International Education Reception at King & Wood Mallesons

Our education focused reports can be downloaded here or please email research@wildsearch.org to request a hard copy.

International Education Reception

19th November 2019

Thanks to all those who joined us at King & Wood Mallesons for a reception that brought together stakeholders in the international education community in the UK.

Our guest speaker, Professor Toby Salt recently stepped down as Chief Executive of AQA, but will continue to advise Oxford AQA who provide international qualifications benchmarked to UK equivalents and designed for those who do not have English as a first language.

The value of the UK education sector globally is significant and predictions are that it will continue to grow. Wild Search has a strong community in this area and will be producing another report on the theme in 2020.

Our recent relevant reports include:

Exporting Excellence: Creating Great British Schools Internationally (2019)

World Class Education: A report on the educational choices and opportunities for High Net Worth families in the UK and beyond (2018)

Education: The Greatest British Export (2017)

Please email research@wildsearch.org to request hard copies, if you would like to be involved in future, or for any other enquires about our thought leadership.

Jude McCann to join the Farming Community Network as Chief Executive Officer

Wild Search has advised on a number of Chief Executive appointments across agriculture and charities including the Agricultual Industries Confederation, the Crop Protection Association and the Suffolk and Royal Norfolk associations.

If you would like to work with Wild Search in building your leadership team, please contact Rob Porter to arrange an initial discussion rp@wildsearch.org

24th October 2019

Jude McCann to join the Farming Community Network as Chief Executive Officer

Wild Search are delighted to announce the appointment of Jude McCann as Chief Executive of the Farming Community Network.

Jude has previously worked with a number of rural-based organisations and NGOs, and has held the position of Chief Executive of Rural Support in Northern Ireland since 2012. He will bring a breadth of knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing farming communities and businesses, along with considerable executive experience to the role.

We wish Jude great success in his new role and look forward to hearing his progress.

Find out more on the FCN website.

Education Investor 2019 Awards – Wild Search Finalists in Two Categories

Wild Search Managing Director Edward Wild (far right) chairing a recent Education Investor Summit discussion

Education Investor 2019 Awards - Wild Search a finalist in two categories.

5th October 2019

Wild Search has been shortlisted for two awards at the annual Education Investor Awards, which will be announced on 4th December in central London. Wild Search’s executive search track record has been recognised within the Suppliers to the Education sector category and our work on promoting the value and contribution of high quality education as a British export has been acknowledged in the Exporting Excellence category. Our latest report, entitled Exporting Excellence, celebrates the success of British schools which have established overseas campuses and was launched in September and was sponsored by AQA and Alpha Plus Group.

 Commenting on the news, Wild Search Managing Director Edward Wild said:

“These nominations demonstrate the breadth, range of quality of the work we do for our clients within the education sector, especially the investor supported schools and colleges. After almost a decade working at a senior level, we continue to engage new clients and undertake new projects for established clients.

This year, our reports have been especially popular and well received, focussing on the benefits and opportunities of schools groups, British schools abroad and the research, with Keystone Tutors, into how parents overseas choose British schools for their children.”

Charity Chairs Dinner with Dianne Jeffreys CBE DL

If you would like to work with Wild Search in developing your charity’s board or executive team, please contact Rob Porter to arrange an initial discussion rp@wildsearch.org

25th September 2019

Dianne Jeffrey CBE DL, former chair of Age UK, spoke at Wild Search’s Charity Chairs Dinner last night.

Dianne currently chairs the Malnutrition Task Force, the Peak District National Park Advisory Group, and the Derbyshire Armed Forces Covenant and is a trustee of the Devonshire Educational Trust at Chatsworth.

We were delighted to welcome Dianne and a host of other leading charity chairs for a discussion on some of the critical issues facing charities today. Many thanks to Rathbones Investment Management who hosted us for the evening.

Exporting Excellence: Creating Great British Schools Internationally - latest report launch

The report may now be downloaded here or email research@wildsearch.org to request a hard copy.

Exporting Excellence: Creating Great British Schools Internationally - latest report

9th September 2019

Exporting Excellence – Wild Search’s 25th publication examines the success and future prospects for British schools setting up abroad. It is our third report on the value of British education as an export.

Wild Search are delighted to announce the publication of our latest education report which includes contributions from a wide range of heads of leading independent schools. HMC Chair Shaun Fenton, King’s College Wimbledon Head Andrew Halls and Alpha Plus Chief Executive Mark Hanley-Brown all set out their schools’ visions and how they have implemented them. Contributors and schools covered encompass the United States, Africa, China and Kazakhstan and offer a wide range of experiences to form what will, we hope, be a key reference source for schools considering international expansion. Not all schools have pursued the creation of overseas campuses and Eton College’s “radically different route” to developing its reputation and influence through EtonX is addressed by its Chief Executive Catherine Whitaker.

In his preface to the report, Sir Stephen O’Brien remarks:

“Feeding minds with high quality education is absolutely essential in enabling all peoples and all countries to develop and prosper…..Exporting Excellence is a welcome and timely report.”

Amy Wevill, who edited the report commented:

 “Our first report on education as a British export, also supported by Alpha Plus, was published in 2012 and its sequel in 2017. All three reports demonstrate our interest in – and commitment to – the international influence and benefits which education offers. At a time when Britain’s global trading position is entering a new phase, we hope that this report with its good news stories, will provide inspiration to others and signal the opportunities ahead.”

 
The report may now be downloaded here or email research@wildsearch.org to request a hard copy. 

International Inspiration Wild Search Roundtable on Creating Great British Schools Internationally

If you would like advice on building your leadership team to expand your education business overseas, please be in touch. info@wildsearch.org

22nd May 2019

International Inspiration Wild Search Roundtable on Creating Great British Schools Internationally

Those leading independent schools’ overseas endeavours were brought together along with other experts in this area for a roundtable discussion yesterday.

Themes covered included finding the right partnership model, understanding regulations and how they apply, managing risk and approach to language.

Participants welcomed the recent policy paper from the government on international education strategy and said it was promising that the government and the British Council were now more supportive.

It was suggested that, although there was a political and reputational risk with establishing in another market, there is also a risk of not looking to diversify income overseas.