HMC
HMC
HEADMASTERS’ AND HEADMISTRESSES’ CONFERENCE
The HMC dates from 1869, when the celebrated Edward Thring of Uppingham asked thirty-seven of his fellow headmasters to meet at his house to consider the formation of a ‘School Society and Annual Conference’. Twelve headmasters accepted the invitation. From that date there have been annual meetings. Thring’s intention was to provide an opportunity for discussion at regular intervals, both on practical issues in the life of a school and on general principles in education. He believed that his guests would discharge their practical business more effectively at a residential meeting where they could also enjoy being in the company of like-minded men. Annual Meetings of the HMC still combine formal debate on current educational questions with the second element of conversational exchanges in an agreeable environment. These gatherings, which up to 1939 were usually at individual schools, then took place at a University. Nowadays they are held in major hotels and conference centres in the Autumn term. In addition to these annual conferences attended by all members, there are local meetings each term arranged by the ten branches or Divisions into which the country is divided.
Present full membership of the HMC is a total of two hundred and ninety-five, which now includes headmasters and headmistresses of boys’, girls’ and co-educational schools. In considering applications for election to membership, the Committee has regard to the degree of independence enjoyed by the Head and his/her school. Eligibility also depends on the academic standards obtaining in the school, as reflected by the proportion of pupils in the Sixth Form pursuing a course of study beyond GCSE and by the school’s public examination results, including A Levels, the International Baccalaureate and the Cambridge Pre-U.
The Constitution provides that the full membership shall consist only of heads of independent schools in the UK and Ireland. At the same time, it is held to be a strength that the Conference includes heads of schools from the maintained sector as well as other influential figures from the world of education. There is provision therefore for the election of a small number of HMC Associates.
In addition the HMC has a number of International members, who are heads of high-quality schools from around the world. The International division meets on two occasions during the academic year and the Chair is a member of the HMC Committee. There is also a small number of Honorary Associates who have been elected to life membership on retirement.
The HMC is closely associated with the other independent sector associations that also belong to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), and with the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), which represents the Heads and senior staff of secondary schools and colleges in both the maintained and independent sectors.
The HMC Committee 2019–2020 |
Elected Members |
Chair | Fiona Boulton | Guildford High School |
Vice-Chair | Shaun Fenton | Reigate Grammar School |
Chair-Elect | Sally-Anne Huang | James Allen’s Girls’ School |
Treasurer | Brendan Wignall | Ellesmere College |
Additional Vice-Chair | Chris Wheeler | Monkton Senior School |
Divisional Members |
Chair – East | Bill Penty | Trent College |
Secretary – East | Douglas Robb | Gresham’s School |
Chair – Irish | Robert Robinson | Campbell College| |
Secretary – Irish | Elizabeth Huddleson | Bangor Grammar School |
Chair – London | Suzie Longstaff | Putney High School |
Secretary – London | Vicky Bingham | South Hampstead High School |
Chair – North East | Anton Maree | Ackworth School |
Secretary – North East | Kieran McLaughlin | Durham School |
Chair – North West | Martin Boulton | The Manchester Grammar School |
Secretary – North West | Simon Hyde | The King’s School Macclesfield |
Chair – Scottish | Johanna Urquhart | Lomond School |
Secretary – Scottish | Colin Gambles | Hutchesons’ Grammar School |
Chair – South Central | Adam Williams | Lord Wandsworth College |
Secretary – South Central | Joanne Thomson | Clayesmore School |
Chair – South East | Julie Lodrick | Kent College Pembury |
Secretary – South East | Bruce Grindlay | Sutton Valence School |
Chair – South West | Andrew Gordon-Brown | Truro School |
Secretary – South West | Mark Lascelles | Dauntsey’s School |
Chair – West | Kathy Crewe-Read | Wolverhampton Grammar School |
Secretary – West | Robert Jones | Rendcomb College |
Chair – International | Mike Lambert | Dubai College |
Secretary – International | Mark Steed | Kellett School Association, Hong Kong |
Co-opted Members |
Chair of Academic Policy | Martin Collier | Haileybury |
Chair of Professional Development | John Watson | Leicester Grammar School |
Chair of Universities | Chris Ramsey | Whitgift School |
Chair of Inspection | Emma Hattersley | Godolphin School |
Chair of Communications | Philip Britton | Bolton School |
Chair of Membership | Brendan Wignall | Ellesmere College |
Chair of Sports | Kevin Knibbs | Hampton School |
Chair of Wellbeing | Chris Jeffery | Bootham School |
Officers (in attendance) |
HMC Executive Director | Michael Buchanan | (Tel: 01858 469059) |
HMC Membership Secretary | Ian Power | (Tel: 01858 465260) |
HMC Chief Operating Officer |
& Company Secretary | Amy Kendrick |
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Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference
12 The Point, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7QU