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-eight, 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 regularly, 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 2021–2022 |
Elected Members |
Chair | Richard Backhouse | Berkhamsted School |
Vice-Chair | Sally-Anne Huang | St Paul’s School |
Chair-Elect | Melvyn Roffe | George Watson’s College |
Treasurer | Brendan Wignall | Ellesmere College |
Divisional Members |
Chair – East | Chris Townsend | Felsted School |
Secretary – East | Jonathan Reddin | Ratcliffe College |
Chair – Irish | Robert Robinson | Campbell College| |
Secretary – Irish | David Burnett | Royal School Dungannon |
Chair – London | Alastair Land | Harrow School |
Secretary – London | Ceri Jones | Caterham School |
Chair – North East | Simon Hinchliffe | Bradford Grammar School |
Secretary – North East | James Lockwood | Woodhouse Grove School |
Chair – North West | Craig Mairs | Oldham Hulme Grammar School |
Secretary – North West | John Browne | Stonyhurst College |
Chair – Scottish | Lisa Kerr | Gordonstoun |
Secretary – Scottish | Barry Welsh | The Edinburgh Academy |
Chair – South Central | Matthew Judd | Leighton Park School |
Secretary – South Central | William le Fleming | The Abbey School |
Chair – South East | Ben Charles | King’s Rochester |
Secretary – South East | Dominic Oliver | Lancing College |
Chair – South West | Jaideep Barot | Bristol Grammar School |
Secretary – South West | Chris Wheeler | Monkton Senior School |
Chair – West | Gareth Doodes | The King’s School, Worcester |
Secretary – West | Rob Jones | Rendcomb College |
Chair – International | Mark Steed | Kellett School, Hong Kong |
Secretary – International | Matthew Taylor | King’s College, Madrid |
Co-opted Members |
Chair of Academic Policy | Martin Collier | Haileybury |
Chair of Professional Development | Ben Vessey | Canford School |
Chair of Universities | Nick Weaver | Ipswich School |
Chair of Inspection | Jason Slack | The King’s School in Macclesfield |
Chair of Communications | Philip Britton | Bolton School |
Chair of Membership | George Hartley | King’s School, Chester |
Chair of Sports | Kevin Knibbs | Hampton School |
Chair of Pastoral & Safeguarding | Sarah Kerr-Dineen | Oundle School |
Officers (in attendance) |
General Secretary & CEO | Dr Simon Hyde | HMC |
Director of Finance & Operations | Chris Silver | HMC |
Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference
12 The Point, Rockingham Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 7QU