Pilgrims' Parley
Last year, I inaugurated a series of panel discussions which we have dubbed ‘Pilgrims’ Parley’. The discussions have proved an excellent opportunity to get senior figures from many of the South’s leading independent schools around the table to focus upon key issues in education and, particularly, the education of boys.
We thought that the recording of the most recent of these – focusing upon the questions: ‘What does a successful boy look like these days? Are we measuring the right things?’ – might be of interest to many of you. You could even treat it as a long-format podcast and have it on as ‘audio’ for your next drive or train journey!
Click here to listen: Pilgrims' Parley: What does a successful boy look like these days?
The school’s guests on this occasion were:
Mr Adam Williams – Headmaster, Lord Wandsworth College
Miss Anna Camilleri – Deputy Head Academic (designate), Charterhouse
Mr James Fox – Director of Pastoral Care (designate), Winchester College
Mr Rob Clare – Director of Studies, Embley School
We have three further Parleys coming up over the next two terms:
| Date | Topic |
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Saturday 31 January 2026
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AI: The Genie Out of the Bottle. What are the current implications for what we teach, how we teach it, and when? Schools face pressing questions about its impact on curriculum, pedagogy, and timing of content. Should AI be embraced as a tool to enhance learning, or treated with caution to protect depth of thought and originality? How do we balance equipping boys with technical competence while also ensuring they retain essential human skills? |
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Saturday 28 February 2026
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What is the role of competitive sport in shaping modern boys – and are we getting the balance right? Exploring the benefits and limitations of sport in boys’ development, touching on character education, mental health, physical well-being, and equity of opportunity. How far does sport continue to act as a cornerstone of school culture, and does it always serve every boy well? |
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Saturday 9 May 2026
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Instilling Discernment: How Can Schools Best Equip Boys to Navigate Misinformation and Build Critical Thinking Skills? The challenge of discerning truth from distortion is no longer confined to the history classroom or media studies – it is a safeguarding concern recognised in statutory guidance. In an era of viral content, echo chambers, and deepfakes, how do schools help boys develop the intellectual tools to question sources, test evidence, and resist manipulation? |
And the panellists taking part will be from Bedales, Brighton, Charterhouse, Churcher's, Embley, Eton, KES, Lancing, Sevenoaks, Sherborne, Tonbridge and Winchester.
Tim Butcher
Headmaster
