling delegates to focus on the areas relevant to their circumstances and interests. Thursday evening’s conference dinner will offer further opportunities to exchange ideas and make new connections.

Regular delegates, and first time attendees will be warmly welcomed into the Director of Sport community. This is an environment of learning, sharing, addressing common challenges and shaping the conversation about the future of school sport.

Conference Programme

Thursday 4th 9am

Optional Padel Session

S&C Slatter

Smash Padel North Hinksey Village OX2 0NA

Thursday 4th 11am

Registration, Networking & PADSIS Hubs

Registration Open, Coffee Available in the Oriel Suite, Partner Exhibitions Open

Thursday 4th 12pm

Welcome to Conference

Chris Dossett, Chair of PADSIS

Whole Sector Issues, presentation of Annual Survey Findings and Discussion

Thursday 4th 1pm

Lunch in The Oriel Suite

Thursday 4th 1:45pm

Raising Awareness of Cardiac Risk and Screening Young People

Dr James Cockburn, Consultant Cardiologist and Young Heart Project

Thursday 4th 2pm

Building High Performance Environments

Jeremy Holt, TRIBE

Thursday 4th 2:45pm

Committed to Choice: The Inclusive Sportswear Movement from Team GB to School Sport

Tess Howard, GB Hockey, Founder of Inclusive Sportswear

Thursday 4th 3pm

The Future of School Sport

What are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing our type of school over the next three years?

Choose ONE of the following:

IAPS (Jonathan Turner and Christina Chesworth)
GSA (Sarah Rollings, Head at St Helen & St Katharine)
HMC Schools (Kevin Knibbs, Headmaster at Hampton School)

Thursday 4th 4pm

Refreshments

Thursday 4th 4:15pm

Breakout Session One

, Choose ONE of the following:

Resilience by Design: Building Stronger Sports Programmes Rick Cooper

How schools build sports programmes that stay strong through change and pressure. Practical ways to plan for resilience and create a programme that can adapt over time.

Planning a 5-10 Year Touring Programme Edwin Doran

A practical look at planning school tours with a long-term view; setting clear aims, building a sustainable programme and managing the decisions that make a tour successful.

Making SOCS Work for Prep Schools James Kershaw-Naylor, SOCS

A practical guide to getting more from SOCS in a Prep School setting. How the system can support the day-to-day organisation and communication of school sport.

From Red Roses to School Sport: Creating Environments Where Young Athletes Thrive Sadia Kabeya, Red Roses, OPRO

Drawing on experience at the highest level of rugby, World Cup winner, Sadia Kabeya shares lessons for creating school environments where young athletes can develop, feel supported and enjoy their sport.

Dealing with Dissatisfaction Sarah Rollings, Head at Head at St Helen & St Katharine

Managing pupils and staff

Thursday 4th 5:15pm

Breakout Session Two

, Choose ONE of the following:

Learning from a Legend: Inside Oleksandr Usyk’s Training Camp Lewis Williams: Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist and Professional Heavyweight Boxer. PerformBetter ambassador

Lessons on mindset, preparation and standards that school sport can put into practice.

Future-Proofing Prep School Sport Gareth Hughes Head RGS The Grange

Exploring the challenges and opportunities facing schools with ideas for building programmes that can meet pupils’ changing needs.

From Camera to Insights: Using AI to unlock Individual Player Stats & Performance Analysis Veo

How AI and match footage can help schools review performance and bring individual player insights into coaching.

Physical Education Reimagined: Fit for the Modern World Centre for Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy’ Leeds Beckett University

How Physical Education can develop movement skills, confidence and a lasting interest in physical activity.

Managing Team Selection and Communicating with Parents Neil Rollings

Practical ways to make selection decisions clear, communicate them well and manage the conversations that follow.

Thursday 4th 6pm

Conference Close

Thursday 4th 7pm

New Delegate Drinks

If you are new to the conference this year, you are invited to new delegate drinks in the Conference Bar.

Thursday 4th 8pm

Conference Dinner

Friday 5th 8am

Optional Breakfast Run

Rosie Crampin, Veo

Please meet in the Hotel Lobby.

