The UK education system seems bewildering at first glance. Separate systems under separate governments, and different types of school each with their own curriculum and admissions processes –no wonder parents often feel lost as they navigate the process to give their children a solid start in life.
Join us for an evening of conversation with a panel of experts in the education sector, who will talk through the different options from age 5-18 and share tips on how to manage the process at every step.
School place shortages - perception vs reality
Private versus state education - get the best education without breaking the bank
Selectives vs comprehensives
Choosing a school - understanding Ofsted standards
Schedule:
6:30-7:00pm - Arrival drinks and light bites
7:00-8:00pm - Talk & Q&A
8:00-8:30pm - Mixer
Registration:
Ticket: £20pp early bird/£30 regular
Mr Desmond Deehan BA (Hons), MA Education, FRSA
CEO/ Executive Headteacher - Odyssey Trust for Education
Headteacher - Townley Grammar School
Desmond is the CEO/ Executive Headteacher of Odyssey Trust for Education and Headteacher of the high performing Girls Grammar School Townley Grammar. As an Ofsted Inspector, Music Champion for the Mayor of London, and board member of the National Youth Theatre Advisory Board, Desmond is a regular contributor to the national educational debate. He has been a speaker at numerous conferences, given expert evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee and has been featured on French radio and KBS, South Korea’s main TV channel. Most recently, he featured in a BBC 2 Documentary called “Grammar Schools – Who Will Get In?”, presenting the contrasting experiences at two schools in a selective area.
As Headteacher of Townley Grammar School, Desmond is most proud of the work done to develop the opportunities for young women, including forming partnerships with Silicon Valley technology companies of to support female computer scientists and establishing international links for his students to attend student leadership summits across the world including India and Malaysia. Townley has also been commended in the National Character Awards and is a leading school for Character Education.
Desmond became CEO of the Odyssey Trust for Education which was formed in 2018 and brings together the high performing Townley Grammar with the former Erith School, Secondary Modern School currently rated Requiring Improvement by Ofsted.
Adam Greenwood
Headmaster - The Pointer School
Adam is the Headmaster of The Pointer School, a prep and pre-pre in Blackheath, South-East London. He has experience in the state and independent sector, most recently as a Governor at Townley Grammar School. Prior to Headship, he worked in secondary education specialising in Geography. He is the founder and lead author of the website This is Geography, and has been involved in the development of an AI-based learning platform. Prior to teaching, he was a Captain in the British Army, leadership remains at the centre of his work having just completed an Education Leadership (International) MBA at UCL IOE.