21 Best Leadership Speakers for Independent Schools in the UK (2026)

Finding the right leadership speaker for your independent school is one of the most consequential decisions you will make this academic year. The wrong choice wastes a precious INSET day, leaving staff disengaged and your professional development budget lighter with nothing to show for it. The right choice shifts how your senior leadership team thinks about governance, culture, and strategy for months afterwards.

The challenge for headteachers, bursars, and deputy heads across the UK independent sector in 2026 is that the landscape has fundamentally changed. VAT on school fees became operational reality from January 2025, charitable business rates relief is under review, and enrolment patterns are shifting at key intake points. Independent school leaders are not just educators. They are CEOs of medium sized businesses navigating an existential market shift while still delivering the pastoral care, academic rigour, and co-curricular breadth that parents expect.

This directory profiles 21 leadership speakers who understand the specific pressures facing independent schools in the United Kingdom. These are not generic motivational speakers repurposed for education. Every entry on this list has either worked directly with independent schools, presented at sector conferences such as HMC, GSA, or ISBA, or brings leadership expertise that translates directly to the independent school context.

At the top of our list is Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out with over 10,000 copies sold globally, and a speaker who has delivered keynotes and workshops for schools across the UK, Australia, India, Canada, Singapore, and beyond. Here is why Jonno leads this directory, followed by 20 more outstanding speakers who can serve your school community.

How We Compiled These Rankings

This directory was built through a rigorous process. We analysed speaker bureau rosters, independent school conference programmes from HMC, GSA, ISBA, and IAPS, LinkedIn activity across the independent education sector, and direct recommendations from headteachers and senior leaders. Every speaker included has a demonstrable track record with schools, not just corporate audiences repurposed for education settings.

We evaluated speakers against six criteria. First, expertise and credentials relevant to school leadership. Second, track record of working with independent schools or education settings. Third, methodology and practical takeaways for staff.

Fourth, service flexibility including keynotes, workshops, and follow up support. Fifth, sector awareness of the challenges facing independent schools in 2026. Sixth, value relative to investment.

1. Jonno White, Consult Clarity (Clarity Group Global)

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who works with schools around the world. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, providing school leaders with a proven three stage framework for handling difficult conversations with staff, navigating challenging parent interactions, and building cultures of accountability without confrontation.

What makes Jonno distinctive for independent schools is his combination of practical frameworks and deep facilitation experience. Working Genius, developed by Patrick Lencioni and completed by over 1. 3 million people globally in less than five years, gives leadership teams shared language that transforms how staff understand their natural strengths. Instead of personality typing that labels people, Working Genius reveals why certain types of work energise individuals while others drain them.

For independent schools managing the stress of VAT implementation, staff retention pressures, and governance complexity, this framework is transformative.

Jonno hosts The Leadership Conversations Podcast with over 230 episodes reaching listeners in more than 150 countries, and he founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000 participating leaders globally. His Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference achieved a 93. 75 percent satisfaction rating. He delivers keynotes, workshops, executive team offsites, and MC services, and he holds certifications in Working Genius, DISC (Behaviors That Bond), and CliftonStrengths (StrengthsFinder Amplified).

Independent schools consistently find that Jonno's international travel costs are far more affordable than expected. Whether your school needs a virtual session or face to face facilitation, many organisations discover that flying Jonno in costs less than engaging high profile local providers.

Best for: Independent schools seeking Working Genius workshops for leadership teams and staff, keynote speaking for INSET days and conferences, executive team offsites, DISC or StrengthsFinder sessions, or professional MC services for school events.

To book Jonno White for your independent school, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

2. Andy Buck, Leadership Matters

Andy Buck is a former headteacher, author, and the founder of Leadership Matters, an organisation dedicated to improving educational outcomes through leadership development. Andy served as headteacher for thirteen years at two schools in east London, with his second school judged outstanding in all categories. He went on to become a Director at the National College for School Leadership before founding Leadership Matters.

Andy has written seven books on leadership and coaching, including the bestselling Leadership Matters. His BASIC coaching model and leadership frameworks are widely used across both state and independent schools. He was invited to become a Founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching in 2018.