Friday 5th 9am

Registration, Networking & PADSIS Hubs in the Oriel

Friday 5th 10am

Leading the Future of School Sport: From Vision to Impact

Chris Dossett, Chair of PADSIS

Friday 5th 10:30am

Leading School Sport

Lucy Pearson, Head at Oakham School

Friday 5th 11:15am

Refreshments

Friday 5th 11:45am

Character, Sport, and Flourishing: A Framework for Coaches and Coaching

Professor Andrew Peterson, Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, Birmingham University

Friday 5th 12:30pm

Lunch in the Hotel Restaurant

Friday 5th 1:30pm

Breakout Session One

, Choose ONE of the following:

1. Rehabilitation and Conditioning for Young Athletes Carl Wells & Mitch Raynsford, P3RFORM

Helping athletes return to sport with resilience and confidence. How force-time profiling can help staff track recovery, shape rehabilitation and inform conditioning along the way.

2. The Future of Women's Sport: What Schools Need to Know Professor Leanne Norman, Executive Director Loughborough University Women's Sport and Innovation Hub

Exploring the developments in women’s sport that schools should understand and what they mean for pupils, programmes and opportunities to take part.

3. More Than an Athlete: The Power of Mentoring in School Sport Sam Parfitt, The True Athlete Project

How mentoring can support pupils’ wider development and help them navigate the demands of school sport.

4. Generating Non-Fee Income Through Sport Leanne Chandler, Director of Operations at Denstone College

Practical considerations for developing opportunities while supporting the school’s wider aims.

5. From Prep to Senior School: What Should Sport Prepare Pupils For? Tom Butt, Head King’s Hawford

What pupils need as they move on: confidence, independence, broad experience and a positive relationship with competition.

6. Are We Winning at the Right Things? Rethinking Success in School Sport Chris Dossett, Chair of PADSIS

Success in school sport should mean more than results. What programmes should value and how they can balance performance, participation and pupils’ wider development.

Friday 5th 2:30pm

Breakout Session Two

, Choose ONE of the following:

1. The Social Impact of Sports Scholarships Chris Ekron, Playbook Ed South Africa

The wider impact of sports scholarships on pupils, school communities and access to sport.

2. Leading Through Change Paul Tolley, RAF fast-jet pilot

How leaders can help teams adapt and keep improving through trust, communication and feedback in building a high-performance culture.

3. Using Psychological Safety to generate positive staff teams Nia Palmer, Loughborough University

Speaking up, asking question and learning from mistakes - how leaders can build a sense of safety in their departments and teams.

4. Prep School Physical Education Reworked: Developing Athleticism for Life Dr Graham Williams

How curriculum design, teaching and assessment can move beyond sport-specific models to build pupils’ movement skills, confidence and physical understanding.

5. AI for Directors of Sport

6. SOCS for Senior Schools: Maximising Impact James Kershaw-Naylor, SOCS

Practical support for using SOCS

Friday 5th 3:30pm

Conference Ends

Booking options

National Conference for Directors of Sport in Independent Schools 2027

From £559.00

Thursday 4th March 2027
Ends Friday 5th March 2027
Leonardo Royal Hotel, Oxford
with Chris Dossett
Book Now

Frequently Asked Questions

: Cancellations require a minimum of 14 days' notice. Cancelling within 14 days of the event incurs a fee, £30 per person for online courses and webinars, or £100 per person (per day, for multi-day events) for in-person courses. Cancelling within 48 hours of the event is charged at the full price. If ICE Education has to cancel or change a course, we'll try to rebook you onto the same or a similar course, if that's not possible, you'll be refunded in full.
: The same cancellation policy applies (see above) — let us know as soon as possible. Cancelling with at least 14 days' notice avoids a cancellation fee.
: Recordings of webinars remain available to book attendees for 48 hours after the live session, after which they're no longer accessible.
: A School Subscription gives up to 5 colleagues from your school access to the course from 5 separate devices, for one discounted rate rather than booking individually.
: Yes, schools can reclaim the VAT on all ICE Education courses. VAT invoices are provided regardless of which payment method you choose.

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Conference Description

Conference Programme

Booking options

Frequently Asked Questions

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