Events

Annual Conference 2025
Annual Conference 2025

Annual Conference 2025

"If it was easy, it wouldn't be fun!"

Leading a school is not a task for the faint hearted.  This year’s conference takes a look at some perennial challenges as well as new ones which have come with the rapid advances of technology in recent years.  Alongside that, we have a strong focus on wellbeing and sustainability in school leadership.

Also, as it is the Association’s 50th birthday, we plan to have some fun!

The conference will run from 9am - 4pm each day.
For the draft programme CLICK HERE

Conference Keynote sessions – Political and Practical

Political
After being unable to attend the conference last year, we are pleased to confirm that Jenny Gilruth MSP (Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills) will join us to give the opening keynote and Q&A of the conference.  

In addition to this input from the Cabinet Secretary, conscious of the fact that we have Scottish Parliament elections in the new year, we will host our first ever panel with representatives of the four main opposition parties – Conservatives, Greens, Labour and Liberal Democrats.  We will hear their plans for Scottish Education and members will have an opportunity to put questions to the different party representatives too.

Practical
This year’s conference keynotes bring expertise from Scotland, Ireland and England.  

From Ireland, we have Professor Patricia Mannix-Macnamara. Patricia holds an established chair in Educational Leadership at the University of Limerick.  Her research work has focussed on organisational culture, transformation and bullying as well as on the theme of sustaining leadership.  The truly glowing recommendations we received about her from our sister organisations in the Emerald Isle make her session, “Leading with Heart in a Complex World: Culture, Values, and Thriving in Practice”, one to be very highly anticipated.

From England, we have Mike Nicholson.  Many members attended Mike’s session on Progressive Masculinity as part of our Time to Think online programme of events.  In feedback, 100% of those who responded wanted to hear more from Mike at the Annual Conference.  We are delighted that he is able to join in person for a longer keynote/workshop session at Annual Conference to unpack some of the content he shared online, helping delegates think about how they might integrate his themes into school.  

Our home-grown hero filling the final keynote slot is Gavin Oattes from “Tree of Knowledge”.  Gavin is very well known in Scottish Education circles but is making his first appearance at an AHDS conference.  Closing our conference in a session which will undoubtedly be compelling, Gavin will send members back to school with a spring in their step, “…embracing the glorious mess of being human”!

Thursday Keynotes

  • Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth MSP.
  • Mike Nicholson, Progressive Masculinity.

Friday Keynotes

  • Professor Patricia Mannix-Macnamara, University of Limerick. 
  • Gavin Oattes, Tree of Knowledge.

For full descriptions of the keynote sessions CLICK HERE

Thursday Workshops - these workshops are running twice

1 - A whole school approach to supporting pupils with Mathematics 
2 - Screen Smart: Helping students, families and schools build healthier phone habits
3 - “Bringing Our Whole Selves to Work” – The dream of authenticity or the illusion of self-sacrifice? 
4 - Mental Health & Attendance 

For full descriptions of Thursday's workshops CLICK HERE

Friday Workshops - these workshops are running twice aside from the Competency ones, there is a 1st then 2nd session

1 - Reading for pleasure
2 - Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle (Education Scotland)
3 - Digital Discourse 
4 – Competency 1 or Competency 2

For full descriptions of Friday's workshops CLICK HERE

Delegate Rates:
Full conference (Thursday and Friday conference days, conference dinner on Thursday evening and overnight accommodation) - £265+VAT
Full conference room share (as above in twin room) - £220+VAT
Thursday and Friday conference days – £130+VAT
Thursday only – £75+VAT
Friday only - £75+VAT
Conference Dinner - £45+VAT

20 November 2025 - 21 November 2025 - Glasgow

Share This Article:

Register

Use of Data

All data collected in this booking form is only used by AHDS for the purposes of registering you for this event and for communicating with you regarding this. AHDS does not pass on this information to any other party/outside provider nor are any personal details shared.

Please select your booking option

If you have chosen the room share option please provide the name of the person you are sharing with. Only once you have both booked can we confirm your attendance at our conference.

If booking the room share option please state below the person you will be sharing with.

If you are attending on Thursday you can add the conference dinner to your booking. (This is already included if you have booked the full conference)

Workshops

We are running two workshop sessions each day. Please choose from the dropdown lists below which ones you want to attend. If only attending on one day, select N/A for the other day.

Select One.
Select One.
Select One.
Select One.
Your invoice for this event will be emailed out. Please provide the email address that you would like this sent to. Please note if providing a central email a PO number is required.
AHDS members can choose to be kept informed of all our events. If you haven't yet opted in to receive emails about our events in your member profile, you can do so here. (For AHDS members only)
You can choose whether or not you want your name and school details (along with workshop choices) included in the conference app. These will be on the badge you receive on the day.
This booking form constitutes a binding agreement. Payment must be made in full prior to the event except when Local Authority policy doesn’t allow this. If this is the case then payment is due within one month of the date of the event. If you have an overdue invoice for a different event this will need to be paid before confirmation for this event can be given. If, 7 days after booking the conference, you have not received your booking confirmation, please call 07709 126328. Cancellations must be made in writing to training@ahds.org.uk. Cancellations made less than 4 weeks before the conference are liable for the full amount. Non arrivals are liable for the full fee.

Booking Summary

You will receive an immediate email summarising your booking. Please check your junk mail if it doesn't arrive in your inbox. If you haven't received this then neither have we so your booking hasn't come through, please resubmit. Only once you receive a separate email from us is your booking at our conference confirmed.

* Required fields.