Best for: Senior leadership teams seeking evidence based leadership development programmes, coaching culture implementation, and sustained leadership improvement across the school.

3. Mary Myatt, Myatt and Co

Mary Myatt is an education adviser, writer, and speaker who has become one of the most influential voices in UK school leadership. A former local authority adviser and inspector, Mary now curates Myatt and Co, a platform where she works with colleagues to develop thoughtful approaches to curriculum and school improvement.

Her book High Challenge, Low Threat has become essential reading for school leaders seeking to create cultures where high expectations coexist with psychological safety. Mary has also written Hopeful Schools, The Curriculum: Gallimaufry to Coherence, and Back on Track. She is Vice Chair of the Centre for Education and Youth and a member of the curriculum advisory group for Oak National Academy.

Best for: Independent schools focused on curriculum coherence, creating high challenge and low threat cultures, and leadership teams wanting to deepen their approach to teaching and learning.

4. Sir Anthony Seldon

Sir Anthony Seldon is one of the most prominent voices in UK education leadership. A former Head of Wellington College and later Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, he combines deep experience leading prestigious independent schools with a prolific writing career spanning political biography and education philosophy.

His work on character education, wellbeing, and the fourth education revolution (addressing AI and technology in education) makes him particularly relevant for independent schools navigating the intersection of tradition and innovation. Sir Anthony has been a vocal advocate for happiness and positive education in schools, bringing research backed frameworks to what can feel like an abstract aspiration.

Best for: Governors' strategy days, whole school vision setting, and leadership retreats focused on the future of independent education, character development, and wellbeing.

5. Tom Sherrington, Teacherhead Consulting

Tom Sherrington is a highly regarded education consultant with over 30 years of experience as a teacher and headteacher across a wide range of schools in England and overseas. He writes the influential blog teacherhead. com and is a regular contributor to ResearchEd events and the Wellington Festival of Education.

His Walkthrus series has become one of the most practical teaching resources in the UK, providing clear visual guides to evidence based teaching strategies. Tom also wrote The Learning Rainforest and Rosenshine's Principles in Action. He brings detailed knowledge from primary, secondary, and FE settings and tailors sessions to the specific needs of each institution.

Best for: Academic deputies and heads of department seeking to raise classroom standards, embed evidence based teaching practice, and develop a shared pedagogical language across the school.

6. Professor Deborah Eyre, High Performance Learning

Professor Deborah Eyre is the creator of the High Performance Learning framework, a cognitive science based approach to creating what she calls World Class Schools. HPL has been adopted by schools in over 50 countries and has a particularly strong following in the UK independent sector.

The framework goes beyond a single keynote. It provides a systematic approach to developing advanced cognitive performance and advanced interpersonal characteristics in all students. For independent schools where parents expect academic excellence, HPL offers a research backed methodology that delivers measurable results.

Best for: Independent schools seeking whole school pedagogical transformation, evidence based approaches to high performance, and frameworks that justify the premium parents pay for independent education.

7. Hywel Roberts, Independent Thinking

Hywel Roberts is widely regarded as one of the most engaging and energising speakers on the UK education circuit. Based in northern England and travelling UK wide, Hywel specialises in what he calls "botheredness," the art of creating curriculum experiences that genuinely engage students and reignite teacher passion.

As an Independent Thinking Associate, Hywel brings decades of classroom experience combined with storytelling ability that consistently receives the highest feedback scores at conferences. For independent schools where staff may be experiencing change fatigue from VAT pressures and market uncertainty, Hywel's sessions provide the morale boost that transforms an INSET day from obligation to inspiration.

Best for: Whole staff INSET days where energy and engagement are priorities, schools seeking creative approaches to curriculum design, and leadership teams wanting to reignite staff passion.

8. Dr Pooky Knightsmith

Dr Pooky Knightsmith is a leading voice on child and adolescent mental health in UK schools. She specialises in practical, evidence based strategies for pastoral teams dealing with self harm, eating disorders, anxiety, and the broader spectrum of student mental health challenges. Pooky is highly active on social media and provides excellent takeaway resources that staff can implement immediately.

