The conference brought together heads of schools and educational leaders from international, CBSE and ICSE schools to explore how cultural dynamics influence the experiences of teachers, students and communities. The programme combined interactive activities, hands-on experiences and research-based insights, with dedicated opportunities for participants to reflect on their leadership practices.
A key theme emerging from the conference was the role of school leaders in creating environments where teachers can thrive and perform at their best for students. Participants examined complex challenges facing educational leaders, exchanged perspectives with their peers and explored ways to connect research-based insights with the realities of their own school communities.
“Over the past few days, we’ve grappled with challenging issues facing leaders in schools globally and here in India. Our participants have brought such passion and purpose to the conference and there’s been a huge amount of shared learning. A key takeaway from the conference has been that there are no easy answers but that leaders play a decisive role in creating the culture and conditions in which teachers are able to thrive and do their best for students,” said Greg Ross, Director, Global Development of Educational Leadership, UCL Centre for Educational Leadership.
Vanita Uppal OBE, Director, The British School New Delhi, said, “The three-day Leadership Development Conference, led by experts from the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership in partnership with The British School New Delhi, brought together educational leaders from across the country. The deliberations focused on the opportunities and challenges faced by leaders in developing brave and resilient organisational cultures where educators thrive and human flourishing is the key objective. Inspirational and thought-provoking, the discussions will hopefully cascade through learning communities across the country.”
During the conference, Gregory Ross, Programme Director, Global Development of Educational Leadership, UCL Institute of Education, led a session for participants.
The conference combined The British School New Delhi’s experience as one of the top international schools in India with the expertise of the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership. The project was supported by UCL Global Engagement, which is following its development closely.
Through research-informed sessions and discussions with fellow educational leaders, delegates gained fresh perspectives on leadership and the complexities of introducing change across different school contexts. They had opportunities to challenge existing assumptions, examine approaches suited to their individual school environments and reflect on how to apply their learning to their own leadership journeys.
The Leadership Development Conference reflected a shared commitment by The British School New Delhi and the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership to support educational leaders in navigating the cultural and organisational factors that influence school communities and shape the experiences of teachers and students.
University College London (UCL) is a global top 10 university, established in London 200 years ago to offer education for all. Today, it brings together 60,000 staff and students from over 150 countries, creating a unique city within a city and a research and innovation powerhouse covering subjects across the arts, sciences, technology and the humanities. The university has nurtured 33 Nobel Prize winners, reflecting its emphasis on supporting ideas with the scale and resources needed to succeed.
The UCL Institute of Education (IOE) is the world’s leading school of education and social science. In the 2026 QS subject rankings, the IOE was placed first in the world for education for the 13th consecutive year. Further information is available at ucl.ac.uk.
The British School New Delhi is an inclusive, not-for-profit international school located in the heart of New Delhi’s diplomatic area. Founded in 1963 by the then British High Commissioner and his wife, the award-winning school provides education to British, expatriate and local families, drawing on the strengths of a rich and culturally diverse community. Further information is available at www.british-school.org.
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