National Conference for Directors of Sport in Independent Schools

Friday 28 February 2020 at Jurys Inn, Oxford

National Conference for Directors of Sport in Independent Schools - February 2020

Welcome to the 11th Annual PADSIS Conference.

This is the UK’s largest meeting of Directors of Sport in the independent sector, and is a unique opportunity to keep abreast of current developments, and network with like-minded professionals.  

The role of Director of Sport is ever-changing and developing.  It therefore requires a different skill set from previous generations.  Building a culture of willing participation in sport and exercise is the biggest challenge in modern schools, along with leading a diverse staff to achieve this. The morning will focus upon developing these capacities.

For several years, delegates have expressed the wish to attend more than one of the afternoon seminars. The framework of the day has been adjusted to enable this.  There will be two programmes of seminars, allowing all delegates to attend double the usual number.  The range of topics is designed to provide something of appeal to Directors of Sport in different types of schools, with varying interests.

The Thursday afternoon Forum has rapidly become one of the major sessions of the Conference, with over 100 Directors of Sport attending last year’s discussion.  This provides an opportunity to share experiences and solutions to common issues.  The Conference Dinner, which follows, is the largest social opportunity of the year, and a chance to  meet like-minded professionals in a genial environment.  We look forward to welcoming you to independent school sport’s most significant annual event.

Programme

Thursday 27 February

4pm – 6pm

Discussion Forum (free for all delegates)

Contemporary Concerns in Independent Schools Sport

(including Sports Committee Feedback from HMC, GSA, IAPS and ISA Sport Committees)

8pm

Conference Dinner

Inspiring the Pursuit of Excellence
with Orla Chennaoui
Friday 28 February

9.30am

Conference assembles. Refreshments

10.00am
Introduction: What’s the Future for Team Games in Schools?
Neil Rollings, Chairman PADSIS

10.30am
Creating a High Performance Sports Culture
Professor Damian Hughes

11.30am

Refreshment break

11.50am
Getting the Best out of a Diverse Staff Team
Dr Jill Berry

12.30pm

Lunch in Marco Pierre White Grill

1.30pm

Seminar programme

Delegates may choose one session in each of the two seminar sessions. Four sessions will run simultaneously on each occasion

1.30pm – 2.15pm

Seminar Session One

Choose one from:

Option 1

Coaching the Character of your Athletes
with John Neal

Option 2

Preparing for Senior Leadership
with Dr Jill Berry

Option 3

Operating a Sports Scholarship Programme
with Neil Rollings

Option 4

Starting out with SOCS
with James Kershaw-Naylor

2.25pm – 3.15pm

Seminar Session Two

Choose one from:

Option 1

Building a Programme of Athletic Development
with Des Ryan

Option 2

Dealing with Parents in School Sport
Richard Shorter

Option 3

Ensuring Rugby Programmes are RFU Compliant
with Rachel Faull-Brown

3.30pm

Conference closes

Thursday Dinner

Here is the menu for the conference dinner. You will need to make your dining choices on the booking form below.

Starters:
Cream of Tomato & Basil Soup with Buttered Croutons (V)
Chicken Liver Pate with Cumberland sauce and toasted brioche
Goats Cheese & Roast Pimento Tart with Celeriac Remoulade (V)
Ham Hock Terrine with toasted brioche and piccalilli

Mains:
Braised Featherblade of Beef with a Red Wine and Baby Onion Sauce
Roast Chicken Supreme with a Mushroom Sauce
Pork Loin Steak with a Wholegrain Mustard Sauce
Grilled Fillet of Salmon with a lemon and Caper sauce, scented with dill
Pea & Mint Risotto (V)
Baked Puff Pastry Lattice filled with Roasted Vegetables (V)

Desserts:
Warm Sticky Toffee Pudding with caramel sauce
Lemon Tart with Chantilly Cream
White Chocolate Cheesecake
Crème Bruleé with Raspberries

Important

You can use the online booking form for up to TWO attendees. For bookings of more than two attendees please call 015395 60060 to inquire about discounts and place your booking.

FREE Half Zip Squad Top for every attendee! Please indicate on the booking form the size you require.