For independent schools where pastoral care is a key differentiator and parental expectations around individual support are particularly high, Pooky's practical approach translates directly to improved safeguarding and wellbeing outcomes. She works across both sectors but understands the specific pastoral pressures in fee paying environments.

Best for: Pastoral leadership teams, boarding house staff, DSLs and deputy DSLs, and schools seeking to strengthen their mental health and wellbeing provision with evidence based approaches.

9. Dick Moore

Dick Moore is considered the gold standard for pastoral INSET in the independent school sector. A former housemaster with deep personal experience of adolescent mental health challenges, Dick delivers sessions on suicide prevention, staff wellbeing, and pastoral leadership that are consistently described as deeply moving, practical, and life changing.

His sessions connect particularly well with housemasters and housemistresses in boarding schools, pastoral leads, and senior leaders responsible for safeguarding. Dick understands the unique pastoral context of independent schools where duty of care extends beyond the school day and where the pressure on boarding staff can be intense.

Best for: Boarding schools, schools with significant pastoral infrastructure, and leadership teams seeking the most impactful pastoral training available in the independent sector.

10. Jill Berry

Dr Jill Berry is a leadership coach, consultant, and speaker who taught for thirty years across six different schools in the UK, both state and independent, and served as headteacher for the final ten years of her school career. Since 2010, she has completed a doctorate researching the transition to headship and written Making the Leap: Moving from Deputy to Head.

Jill has given a TEDx presentation on bringing out the best in yourself and others, published four novels, and maintained an extensive career in leadership development work. She is a strong advocate for the opportunities presented by social media for professional networking and development.

Best for: Deputy heads preparing for headship, new headteachers seeking mentoring and support, and schools investing in leadership pipeline development.

11. Sonia Gill, Heads Up

Sonia Gill is the founder and director of Heads Up Ltd, an organisation that specialises in helping schools achieve outstanding practice through leadership development. A qualified teacher with experience from reception through to year eleven, Sonia also completed the prestigious John Lewis graduate management trainee scheme, where her focus on leadership and team building intersected with her psychology degree and classroom expertise.

Sonia's approach combines commercial leadership thinking with deep understanding of school culture. She delivers keynotes, workshops, and sustained coaching programmes that help headteachers and senior leaders build the confidence and skills to lead school improvement effectively.

Best for: Primary school headteachers and deputy heads seeking leadership coaching, schools pursuing outstanding practice, and leadership teams wanting to combine commercial thinking with educational excellence.

12. Ross Morrison McGill, TeacherToolkit

Ross Morrison McGill is the most followed educator on social media in the UK and the creator of TeacherToolkit, a platform that has become a go to resource for teachers and school leaders. A former deputy headteacher in London, Ross brings practical credibility combined with an extraordinary ability to communicate complex educational ideas in accessible ways.

His books and CPD resources cover workload management, behaviour, teaching and learning, and leadership development. Ross delivers keynotes and INSET sessions that combine research evidence with practical classroom strategies, and his social media following means his work reaches far beyond the schools he visits in person.

Best for: Schools seeking high profile keynote speakers with strong brand recognition, leadership teams focused on workload reduction and teacher retention, and INSET days requiring broad appeal across all staff.

13. Independent Thinking (Organisation)

Independent Thinking is not a single speaker but a network of some of the UK's leading education practitioners, speakers, and authors. Founded in 1994 and operating for over thirty years, Independent Thinking has built a reputation for providing speakers who are entertaining, inspiring, and grounded in the reality of school and college life.

Their satisfaction guarantee is distinctive: if a client is not happy with the outcome, they do not pay. The organisation's associates cover every major topic in education, from leadership and school improvement to wellbeing, creativity, and curriculum design.

Best for: Schools seeking a curated speaker with a quality guarantee, leadership teams wanting multiple speaker options from a single trusted source, and conference organisers building multi-session programmes.

