IAPS

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas from everyone at IAPS! Please note that IAPS HQ will be closed from Friday 20 December – Thursday 2 January. We hope you all enjoy a well-earned break over the holidays! 🎅🎄✨ #APS #ChristmasHolidays #OutOfOffice #IndependentSchools #PrepSchools

The latest episode of the IAPS Podcast is now live! IAPS Head of Professional Development, Matt Evered, is joined by Head of Tranby Prep, Catherine Sweeting, and Adam Hurst, Head of Dolphin School Llp, as they discuss their journeys to Headship and provide useful advice for the aspiring Heads of the future. The IAPS Podcast is available on most major podcast platforms. https://bit.ly/4g5D4Ky

So proud to be part of IAPS! Lots more opportunities for our pupils and staff. Roll on 2025! LVS Ascot | Christine Cunniffe 🙌🏼

The 2024 Preparation for Headship course was a resounding success, receiving glowing feedback for its engaging sessions, inspiring speakers, and practical workshops. Attendees appreciated the honest and motivational insights into headship and praised the thoughtfully planned program. Don't miss your chance to join the January 2025 cohort, running from the 16th to the 18th at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa. This three-day residential course is tailored for deputy heads, directors of studies and senior managers, who are actively seeking headship as a future role, and will be featuring expert-led presentations, interactive activities, and opportunities to refine essential leadership skills. Whether you're an IAPS member or work in a state school, attendance is open to all, so book now to secure your spot - spaces are filling fast. Don't forget that this event is now biennial so this will be your last chance to book on until 2026-2027! https://ow.ly/6j7a50UooUX #IAPS #PreparationforHeadship #PrepSchoolDeputyHeads #DeputyHeads #PrepSchoolSLT #CPDforTeachers #IndependentSchools #PrepSchools

On behalf of everyone at IAPS, we hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Huge thanks to all the schools who took part in this year’s Christmas message. #iaps #christmas #independentschools

🌟 Why Join IAPS? 🌟 We're thrilled to share this fantastic testimonial from the Head of Cameron Vale School, highlighting the incredible value of IAPS membership. From fostering collaboration between schools in your school's district, to offering outstanding professional development and networking opportunities, this is what being part of IAPS is all about! A huge thank you to Alison Melrose for sharing these kind words. Testimonials like this reinforce our commitment to supporting our schools in the UK and across the rest of the world. Find out here how you and your school can also experience these benefits too! https://ow.ly/6FBu50UiOwV #IAPS #ProfessionalExcellence #SchoolCollaboration #MembershipMatters #IndependentSchools #PrepSchoolsAssociation #PrepSchoolHeads #InependentSchoolHeads

If you expressed an interest in taking part in the IAPS Christmas message, don’t forget to email your contributions to the IAPS Comms Team by the end of today! (Applies to IAPS schools only)

Today’s School in the Spotlight is Pownall Hall School in Cheshire. This past year at Pownall Hall has been filled with remarkable achievements and exciting developments. A standout highlight has been the growth of the girls’ football teams, known as the Pownall Tigresses. The girls have embraced the sport enthusiastically, participating in training sessions, meeting famous female footballers, attending Women’s Super League games, and playing in competitive fixtures. Notably, the Tigresses entered the ISFA qualifiers for the first time and are set to compete at the IAPS qualifiers in Loughborough this academic year. Their success includes Form 4 girls winning a local football cup, Form 6 reaching two finals, and the U11 girls being crowned IAPS North West Netball champions, earning a place at the IAPS Nationals. Form 6 also celebrated academic success, with outstanding 11+ results securing places at their chosen schools. They capped the year with a dazzling three-day production of Bugsy, a 1920s-themed musical filled with song, dance, and humour, bringing life to the Boddington Theatre like never before. In Early Years, the school introduced the Heron Room to complement its existing EYFS provision. This space supports three-year-olds transitioning from the free-flow, hygge-inspired Owl Rooms to the Kindergarten. Designed with a focus on outdoor/indoor aesthetics and learning through play, the Heron Room provides a nurturing environment for young learners. Across the school, specialist teaching continues to thrive, with activities such as yoga, Forest School, PE and Games, French, and music enriching the curriculum. Pownall has also extended its community outreach by joining a local football league for boys and girls of all abilities and hosting matches and tournaments on its pitches. This initiative supports local state schools, particularly those without their own facilities, enabling more children to participate and reducing match cancellations. Pupil voice remains a cornerstone of Pownall’s ethos, exemplified during Children’s Mental Health Week with the theme My Voice Matters. Opportunities for pupils to express themselves include the School Council, Form 6 Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, newly designed worry boxes in classrooms, an open-door policy for staff, and regular encouragement to share concerns and ideas. At Pownall, every child is heard and valued, ensuring a nurturing and inclusive environment for all. If you would like your school to be in the IAPS spotlight, comment “Spotlight” below and we will contact you! 🌟 #IAPS #PownallHallSchool #CheshireSchools #CheshirePrepSchools #CheshireIndependentSchools #IndependentSchool #PrepSchool #WilmslowSchools

The IAPS & ISEB | Independent Schools Examinations Board Time to Write creative writing competition is now open! Visit our website to find out more about how to get involved. Get ready – it's Time to Write! https://lnkd.in/eHmRNPSB

Find out how you can maximise partnership opportunities with limited resources at the AMCIS-IAPS #PrepSchool Seminar in January. Presenter Becky Schwarz is Head of both Partnerships and Science at Abingdon School. Becky will be co-presenting with Dr Margaret Hunnaball, who has enjoyed a career in teaching, senior leadership experience, and research into cross-sector educational partnerships. See the full programme here: https://buff.ly/3Na8cf8