Prices

PADSIS Members £215 (Friday conference only)
Non Members £255 (Friday conference only)
Two Delegates from the same school £399 (Friday conference only including one PADSIS member)
PADSIS Member Dinner, Bed and Conference £335 (single room) 
Non Member Dinner, Bed and Conference £385 (single room)
Dinner, Bed and Conference for Two People £599 (single rooms, inc PADSIS member)
Conference Dinner only £65
PADSIS Membership £65 (Join PADSIS when booking to enjoy member’s discount)

Conference runs 9.30am to 3.30pm. Includes notes, refreshments and restaurant lunch. Prices exclude VAT.

Guest Speakers

Orla Chennaoui

Orla is a TV sports presenter, host and journalist.  She has covered multiple Olympic Games and Tours de France, and was a Sky Sports News anchor for 17 years.  She hosted the 2019 Women in Sport Summit, inspiring women within the sports arena, and also the FIFA Football Awards, interviewing the world’s top players in 6 different languages.  Her podcast, “When Orla Met…” interviews top sports performers about their motivations and fears in the pursuit of excellence.

Professor Damian Hughes

Damian is the Professor of Organisational Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University.  He works as a change management consultant and sports psychologist for England Netball, Sale Sharks, Warrington Wolves and GB Rugby League helping them to build both a winning environment and mindset.  He is an international speaker, and best-selling author of 7 books which combine practical understanding with an academic background in sport.

Dr Jill Berry

Jill is a former independent school head, now working with the National College for School Leadership.  She works with schools and teachers to enable them to become better leaders, deal with challenging situations and get the best out of themselves and their teams.  She trains teachers to prepare themselves for senior leadership and to step up into positions of greater responsibility.  

John Neal

John is a leading sports psychologist, who has worked extensively within elite sport.  He was a director of the Sports Business Programme at Ashridge Business School, and in that role was director of the RFU’s World Class Coaching Programme.  He later joined the Welsh Rugby Union as National Performance Coach.  He is the Head of Coach Development for the ECB, and Chairman of England Lacrosse.

Richard Shorter

Richard works with parents and coaches to improve the sporting and character building experience for children.  Through his project, “Non-Perfect Dad”, he has worked with a wide range of sports clubs and organisations, including clubs, schools and National Governing Bodies.  He encourages schools and coaches to use evidence based strategies to improve parent-coach relationships and outcomes for young athletes.

Rachel Faull-Brown

Rachel is the Player Welfare Manager of the RFU.  She leads the RFU’s initiatives to measure injuries, and to make the game safer.  This has resulted in clear guidelines for how schools should manage the game.  Many schools still fail to reach these standards.  She will outline all the requirements and recommendations for schools to operate Rugby programmes which would be recognised by courts and insurers as industry best practice.

Desmond Ryan

Des is the Head of Athletic Development and Sports Medicine at Arsenal Football Club.  He was previously the Fitness Education Manager for the Irish Rugby Union, working with Ireland and Ireland A for three years to improve athletic development and conditioning.  Before that, he was Head Fitness Advisor for Connaught Rugby.  He has a keen interest in long term athlete development, and the programmes that can achieve this in young players.

James Kershaw-Naylor

James is the Head of Sales and Business Development Director of SOCS.  This is a leading  brand of software which is widely used by schools for managing sport and extra curricular activities.  His sessions will show teachers of how they can use these systems to best manage their programmes.  This will include a more advanced session to enable experienced schools to get more from SOCS.

Booking form

For use on day of conference
Conference Options
Attendee 1
We use this number to convey important messages to the attendee
Please tick here if you would like to join PADSIS, and claim your Membership discount on this booking.
Please indicate if this attendee is joining us for the Conference Forum on Thursday. The forum is FREE for all delegates.
Please indicate if this attendee is joining us for the Conference Dinner on Thursday evening.
Menu Options
Please select your dinner menu options for Thursday evening:
Single room accommodation on Thursday night.
Please select the size required for your FREE O'Neils PADSIS half zip squad top. These tops are a tapered fit.
Attendee 2
We use this number to convey important messages to the attendee
Please tick here if you would like to join PADSIS, and claim your Membership discount on this booking.
Please indicate if this attendee is joining us for the Conference Forum on Thursday. The forum is FREE for all delegates.
Please indicate if this attendee is joining us for the Conference Dinner on Thursday evening.
Menu Options
Please select your dinner menu options for Thursday evening:
Single room accommodation on Thursday night.
Please select the size required for your FREE O'Neils PADSIS half zip squad top. These tops are a tapered fit.
Please include any other information or queries you may have regarding this booking.