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:
Thursday and Friday conference days – £130+VAT
Thursday only – £75+VAT
Friday only - £75+VAT
Conference Dinner - £45+VAT

This AHDS conference is a member's only event. 

AGM

By attending the AGM you will have the opportunity to shape the work of the Association. Post-holders for the National Executive and motions from members are heard and discussed. Motions have the capacity to make a big impact on the priorities of the Association and can be of great interest to the media and to key decision-makers.

For full details, National Executive Nomination forms and Motions forms, click here. 

20 November 2025 - 21 November 2025 - Glasgow