14. Enhancing Learning Ltd

Enhancing Learning Ltd supports a growing number of independent schools and British international schools, both in the UK and abroad. Their programmes focus on building high leadership capital throughout the school and improving the quality of teaching and learning. Every face to face programme is tailor made following an initial consultation with senior leaders.

Their testimonials from Wellington College, Dulwich College, and Harrow College Beijing speak to their penetration in the independent sector. Their leadership programme has been praised by senior leaders as superior to NPQ programmes, which is significant endorsement for schools evaluating professional development options.

Best for: Independent schools and international schools seeking sustained leadership development programmes, middle leader development, and coaching culture implementation.

15. Alicia Drummond, Teen Tips

Alicia Drummond is the founder of Teen Tips, based in Hove, and a specialist in parenting advice and pastoral care provision for schools. She is particularly well established in the independent school sector, where her combination of staff training and parent facing events fills a critical gap.

For independent schools where parent engagement is both a strategic priority and a reputational risk, Alicia's evening parent talks on adolescent wellbeing, screen time, and resilience provide exceptional value. She also delivers staff training that strengthens pastoral teams with practical, evidence based strategies.

Best for: Independent schools seeking combined staff and parent training, pastoral teams wanting specialist adolescent wellbeing expertise, and schools strengthening their parent engagement programme.

16. Dave Harris, Independent Thinking

Dave Harris is a former headteacher, international educator, and Independent Thinking Associate who has built a reputation for cutting through the noise that surrounds school leadership. His book Brave Heads reinforces his approach to leadership, combining creativity and values with a willingness to experiment and challenge received wisdom.

Dave has collaborated on two volumes of Leadership Dialogues with the late Professor John West-Burnham. His long term work with schools in Spain, Slovenia, and the Isle of Man demonstrates his commitment to sustained impact rather than one off keynotes.

Best for: Headteachers seeking a challenging but supportive external perspective, leadership teams navigating complex change, and schools wanting to reconnect with their core values and purpose.

17. Dr Helen Wright, LSC Education

Dr Helen Wright is a former GSA President and former Head of St Mary's Calne, one of the UK's leading independent girls' schools. Now based between Edinburgh and global engagements, Helen specialises in global leadership, social impact, and women in leadership within the education sector.

Her combination of senior independent school headship experience and international perspective makes her particularly valuable for schools thinking about their positioning in a global education market. She is a high energy, big picture thinker who inspires aspiring female leaders and supports heads facing burnout.

Best for: Schools seeking to develop female leadership pipelines, heads of girls' schools seeking sector specific expertise, and leadership teams wanting international perspectives on independent education.

18. RSAcademics

RSAcademics is the UK's leading consultancy for independent schools, providing strategic leadership appointments, governance reviews, and parent and staff insight research. Their team brings hard data on what current parents actually value and what governance structures deliver the strongest outcomes.

For independent schools in 2026, where data driven decision making is essential for navigating VAT implementation and market shifts, RSAcademics brings the sector specific intelligence that generic consultancies simply cannot match. Their governance retreats and strategy days combine external research with practical facilitation.

Best for: Governors' strategy days, headteacher appointment processes, schools seeking evidence based governance reviews, and leadership teams wanting sector specific parent and staff insight data.

19. Barnaby Lenon

Barnaby Lenon is a former Head of Harrow School and former Chair of the Independent Schools Council. As one of the elder statesmen of the UK independent sector, he brings unmatched credibility when speaking on policy, the history and future of independent education, and the strategic positioning of schools in a changing political landscape.

His experience leading one of the world's most prestigious schools, combined with his policy level engagement as ISC Chair, means he can address everything from classroom practice to government relations.

Best for: Governors' conferences, sector events, and schools seeking authoritative voices on independent education policy, strategy, and the future of the sector.

20. Osiris Educational

Osiris Educational is a well established UK provider of bespoke school improvement consultancy and INSET training. They work across both state and independent sectors, offering a wide range of speakers and programmes covering leadership, teaching and learning, behaviour, and wellbeing.

