Date: Thursday 20 November 2025
Venue: Runnymede College, Madrid, Spain
A unique opportunity to listen to and engage with leading UK educational speakers, and network with fellow professionals from outstanding international schools.
About IAPS
Thank you for your interest in the first IAPS European Headteacher and SEND Conference.
IAPS is a world-leading membership organisation for Heads of prep and junior age schools, based in the UK. It exists to provide its members with support, advice, training, events, services and connection to each other, and over 650 leading schools from around the world are part of the Association today. Please see more details on the benefits of membership.
This event is open to member and non-member schools from the region and is offered free of charge.
Alongside the networking opportunities, the day will consist of two speaker tracks:
For Headteachers of prep/ junior international schools
A series of sessions including:
- The future for British Education within an international landscape
- Lessons & earnings from UK School leadership and a global school group
- Updates on British curriculum and inspection areas
- SEND leadership – what you need to know as a Head
For SENDCo colleagues
An interactive day of workshops and seminars including:
- Key UK SEND developments and updates
- SEND challenges for SENDCo colleagues, teachers and management and how to overcome them
- SEND in the context of international schools
How to confirm your attendance
If you wish to attend the event on Thursday 20 November, please complete our expression of interest form and a member of our International Team will contact you to confirm your place.
Confirmed Speakers
Mark Semmence
Mark Semmence is the Headmaster of Repton School and CEO of the Repton Group, which educates over 10,000 pupils across three continents. Before joining Repton in 2019, Mark spent five years as Headmaster at Mount Kelly, where he oversaw the successful merger of three schools, and seven years at Rugby School, serving as Assistant Headmaster and teaching economics.
Mark’s career in education is underpinned by a decade of experience in international sports marketing, working in London, Dubai, and New York for the Quintus Group (now IMG). Mark also co-founded an education services business, which was acquired by the TES in 2021.
Dr Katharine Sharpe
Dr Katharine Sharpe is a Chartered Educational Psychologist, experienced educator, and Director of Sharpe Psychology Ltd. She has extensive expertise in psychological assessment, consultation, training, and teaching. After completing her degree in Psychology, she began her career as a primary teacher before qualifying as an Educational Psychologist (EP). Katharine spent 15 years working as an EP within a large local authority, including 7 years as a Senior EP managing a large locality team of psychologists. She then moved into the independent sector as Head of Learning Support and Assistant Head (Pastoral) at a prep school, while continuing to run her private EP practice. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from UCL.
Now working full time in private practice, Katharine supports schools, pupils, and families across both local authority and independent sectors. She is an experienced conference speaker, formerly served as SEND Subject Advisor for the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS), and currently sits on the Independent Schools Council (ISC) Cross-Association SEND Advisory Group. Katharine provides expert SEND consultancy via IAPS on a regular basis.
Dominic Norrish
As well as leading the IAPS team in Warwick, Dominic works with the Chair and the Board to shape the strategic direction of IAPS.
A career educationalist, Dominic trained as a History teacher and worked in classroom and leadership roles in a number of schools.
Prior to joining IAPS, Dominic was the COO of United Learning, the UK's largest schools group and operator of several independent schools.
Nick Robinson
Nick is the Director of International for IAPS and is responsible for the delivery of a new international strategy which aims to further benefit all member Heads and their schools. Alongside this Nick is also an ISI Inspector (since 2016) and an educational leadership consultant.
Prior to this Nick was Head at Prestfelde School, in Shrewsbury, and West Buckland Prep, North Devon, and held a number of prep school senior leadership roles for over 20 years.
Prior to working in education, Nick was a swimming coach for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.