The British School New Delhi and UCL Hold Leadership Development Conference for School Leaders

The British School New Delhi, in partnership with the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership at University College London’s Institute of Education (IOE), hosted a three-day Leadership Development Conference from October 9 to 11, 2026.

According to the school’s official website, the conference brought together 40 delegates representing 22 schools. Participants included school heads and education leaders from international, CBSE and ICSE institutions across India.

The programme focused on how school leaders can build supportive organisational cultures, strengthen staff wellbeing and create learning environments in which teachers and students can thrive.

Conference Focuses on Leadership and School Culture

The conference examined how organisational culture influences the experiences of teachers, students and wider school communities. Through interactive sessions, practical activities and research-based discussions, participants explored the challenges of leading schools in diverse educational settings.

A central theme was the responsibility of school leaders to establish working environments that enable teachers to perform effectively and support student learning.

The sessions also encouraged participants to reflect on their leadership approaches, question existing assumptions and consider how research findings could be applied to the specific needs of their institutions.

UCL Experts Share Research-Based Leadership Insights

Greg Ross, Director of Global Development of Educational Leadership at the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership, highlighted the importance of leadership in creating the conditions for teachers to succeed.

He noted that school leaders face complex challenges in India and internationally, and that collaboration among participants had created opportunities for shared learning and reflection.

The conference combined UCL’s expertise in educational leadership with The British School New Delhi’s experience in international education. The initiative also received support from UCL Global Engagement.

The British School New Delhi Highlights Collaboration

Vanita Uppal OBE, Director of The British School New Delhi, said the conference brought education leaders together to examine the challenges and opportunities involved in developing resilient organisational cultures.

The discussions emphasised the importance of creating school communities where educators can flourish and where leadership decisions contribute to positive educational experiences.

The school expressed the hope that participants would carry the insights gained during the programme back to their institutions and share them with their wider teaching and leadership teams.

Why Leadership Development Matters in Education

School leadership extends beyond administration and academic performance. It also involves staff development, institutional culture, communication, wellbeing and the management of change.

Professional development programmes can give school leaders opportunities to exchange experiences, examine research and develop approaches suited to their own school communities.

The conference reflected a shared commitment by The British School New Delhi and UCL to supporting educational leaders as they respond to changing expectations and the organisational challenges facing schools.

By bringing together leaders from different school systems, the programme aimed to encourage collaboration and strengthen the connection between educational research and everyday leadership practice.