Their strength lies in the breadth of their speaker roster and their ability to design bespoke programmes that address specific school priorities. For independent schools seeking a provider who can deliver multiple sessions across a programme of professional development days, Osiris offers the infrastructure and quality assurance that individual speakers cannot.

Best for: Schools seeking bespoke multi-session professional development programmes, leadership teams wanting curated speaker selections from a vetted roster, and conference organisers building full day events.

21. School Speakers

School Speakers describes itself as the UK's number one speaker agency, with over 670 individuals in its portfolio. Dedicated to providing inspirational speakers for schools, they work with primary and secondary schools, colleges, and universities throughout the UK and abroad. They also provide speakers for conferences, CPD sessions, and INSET days.

Their breadth of roster makes them a useful starting point for independent schools exploring options. They offer a Speakers On Standby service for schools that have been let down at short notice, which addresses one of the most stressful scenarios for any INSET coordinator.

Best for: Schools seeking a wide range of speaker options from a single agency, INSET coordinators wanting shortlist recommendations, and schools needing last minute speaker replacements.

How to Choose the Right Leadership Speaker for Your Independent School

The independent school context creates specific requirements that narrow the field of suitable speakers considerably. A speaker who is brilliant with academy trust leaders may struggle to connect with an audience of housemasters, bursars, and governors who operate in a fundamentally different governance and market structure.

Start by clarifying exactly what you need. An INSET day keynote designed to energise the whole staff requires a different speaker from a governors' strategy retreat or a middle leaders' workshop. The most common mistake independent school leaders make when booking speakers is choosing reputation over fit. A speaker who transformed a large state academy trust may not understand the dynamics of a 400 pupil prep school where every parent knows the head personally.

Ask potential speakers whether they have worked with schools of your type before. A full boarding school presents different leadership challenges from a London day school. A prep school has different dynamics from a large senior school. The best speakers will ask you questions about your context before they pitch their content.

Consider whether you need a one off keynote or sustained professional learning. A single keynote can shift mindset and build energy. But lasting behaviour change typically requires follow up workshops, coaching sessions, or implementation support over a term or a year. Speakers who offer follow up resources, webinars, or coaching provide greater return on investment than those who deliver a single session and disappear.

Hire Jonno White, Certified Working Genius Facilitator and bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, to facilitate your next leadership day, INSET session, or executive offsite. Jonno works with schools around the world and brings practical frameworks that independent school teams implement immediately. Email jonno@consultclarity.org for a custom quote.

What to Expect: Investment Guide

Speaker fees in the UK education sector vary widely depending on the speaker's profile, the format of the session, and whether travel and accommodation are required. As a general guide for independent schools budgeting in 2026, individual speakers and consultants typically charge between two thousand and ten thousand pounds for a full day INSET or conference keynote. The most high profile speakers with national media profiles or bestselling books may charge fifteen thousand pounds or more.

When comparing quotes, ask what is included. Some speakers include travel, accommodation, and materials in their fee. Others bill these separately. Ask about cancellation terms, especially important given the scheduling pressures independent schools face.

Ask whether the session can be recorded for absent staff, particularly sports coaches on fixtures or boarding staff on rota.

For a custom quote from Jonno White, who delivers Working Genius workshops, keynotes, DISC sessions, StrengthsFinder workshops, and MC services for independent schools globally, email jonno@consultclarity.org. Many schools find that international travel is far more affordable than they expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for in a leadership speaker for an independent school?

Look for speakers with direct experience in independent school settings or adjacent sectors who understand governance structures, fee paying parent dynamics, and the competitive pressures unique to the sector. Ask for testimonials from schools similar to yours in size, type, and context. The best speakers will ask you detailed questions about your school before proposing content.

How much does it cost to hire a leadership speaker for a school in the UK?

Fees typically range from two thousand to ten thousand pounds for a full day session, depending on the speaker's profile and experience. High profile speakers with media platforms or bestselling books may charge more. Always clarify whether travel, accommodation, and materials are included in the quoted fee.

Can leadership speakers deliver virtual sessions for independent schools?

