Platform: Zoom (online) – conference

Audience:

• Leaders and managers
• Boarding staff
• HR
• EDI leaders
• Anyone with an interest and passion for inclusion

Course outline

The IELA Conference is an online event, it is free to IELA members. This year, the conference is focused on collaboration, learning and sharing best practice in EDI work in schools. This event brings together inclusion professionals to exchange ideas and strategies that foster inclusivity, equity, and positive change within our schools and communities.

Training topics will include:

• How to successfully engage stakeholders in EDI work
• Transparency and accountability in EDI
• Looking at EDI through humanity based values
• Harnessing data to support the EDI business case
• Cultivating a sense of belonging
• Harnessing student voice to create effective change
• Looking at SEN through a cultural lens
• How to measure success in inclusion work
• LGBT+ inclusion

Learning outcomes:

• Gain valuable and actionable insights into implementing effective EDI strategies within your school
• Learn how to identify and address systemic barriers to equity and inclusion
• Be part of a network of peers committed to advancing EDI work and fostering inclusive environments

Cost 

• IELA Member Rate: FOC
• Non-member Rate – £235

*If you would like to become a member and access discounted rates for IELA CPD and events, please click here.

View the full conference programme here

Book now

Programme:

09:30 – 10:30

A data-driven approach to embedding EDI into school culture

• Using data to evaluate inclusion in your school

The session will look at innovative ways to use pupil surveys. Our speaker will focus on how to use data to get to know your school community and how to hone in on potential blind-spots in order to improve school culture. 

• Chair:
  • Gaelle Sullivan, Director of Research, Inclusion and IELA
• Speaker:
  • • Sash Naicker, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Epsom College

10:30 – 10:45

Break 

10:45 – 11:45

Cultivating a sense of belonging

Starting from the principle that EDI is in fact about humanity, our speaker will share ways to use the concept of the Human Library to permeate whole school culture.

• Chair:
  • Claire Scrimgeour, Business Support Manager, BSA Group
• Speaker:
  • Lauren Kelley, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator, ACS Cobham

11:45 – 13:00

Lunch

13:00 – 14:00

Equipping teachers to meet the diverse SEN needs in their setting

With the number of students with SEND rising in schools, this session will focus on a holistic approach and how to build staff’s confidence in this area.

• Chair:
  • Gaelle Sullivan, Director of Research, Inclusion and IELA
• Speaker:
  • Fumi St Marthe, EDI Lead & Assistant Head, DLD College

14:00 – 14:15

Break

14:15 – 15:15

EDI, culture and collaboration

Our speakers will delve into how collaboration, community spirit and allyship lead to the best outcomes for staff and students.

• Chair:
  • Bethan Hudson, Executive Director Specialist Services and Director, BAISIS
• Panel:
  • Carolyn Dunn, Vice Principal & SENCO, Abbey College Cambridge
  • Lucy Hart, EDI lead in Boarding, Abbey College Cambridge
  • David Savage, Head of EAL and EDI Lead, Abbey College Cambridge

15:15 – 15:30

Break

15:30 – 16:30

The inclusion journey

In this panel session, we will discuss the highs and lows of the school’s EDI journey, how to celebrate the wins and address challenges.

• Chair: 
  • Gaelle Sullivan, Director of Research, Inclusion and IELA
• Panel:
  • Elizabeth Cobb, Head of Boarding, Beau Soleil School
  • Andy Davidson, EDI Lead, Beau Soleil School

16:30

Conference close

Speakers:

Lauren Kelley, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator, ACS International Schools 

Lauren Kelley is the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Coordinator for ACS International Schools, a group of three schools in the UK. In her role, Lauren chairs ACS’ 60-person DEIB Council; leads a team of Campus Chairs and Network Leads and works closely with students and staff to ensure DEIB is centered in strategy and initiatives. Lauren is passionate about the intersections of wellbeing, self identity and DEIB, and as a result values the importance of including the voices of students, staff and families in order to measure progress and plan future efforts. Lauren holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University in The US. Prior to ACS, Lauren lived in Germany where she opened a bilingual nursery, as well as in the US where she taught the IBPYP in Title I public schools in metro-Detroit. Lauren lives in The UK with her husband and their two young children.

