PADSIS Conference 2027

National Conference for Directors of Sport in Independent Schools

Thursday, 4 March 2027 to Friday, 5 March 2027

Leonardo Royal Hotel, Oxford

Headline sponsor

Limitless Sports Kit
Book online Please note bookings are handled by our partner ICE Education – you will be redirected to their online bookings platform

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

Programme

Thursday 4 March

9.00am

Optional Padel Session

with S&C Slatter

11.00am

Registration, Networking & PADSIS Hubs

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

12.30pm
Welcome to Conference: Whole Sector Issues, Presentation of Annual Survey Findings and Discussion
Chris Dossett
Chair of PADSIS
1.00pm

Lunch in The Oriel Suite

1.45pm
Raising Awareness of Cardiac Risk and Screening Young People
Dr James Cockburn
Consultant Cardiologist and Young Heart Project
2.00pm
Building High Performance Environments
Jeremy Holt
TRIBE
2.45pm
Committed to Choice: The Inclusive Sportswear Movement from Team GB to School Sport
Tess Howard
GB Hockey, Founder of Inclusive Sportswear
3.00pm
The Future of School Sport: What are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing our type of school over the next three years?

Delegates choose one of the following:

IAPS
Jonathan Turner & Christina Chesworth
GSA
Sarah Rollings
Head, St Helen & St Katharine
HMC Schools
Kevin Knibbs
Head, Hampton School
4.00pm

Refreshment break

4.15pm

Breakout Session One

Delegates choose one of the following:

Resilience by Design: Building Stronger Sports Programmes 
Rick Cooper
Planning a 5-10 Year Touring Programme
Edwin Doran
Making SOCS Work for Prep Schools
James Kershaw-Naylor
SOCS
From Red Roses to School Sport: Creating Environments Where Young Athletes Thrive
Sadia Kabeya
Red Roses, OPRO
Dealing with Dissatisfaction
Sarah Rollings
Head, St Helen & St Katharine
5.15pm

Breakout Session Two

Two Delegates 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
Future-Proofing Prep School Sport  
Gareth Hughes
Head, RGS The Grange 
From Camera to Insights: Using AI to unlock Individual Player Stats & Performance Analysis
Veo
Physical Education Reimagined: Fit for the Modern World
Centre for Child and Adolescent Physical Literacy’ Leeds Beckett University
Managing Team Selection and Communicating with Parents
Neil Rollings
6.00pm

Conference close

7.00pm
Drinks for New Delegates
8.00pm
Conference Dinner

Thursday 4 March

8.00am

Optional Breakfast Run

with Rosie Crampin, Veo

9.00am 

Registration, Networking & PADSIS Hubs

in the Oriel Suite

10.00am 
Leading the Future of School Sport: From Vision to Impact
Chris Dossett
Chair of PADSIS 
10.30am
Leading School Sport
Lucy Pearson
Head, Oakham School
11.15am

Refreshment break

11.45am
Character, Sport, and Flourishing: A Framework for Coaches and Coaching
Professor Andrew Peterson
Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, Birmingham University
12.30pm 

Lunch

1.30pm

Breakout Session One

Three Delegates choose one of the following sessions:

Rehabilitation and Conditioning for Young Athletes 
Carl Wells & Mitch Raynsford 
P3RFORM 
The Future of Women’s Sport: What Schools Need to Know 
Professor Leanne Norman 
Executive Director Loughborough University Women’s Sport and Innovation Hub 
More Than an Athlete: The Power of Mentoring in School Sport 
Sam Parfitt 
The True Athlete Project 
Generating Non-Fee Income Through Sport 
Leanne Chandler 
Director of Operations at Denstone College 
From Prep to Senior School: What Should Sport Prepare Pupils For?  
Tom Butt
Head, King’s Hawford 
Are We Winning at the Right Things? Rethinking Success in School Sport  
Chris Dossett
Chair of PADSIS
2.15pm

Refreshment break

2.30pm

Breakout Session Two

Delegates choose one of the following sessions: 

The Social Impact of Sports Scholarships
Chris Ekron
Playbook Ed South Africa
Leading Through Change
Paul Tolley
RAF fast-jet pilot
Using Psychological Safety to Generate Positive Staff Teams
Nia Palmer
Loughborough University
Prep School Physical Education Reworked: Developing Athleticism for Life
Dr Graham Williams
AI for Directors of Sport
TBC
SOCS for Senior Schools: Maximising Impact
James Kershaw-Naylor
SOCS
3.30pm

Conference closes

Booking Information

Full Conference

Includes Thursday and Friday plus Dinner and Accommodation

PADSIS Members, IAPS Members £499

Non PADSIS Members £599

Two Delegates from the same school £829
(PADSIS Members, IAPS Members)

Two Delegates from the same school £899
(Non PADSIS Members)

Thursday or Friday Only

PADSIS Members, IAPS Members £319 

Non PADSIS Members £369

Two Delegates from the same school £569 
(PADSIS Members, IAPS Members)

Two Delegates from the same school £619 
(Non PADSIS Members)

Thursday Night Dinner £70

Call to discuss rates not listed, or additional requirements. 
 

 

All prices include resources, refreshments, lunch on Friday and merchandise. Should you need to cancel a booking you have made for a particular course/conference you need to give us a minimum of 14 days' notice.

Book online Please note bookings are handled by our partner ICE Education – you will be redirected to their online bookings platform