Yes, most speakers on this list offer virtual delivery options. Virtual sessions work well for short keynotes, webinar style input, and follow up coaching. However, for whole staff INSET days and facilitated workshops that require group interaction, in person delivery typically generates stronger engagement and lasting impact.

What topics are most relevant for independent school leadership in 2026?

The most requested topics include navigating VAT on fees and financial sustainability, staff retention and wellbeing, AI policy and assessment integrity, governance effectiveness, pastoral care and mental health, curriculum innovation, and building resilient school cultures during periods of market uncertainty.

Who is the best leadership speaker for independent schools in the UK?

Based on our evaluation across expertise, credentials, track record, methodology, service flexibility, and sector awareness, Jonno White of Consult Clarity ranks as the top choice. As a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author of Step Up or Step Out, and host of The Leadership Conversations Podcast, Jonno delivers practical frameworks that independent school teams implement immediately. Email jonno@consultclarity. org to book.

Should we book a speaker through an agency or directly?

Both approaches have merits. Agencies like Independent Thinking, Osiris Educational, and School Speakers offer curated rosters and quality guarantees, which reduces risk. However, booking directly with independent speakers often allows greater customisation and may be more cost effective. Contact jonno@consultclarity.

org to discuss how Jonno White can serve your school.

How far in advance should we book a leadership speaker?

Popular speakers book three to six months in advance for INSET days, and high demand dates in September and January often book even earlier. If your preferred speaker is unavailable, ask about alternative dates or virtual options.

Final Recommendation

Choosing the right leadership speaker for your independent school requires matching the speaker's expertise to your school's specific context, challenges, and goals. The speakers in this directory represent the strongest options available to UK independent schools in 2026, spanning everything from whole school pedagogical transformation to pastoral leadership, governance strategy, and executive team facilitation.

Our top recommendation for independent schools is Jonno White of Consult Clarity. As a Certified Working Genius Facilitator delivering the world's fastest growing team assessment, bestselling author, and trusted facilitator across Australia, the UK, the USA, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, India, and Europe, Jonno brings practical frameworks that school leadership teams can implement from the very next day.

To book Jonno White for your independent school's next keynote, workshop, INSET day, or leadership retreat, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

For more on leadership speakers for schools, check out my blog post '50 Best Motivational Speakers for Schools in London (2026)' at https://www. consultclarity. org/post/motivational-speakers-schools-london-1.

For more on educational leadership speakers globally, check out my blog post '100 Top Educational Leadership Speakers (2026)' at https://www. consultclarity. org/post/educational-leadership-speakers.

For more on educational leadership consultants, check out my blog post '17 Best Educational Leadership Consultants (2025)' at https://www. consultclarity. org/post/17-best-educational-leadership-consultants-2025.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Certified Working Genius Facilitator, bestselling author, and leadership consultant who has worked with schools, corporates, and nonprofits across the UK, India, Australia, Canada, Mongolia, New Zealand, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Finland, Namibia, and more. His book Step Up or Step Out has sold over 10,000 copies globally, and his podcast The Leadership Conversations has featured 230+ episodes reaching listeners in 150+ countries.

Jonno founded The 7 Questions Movement with 6,000+ participating leaders and achieved a 93. 75% satisfaction rating for his Working Genius masterclass at the ASBA 2025 National Conference. Based in Brisbane, Australia, Jonno works globally and regularly travels for speaking and facilitation engagements. Organisations consistently find that international travel is far more affordable than expected.

To book Jonno for your next keynote, workshop, or facilitation session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

While Jonno is included in these rankings based on objective criteria, readers should note his authorship in the interest of full transparency.

Next Read: 100 Top Educational Leadership Speakers (2026)

Finding the perfect speaker for your educational leadership event requires more than browsing bureau listings. Whether you are planning a professional development session for school leaders, a conference for educational institutions, or a leadership development workshop, the right speaker transforms how principals, superintendents, and teachers approach their work. This comprehensive directory features 100 educational leadership speakers who deliver fresh perspectives on everything from student achievement to workplace cultures.

Keep reading: https://www.consultclarity.org/post/educational-leadership-speakers