Sashnee Naicker, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Epsom College

Sash Naicker is the Head of Business Studies and BTEC, as well as the Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at Epsom College. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree and has extensive experience in both corporate and educational leadership. After 13 years in corporate Learning and Development consultancy, Sash transitioned to the education sector where she has been instrumental in promoting inclusive practices and leading business studies programmes.

Sash’s expertise extends beyond education— corporate involvement gave her a deep understanding of leadership development, organisational culture, and the challenges of implementing sustainable change in complex environments. She applies this experience to her current role, equipping school leaders and educators with the tools to create truly inclusive communities.

Liz Cobb, Director of Boarding, Collège Alpin Beau Soleil

Liz Cobb (she/her/hers) is from Collège Alpin Beau Soleil, a Nord Anglia school based in Switzerland. With over 300 students from 60 different nationalities, diversity is part of the school’s culture and a vital thread of the community. Liz is Director of Boarding and a qualified PE teacher with over 20 years of boarding experience in the UK and Switzerland. She has been at Beau Soleil for 7 years.

Andrew Davidson, University Counsellor and EDI Champion, Collège Alpin Beau Soleil

Andrew Davidson (he/him/his) is from Collège Alpin Beau Soleil, a Nord Anglia school based in Switzerland. With over 300 students from 60 different nationalities, diversity is part of the school’s culture and a vital thread of the community. Andrew has been a Deputy Housemaster, University Counsellor and EDI Champion since joining in 2022.

Andrew qualified as a science teacher over a decade ago before transitioning into international student support roles at higher education institutions, including University of Sydney and NYU London. In his role as EDI Champion, he advocates for student voice and fostering a safe, inclusive space for dialogue.

Fumi St Marthe, EDI Lead & Assistant head, DLD College

Fumi joined DLD College London in 2016 as a Business teacher. Her leadership journey at DLD has seen her promoted to Head of BTEC, followed by Head of Piccadilly House, and later appointed as Assistant Principal (Pastoral) in 2024. In 2020, Fumi became the EDI Lead, where she has leveraged her skills and experience to lead BSA workshops focused on fostering a more inclusive environment for all students. She is also a qualified Coaching Facilitator.

In her free time, Fumi enjoys trips to the theatre and reading. She also supports health and wellbeing initiatives in her local community that encourage residents to be more active.

Carolyn Dunn, Assistant head & SENCO, Abbey College Cambridge

With over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles, Carolyn is a chemistry teacher by training, currently serving as the Vice Principal Pastoral, DSL, and SENDCo at a 13-19 Independent Day and Boarding School. She is passionate about inspiring girls to pursue chemistry and related disciplines while creating innovative opportunities for personal and academic growth. The school is home to students from over 40 different nationalities, making Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) a core focus. The school’s commitment to EDI has been integral in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment, recognized during a recent ISI inspection for the seamless integration of EDI in all aspects of school life.

Lucy Hart, EDI Lead in Boarding, Abbey College Cambridge

Lucy is the Boarding Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) at Abbey College Cambridge. Lucy works to create an inclusive and supportive environment for the College’s diverse international student community. Over the past two years, she supported initiatives around the LGBTQ+ community and collaborated with the Diversity Coordinator and students to enhance the EDI presence across the college and boarding house. With nearly 10 years of experience as a Houseparent and Deputy Head of House, Lucy is passionate about bridging the school and boarding environments, ensuring that students receive seamless support both academically and personally. Lucy loves working in the boarding setting, where she can directly mentor students and help create a close-knit, inclusive community. In March 2024, she had the privilege of being a guest speaker at a student-led conference focused on the intersection of sport and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), reflecting her commitment to inclusivity in education. Lucy is excited to continue developing my work in EDI at Abbey College Cambridge.

David Savage, EDI Lead in Boarding, Abbey College Cambridge

David Savage has been the Multicultural & Diversity Coordinator at Abbey College Cambridge since 2020. In this role, he promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives across the school. He works closely with the Student Council to celebrate cultural festivals and themed events and helped to implement the Abbey Diversity Charter to promote inclusivity. Additionally, he delivers staff CPD on diversity-related topics such as language sensitivity and promoting EDI in the classroom. His aim is to ensure that Abbey College remains a welcoming and inclusive community for all students and staff.